THE DEVIL RIDES OUT

(a.k.a. THE DEVIL'S BRIDE)

It begins innocuously enough with Nicholas (Christopher Lee) arriving at a private airfield to meet old friend Rex (Leon Greene, CARRY ON DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD).

Rex asks if old chum Simon (a permanently perspiring Patrick Mower, INCENSE OF THE DAMNED and - yes - Rodney from EMMERDALE) will be joining the pair for their reunion. Nicholas advises that he has not heard from Simon for three months - a fact he states is very unusual indeed. Naturally then, the pals drive out to Simon's grand country manor to call upon him.

Ushered into Simon's dining hall by his butler, the pair are astonished to find he is in the middle of entertaining a party of well-to-do guests. Simon greets Nicholas and Rex, and apologises for forgetting about the arranged reunion - he blames it on his busying himself with his new friends, who are all members of an "astronomical society".

Smelling a rat when he hears that only 13 guests are allowed at the party, Nicholas agrees to leave with Rex - but only after Simon has shown him his telescope. Nicholas doesn't miss a trick, and soon exposes Simon as having fallen under the spell of a cult of devil worshippers. Nicholas does what any good friend would do: punches Simon in the face and carries him out of the house fireman-style.

After tucking Simon into bed for the night with a crucifix around his neck for protection, Nicholas returns to his lounge to fill Rex in on what he suspects is going on. Simon has fallen in with a black mass, and they have most likely just saved him from being initiated into the cult in an unholy ritual that was to take place in his home.

Rex is understandably sceptical - until Simon vanishes in the night and an apparition appears to hypnotise Rex. Fortunately, Nicholas saves the day (again), but warns Rex that they have but one day to save Simon from his initiation - along with a girl who will be sacrificed as his "bride".

They have to find the girl first though. Hmm. Whoever could it be? Surely not the demure Tanith (Nike Arrighi, WOMEN IN LOVE), who they initially spotted at Simon's party with the sinister-looking Mocata (Charles Gray, THE BEAST MUST DIE) ...?

Based upon Dennis Wheatley's novel of the same name and co-written for the screen by Wheatley with Richard Matheson (LAST MAN ON EARTH; FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER; STIR OF ECHOES etc), THE DEVIL RIDES OUT is a superior offering from Hammer at a time when they were starting to lose their grip on the horror mantle (late 60s).

The premise is a good one for a start, and the film benefits from being set in modern times - complying with the emphasis on realism that is strived for by the director.

Speaking of which, Terence Fisher (HORROR OF DRACULA; THE MUMMY) is behind the camera here, and earns his crust with restraint and imagination. Fisher is arguably the best director the Hammer studio ever knew.

Lee is solid as ever, delivering lines with such a deadpan force that they soon stop being laughable and start to become really effective. Mower turns a surprisingly competent performance, as does Gray who revels in his character's nastiness. There's only Greene who falls short, visibly trying not to laugh in some of the more "intense" scenes. Still, this has a charm of it's own and I warmed to his ineptitude as the movie progressed.

And progress it does. THE DEVIL RIDES OUT benefits from being driven by two great writers and a truly talented director. It is completely flab-free, rattling through it's storyline in no-nonsense style, with never a dull sub-plot or superfluous character to speak of.

It's also quite creepy on occasion, which means it's stood the test of time better than a lot of Hammer's 60s horror output. It's only when the FX guys show up that things get silly and dated. But that's allowable, all things considered ... isn't it?

The film is presented in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio and is anamorphically enhanced for 16x9 TV sets. Images are sharp and bright, with odd vertical lines barely present in early scenes. It's a great, clean transfer by and large.

The mono audio is less impressive. While it doesn't contain interference of any kind, the dialogue is very low in the mix compared to the music. Unfortunately, there are no subtitles available.

The film can be accessed via a static 12-scene menu.

The only extra on the disc is an anamorphic trailer baring the movie's US title THE DEVIL'S BRIDE. Apart from the odd specks on screen, this has nice picture quality and arguably better audio than the main feature.

Disappointingly, there's no sign of the commentary track from Lee and co-star Sarah Lawson that featured on the Anchor Bay US disc (and the Elite laserdisc prior to that). Nor has the 5.1 mix from the American DVD release.

Great little film that relies on atmosphere and dialogue more than the usual Grand Guignol tactics of your average Hammer horror. Dated, but still effective - certainly worthy of your time. But, with the Anchor Bay release still available as part of a nicely priced double-pack with the enjoyable RASPUTIN THE MAD MONK ... which way are you going to jump?

Review by Stu Willis