The Demons

My mate gave me this. He'd ordered it especially from Germany for reasons unknown. There's no plot explanation needed - you just have to look at the cover and see who directed it.

Highlights of this film include:

1) Hitting the display button to find out how soon I've got before it ends 2) Losing interest 3) Wondering what my mate was expecting when he bought it 4) Realising exactly why it had been sitting in my collection unwatched for a decade 5) Being relieved that I didn't watch the 117 minute special version on disc 2.

Lowlights include:

1) Every scene lasting forever. 2) Female nudity rendered boring. 3) Endless scenes of women being tortured. 4)Everything else about the film.

Despite a little over use of the zoom lens now and again and inexplicably repeated lines this is a pretty well made Jess Franco movie. The budget must have been decent because picture quality and cinematography above par with some excellent location shooting, inside and outside. Costumes are also good, he must have borrowed those from some other film, and there is some effort to keep the tale within known historical events. None of this is to say, however, that there aren't lashings of sex. There is some torture but not overly done, no it is the sex scenes that predominate and fairly erotic and varied they are too. Anne Libert does well in the lead and generously shares her body with most of the rest of the leads. Howard Vernon is set against type for once and I reckon acquitted himself better than when he is given reign to go jumping and over acting everywhere

I quite enjoyed watching The Demons directed By Jess Franco It was rejected in 1972 but later passed uncut in 2008. it is about a witch who is burned at the stake by the inquisition, but before the flames begin to burn her. she manages to curse the Principal witchfinder. The film contains everything from torture, lesbian sex to demonic possession, and also features lesbian nuns around in the film so it is quite a strong film to watch for viewers to see. I think that Jess Franco has directed a lot of good and bad movies. but there does seem many that are enjoyable to watch. I feel that all fans of Jess Franco fans should watch this movie.

A witch curses her executioners while being burned at the stake. Nearby, a convent is suddenly besieged by impure thoughts, deeds, and general naughtiness. Unclean spirits have taken hold of the sisters therein, resulting in wanton, wicked nakedness.

THE DEMONS is a Jess Franco film, so it's not surprising that the nuns have lost their habits. There is indeed copious female nudity, as well as perverse situations and gory torture.

Though Franco's depiction has taken a lot of flack, just what would we expect to happen in a demonized nunnery, anyway? Square dance night?

WARNING: This film contains the infamous "virginity check" and "bride of Satan" sequences!

Those accustomed to the Director's work should definitely enjoy this movie. Others might want to watch something a tad less blasphemous...

It's not at all surprising that Les Demons, Jess Franco's sequel to The Bloody Judge, was severely truncated for the US market: it's an extremely repetitious film, never quite knowing when to quit. That said, the full length version is still the way to go, because this being a Franco movie, it would be a crime to miss even a second of the depravity, of which there is plenty to wallow in.

The film, clearly modelled on Ken Russell's The Devils (1971), opens with the torture and burning of a witch; as the old crone goes up in flames she places a curse on the people responsible for her death—Lord Justice Jeffries (Cihangir Gaffari), Lady De Winter (Karin Field) and Thomas Renfield (Alberto Dalbés). Years later, beautiful nun Kathleen (Anne Libert) begins to experience sinful dreams and, along with her equally tasty sister Margaret (Britt Nichols), is suspected of being a witch, bringing them to the attention of Lady de Winter and her wicked pals. After much cruelty, torture, and sex, it transpires that sisters Kathleen and Margaret are the dead witch's daughters, and that they are to be her instruments of vengeance.

With a plot that goes in circles, Franco's trademark (ie. clumsy) directorial style (erratic zooms, roving camera etc), and loads of crap acting, Les Demons isn't exactly what you would call a Euro horror classic, but with Libert and Nichols regularly disrobing to indulge in all manner of deviancy (self gratification, lesbianism, sex with the devil—that sort of thing), plus a hefty dose of sadism and violence, this trashy piece of nunsploitation should still hold your attention to the end. A wonderfully incongruent soundtrack—including a funky bass guitar that kicks in whenever the women get saucy—only adds to the charm.

6/10 (which, from me, is a pretty decent rating for a Franco film).