The Antichrist

L'anticristo, or The Antichrist, is a stylish and sleazy treat for fans of Italian horror. This 1974 possession flick from director Alberto De Martino embraces its exploitative nature, delivering a shocking and scandalous experience that will divide audiences.

The story centers on a young woman, Ippolita, who finds herself possessed by Satan after her ancestor was once under his control and burned at the stake. Ippolita, confined to a wheelchair, battles her sexual frustrations and a dark family history, providing a unique twist on the exorcism sub-genre.

The film excels in its visuals. The cinematography by Joe D'Amato is stunning, with beautiful yet eerie settings that enhance the atmosphere. The camera work is top-notch, adding a layer of elegance to the otherwise gruesome and shocking events. The score, composed by Ennio Morricone and Bruno Nicolai, is also a standout element, creating a sense of tension and unease.

However, the film stumbles when it comes to its pacing and special effects. The plot moves at a glacial pace, and the leaden timing bogs down the otherwise engaging story. The special effects are also underwhelming, with mediocre execution that fails to impress, especially during the pivotal exorcism scenes.

Despite these shortcomings, L'anticristo offers a unique take on the exorcism theme, providing more depth to its characters and a stronger emotional impact than many of its contemporaries. The performances are solid, with Carla Gravina's portrayal of Ippolita being a highlight. Her character's situation and struggles add a layer of complexity to the typical possession narrative.

In conclusion, L'anticristo is a flawed yet fascinating entry in the Italian horror canon. It will undoubtedly satisfy those seeking a gruesome and scandalous good time. While it may not be a masterpiece, it is a solid effort that will please fans of the sub-genre.

So, if you're in the mood for a devilish delight, give L'anticristo a spin. Just be prepared for a bumpy ride as you exorcise your way through this stylish yet uneven horror treat.

"L' Anticristo" is far from being a perfect horror film but it does manage to entertain. Made purely to cash in on the success of "The Exorcist", Alberto De Martino's "The Antichrist" is a relatively high-budget Italian possession movie with a talented cast and some ambitious (if a little dated-looking) effects. With a soundtrack by Ennio Morricone and Bruno Nicolai, plus cinematography by Joe D'Amato, this is a polished affair with real talent being thrown at it. It's not surprising, therefore, that the film is successful in some areas.

The film's strong points are the acting, a genuinely unpleasant possession and the soundtrack. Carla Gravina is excellent as the aristocrat who is possessed and proceeds to leak green soup and waggle her tongue like there's no tomorrow. Combined with great potty-mouth demon dialogue and a startling appearance, the possession is both startling and unintentionally humorous in equal measure.

I won't go into detail but after watching this film, I'll never look at a goat in the same way again.

Worthy of a rental if you're looking for an alternative horror film, this should provide an entertaining evening's viewing, providing you're in the right mood.

6 out of 10.

I remember seeing this movie when I worked at one of my local video stores back in 1998. The description of the movie on the box was rather hilarious as it is obviously bashing itself by saying "Move over Linda Blair". Yes, this is one of the many rip-offs of the famous Friedkin directed film "The Excorcist". Now, just because it was a blatant rip-off does not mean that it wasn't a decent film.

First of all, this movie has a very good and creepy soundtrack done by Ennio Morricone. If it weren't for the soundtrack this movie would not have been very good. Second, one of the leading stars in the movie is the infamous Mel Ferrer who has been in many Italian horror flicks in the later part of his acting career. Third, the atmosphere of this movie is actually very well done. It was done well enough to keep your interest high.

Unfortuanitly, the down parts of the movie are when the lead actress who gets possessed starts talking just like Linda Blair in "The Excorcist" and she also starts vomiting green crap all over the place just like in "The Excorcist". But if you are a fan of this genre of film making than you can overlook these blatant rip-offs. All in all, I liked this movie. It is nothing great but still enjoyable and worth watching. 7\10 stars

THE ANTICHRIST sounds a lot more frightening / controversial than it actually is. Sure, there's the utterly icky "goat butt" sequence (thankfully, shown from a distance), as well as the notorious "Jeezuz woody" picture that we could have done without.

In spite of these anomalies, the rest is sort of a calculated retread / hybrid of BLACK SUNDAY and THE EXORCIST, green puke, pottymouth, and all. The final 20 minutes are extremely entertaining, complete with incomprehensible histrionics and hyper-cheeeze.

Well worth the time for any group of friends and the appropriate intoxicants...

A lot of people would have you think that this movie has no value, but I found it to be, in a lot of ways, more ambitious than THE EXORCIST. True, it is a complete ripoff, and it is virtually devoid of any atmosphere of fear. BUT... Technically speaking, the film is more "out there" than THE EXORCIST, boasting some blue-screen effects and frantic editing, not to mention some utterly surrealistic sequences that take it to another level. The whole thing stays cold, but you'll find yourself having a bit of fun anyways -- if you like seeing puke flying about that is!...