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Horror in Black and White: ‘Eye of the Devil’ (1966)
Eye of the Devil, written by Robin Estridge and Dennis Murphy and directed by J. Lee Thompson (Cape FearĀ [1962]), was one of those films that seemed troubled from the start.
Based on a novel written by Estridge under the pen name “Philip Loraine”, the film tells the story of Phillipe de Montfaucon (David Niven), a marquis and vintner, who must return to his family’s estates in Bellenac when their vineyards have failed for the third year in a row.
He leaves his wife Catherine (Deborah Kerr) in Paris with their children, Jacques and Antoinette, with instructions that they are not to come to Bellenac for any reason. However, after he has been gone for a few days, young Jacques begins to exhibit strange behavior and Catherine decides they must be with Phillipe.
Little does she know that the denizens of Bellenac follow very old traditions, and that one of those beliefs entails the willing sacrifice of the Marquis in order to save the dying fields.
The film had an amazing cast alongside Kerr and Niven.
Donald Pleasance (Halloween) appears as Pere Dominic the local priest who may or may not be involved in the pagan rituals. Pleasance is at his subtle and most understated best in the role, and his performance is more than worth the price of admission!
The oh-so-handsome David Hemmings (Deep Red) and the bewitching Sharon Tate (The Fearless Vampire Killers) draw focus in almost every scene they appear in as siblings Christian and Odile de Caray.
It was Tate’s feature film debut. Sadly, she would be brutally murdered only three years later at the age of 26 by members of Charles Manson’s cult.
Eyes of the DevilĀ is genuinely spooky with an excellent score by Gary McFarland and it makes beautiful use of black and white photography at a time when monochromatic films were beginning to be the exception rather than the norm.
There is a particularly beautiful scene where Kerr finds herself in the forest near an old family mausoleum. As she decides to go back home a hooded figure in dark robes steps from the shadows of a tree. That figure is joined by another and another and another, the dark black of the robes standing out against the grays around them as they circle her and begin to close in.
The scene was terrifying and all the more so because of those gray and black contrasts.
As I mentioned earlier, however, the film seemed plagued by issues from the very beginning.
Michael Anderson, who would later directĀ Logan’s Run, was originally tapped to direct the film but due to scheduling constraints and rumored disagreements with the studio, he was replaced with Thompson. Thompson completed the film, but Sidney J. Furie and Arthur Hiller were both brought on to film additional scenes for the final production.
Kim Novak (Bell, Book, and Candle) who was originally cast in the role of Catherine had to leave the production after a few weeks of shooting supposedly because of an injury she sustained when she fell from a horse.
Hemmings would later write in his autobiography, however, that she was fired from the production after she argued with one of the producers when he discovered that she and the younger actor were having an affair.
Whatever the reason, Novak was gone, and while Kerr was brought on quickly to take over the role, all of the previously filmed scenes with Novak had to be thrown out and re-shot.
After its completion, it seemed that MGM was uncertain how to market it, or perhaps they were afraid of how audiences might react to the film’s themes of witchcraft, human sacrifice, and pagan rituals.
The film was completed in early 1966, but it was late 1967 before it saw a release in the U.S. and it was not until the spring of 1968 that it finally made its way onto screens in the UK.
Unfortunately for the studios, the film’s initial release was not a great success, though it did enjoy more popularity in Europe. However, after Tate’s death, demand to see the film grew and it soon found its fan base in the States, as well.
Interestingly enough, after viewing, you can see the film’s influence on other films that followed it.Ā
The Wicker Man, which was released almost seven years afterĀ Eye of the DevilĀ was completed, immediately springs to mind after one particular scene involving a strange parade through Bellenac with dancers and oddly costumed citizens.Ā
Eye of the DevilĀ still holds up as a classic chiller with only one really problematic scene by contemporary standards. When it is discovered that Odile has tried to murder Catherine, Phillipe whips her with a horsewhip and she writhes with seemingly simultaneous pain and pleasure at her punishment.
While it is very effective, modern audiences, outside of theĀ 50 Shades community, may find the scene difficult to watch.
Still, overall, this is a film that bears watching. Its rich landscapes, shot on location in France, along with phenomenal performances by its leading and supporting cast make it a film you won’t soon forget.
Eye of the DevilĀ is available for rent on both Amazon and Vudu for only $2.99.
Join us next week for another installment of Horror in Black and White. If you missed last week’s coverage ofĀ The Old Dark House, click here to check it out!
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Movies
The Original ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel Had an Interesting Location
Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s sequels to hit movies weren’t as linear as they are today. It was more like “let’s re-do the situation but in a different location.” Remember Speed 2, or National Lampoon’s European Vacation? Even Aliens, as good as it is, follows a lot of the plot points of the original; people stuck on a ship, an android, a little girl in peril instead of a cat. So it makes sense that one of the most popular supernatural comedies of all time, Beetlejuice would follow the same pattern.
In 1991 Tim Burton was interested in doing a sequel to his 1988 original, it was called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian:
“The Deetz family moves to Hawaii to develop a resort. Construction begins, and itās quickly discovered that the hotel will be sitting on top of an ancient burial ground. Beetlejuice comes in to save the day.”
Burton liked the script but wanted some re-writes so he asked then-hot screenwriter Daniel Waters who had just got done contributing to Heathers. He passed on the opportunity so producer David Geffen offered it to Troop Beverly Hills scribe Pamela Norris to no avail.
Eventually, Warner Bros. asked Kevin Smith to punch up Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, he scoffed at the idea, saying, “Didn’t we say all we needed to say in the firstĀ Beetlejuice? Must we go tropical?”
Nine years later the sequel was killed. The studio said Winona Ryder was now too old for the part and an entire re-cast needed to happen. But Burton never gave up, there were a lot of directions he wanted to take his characters, including a Disney crossover.
“We talked about lots of different things,” the director said in Entertainment Weekly. “That was early on when we were going,Ā Beetlejuice and the Haunted Mansion,Ā Beetlejuice Goes West, whatever. Lots of things came up.”
Fast-forward to 2011 when another script was pitched for a sequel. This time the writer of Burton’s Dark Shadows, Ā Seth Grahame-Smith was hired and he wanted to make sure the story wasn’t a cash-grabbing remake or reboot. Four years later, in 2015, a script was approved with both Ryder and Keaton saying they would return to their respective roles. In 2017 that script was revamped and then eventually shelved in 2019.
During the time the sequel script was being tossed around in Hollywood, in 2016 an artist named Alex Murillo posted what looked like one-sheets for a Beetlejuice sequel. Although they were fabricated and had no affiliation with Warner Bros. people thought they were real.
Perhaps the virality of the artwork sparked interest in a Beetlejuice sequel once again, and finally, it was confirmed in 2022 Beetlejuice 2 had a green light from a script written by Wednesday writers Ā Alfred GoughĀ andĀ Miles Millar. The star of that series Jenna Ortega signed on to the new movie with filming starting in 2023. It was also confirmed that Danny Elfman would return to do the score.
Burton and Keaton agreed that the new film titled Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice wouldn’t rely on CGI or other other forms of technology. They wanted the film to feel “handmade.” The film wrapped in November 2023.
It’s been over three decades to come up with a sequel to Beetlejuice. Hopefully, since they said aloha to Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian there has been enough time and creativity to ensure Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will not only honor the characters, but fans of the original.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will open theatrically on September 6.
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Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel
Maybe it’s because The Exorcist just celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, or maybe it’s because aging Academy Award-winning actors aren’t too proud to take on obscure roles, but Russell Crowe is visiting the Devil once again in yet another possession film. And it’s not related to his last one, The Pope’s Exorcist.
According to Collider, the film titled The Exorcism was originally going to be released under the name The Georgetown Project. Rights for its North American release were once in the hands of Miramax but then went to Vertical Entertainment. It will release on June 7 in theaters then head over to Shudder for subscribers.
Crowe will also star in this year’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter which is set to drop in theaters on August 30.
As for The Exorcism, Collider provides us with what it’s about:
“The film centers around actor Anthony Miller (Crowe), whose troubles come to the forefront as he shoots a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) has to figure out whether he’s lapsing into his past addictions, or if something even more horrific is occurring. “
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Movies
New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie
Deadpool & Wolverine might be the buddy movie of the decade. The two heterodox superheroes are back in the latest trailer for the summer blockbuster, this time with more f-bombs than a gangster film.
This time the focus is on Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman. The adamantium-infused X-Man is having a bit of a pity party when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) arrives on the scene who then tries to convince him to team up for selfish reasons. The result is a profanity-filled trailer with a Strange surprise at the end.
Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It comes out on July 26. Here is the latest trailer, and we suggest if you are at work and your space isn’t private, you might want to put in headphones.
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