Before I get into the review, here are my ratings for the movie.
The story gets 0.5 out of 2:
The Direction a 0.5:
The Pacing receives a 0.75:
While the Acting gets 1.25:
And my Enjoyment level earns a 0.5 out of 2:
The Devil's Possessed, therefore, receives a total of 3.5 out of 10.
This project is not Paul Naschy's best work, though he has both written and featured in the movie. The trouble is fans of Naschy will likely be expecting a horror film. However, this story is more of a Medieval action-adventure, which includes a hint of the supernatural. Naschy has included a fair amount of swash and buckle. Sadly, the director isn't too adept with action sequences. Every fight scene has the feel of being choreographed on the fly.
The story tells of a downcast Lord who, when his heroic deeds on the battlefield are forgotten, turns his attention to science. He wants to lead the way forward into a more modern era. His lady, however, has other plans and ideas. While the Lord was abroad fighting, she had been conversing with an alchemist. With her Lord's scheme in mind, she introduces them. The alchemist convinces the Lord he can bring his dreams of a scientific future to life, but it will require some sacrifices, especially those of youthful nubile virgins. At first, the Lord is distressed and angered at the thought, but soon changes his mind. He then embarks on the slaughter and torture of his people. While in the background, his lady is his puppet master, and we are presently to learn both she and the alchemist practise the arcane arts and pray to Satan.
At this initial point in the film, I was ready for the dungeons, the torture chambers, and the potions. Though these elements are there, you soon realise they're not going to be the key focus. No, the emphasis moves onto the Lord's trustworthy friend Gaston and his discovery of what's happening and his action to rectify the evil that's taken over the land.
It's this change in direction that establishes this more as a Dark Fantasy rather than horror. There are some gruesome scenes, though not too many and the special effects are weak.
A further hindrance is the direction and pace of the filming. Klimovsky chose a moderate pace, and he does speed it up in the action scenes trying to generate more excitement. As I previously stated, all these sequences are poorly structured. At times it looks as though Klimovsky asked the actors if they could do this stunt. They said, "Yeah, of course." And then shot it without proper planning. It's most evident in the tavern sword-fight. There are two cringe-worthy sections. In one shot Gaston, Guillermo Bredeston, has to jump from table to table, and he achieves this with the aid of a trampoline. He jumps from one table onto the trampoline and springs up onto the other table. Regrettably, Bredeston doesn't add the flare or panache of Errol Flynn to his performance. It all looks rather foolish. At that moment, he turns around and bounces back to his original table. The other scene is when he decides he's going to swing on the chandelier. Once again the style is missing - and that is valid for most of the fights. Swifter movement from both the actors and stuntmen was needed in these scenes. It's like watching geriatrics scrap. Not good, but a little funny.
The performances are the best thing about this picture, but that ain't saying too much. Everybody is okay, though not on their top forms. But Bredeston as Gaston is exceedingly smiley. Though he's confronting evil, he wears a perpetual grin on his face. It would have been more amiable had the cast added depth to their characters. Norma Sebre, the Lord's lady, needed to be more sinister and conniving. The Lord, Naschy, demanded a tougher personality. As did his friend and enemy, Bredeston. And the alchemist, Eduardo Calvo, would have been more loathsome if he was more of a slimy snake-oil salesman.
If you're wanting a Naschy horror flick, this is not for you. If you're after a swash-buckling adventure set in medieval times, then watch an old Errol Flynn flick. There are many better films around than this one. And, in that respect, I cannot recommend anyone to sit through this film. It's not bad, and it's not total drivel. It's just ungood, in too numerous ways.
Now buckle your swash and come on over to my Absolute Horror and Obsidian Dreams lists to see where this mad Lord landed in my rankings... and to select a worthier film for your viewing pleasure.
Take Care & Stay Well.
This project is not Paul Naschy's best work, though he has both written and featured in the movie. The trouble is fans of Naschy will likely be expecting a horror film. However, this story is more of a Medieval action-adventure, which includes a hint of the supernatural. Naschy has included a fair amount of swash and buckle. Sadly, the director isn't too adept with action sequences. Every fight scene has the feel of being choreographed on the fly.
The story tells of a downcast Lord who, when his heroic deeds on the battlefield are forgotten, turns his attention to science. He wants to lead the way forward into a more modern era. His lady, however, has other plans and ideas. While the Lord was abroad fighting, she had been conversing with an alchemist. With her Lord's scheme in mind, she introduces them. The alchemist convinces the Lord he can bring his dreams of a scientific future to life, but it will require some sacrifices, especially those of youthful nubile virgins. At first, the Lord is distressed and angered at the thought, but soon changes his mind. He then embarks on the slaughter and torture of his people. While in the background, his lady is his puppet master, and we are presently to learn both she and the alchemist practise the arcane arts and pray to Satan.
At this initial point in the film, I was ready for the dungeons, the torture chambers, and the potions. Though these elements are there, you soon realise they're not going to be the key focus. No, the emphasis moves onto the Lord's trustworthy friend Gaston and his discovery of what's happening and his action to rectify the evil that's taken over the land.
It's this change in direction that establishes this more as a Dark Fantasy rather than horror. There are some gruesome scenes, though not too many and the special effects are weak.
A further hindrance is the direction and pace of the filming. Klimovsky chose a moderate pace, and he does speed it up in the action scenes trying to generate more excitement. As I previously stated, all these sequences are poorly structured. At times it looks as though Klimovsky asked the actors if they could do this stunt. They said, "Yeah, of course." And then shot it without proper planning. It's most evident in the tavern sword-fight. There are two cringe-worthy sections. In one shot Gaston, Guillermo Bredeston, has to jump from table to table, and he achieves this with the aid of a trampoline. He jumps from one table onto the trampoline and springs up onto the other table. Regrettably, Bredeston doesn't add the flare or panache of Errol Flynn to his performance. It all looks rather foolish. At that moment, he turns around and bounces back to his original table. The other scene is when he decides he's going to swing on the chandelier. Once again the style is missing - and that is valid for most of the fights. Swifter movement from both the actors and stuntmen was needed in these scenes. It's like watching geriatrics scrap. Not good, but a little funny.
The performances are the best thing about this picture, but that ain't saying too much. Everybody is okay, though not on their top forms. But Bredeston as Gaston is exceedingly smiley. Though he's confronting evil, he wears a perpetual grin on his face. It would have been more amiable had the cast added depth to their characters. Norma Sebre, the Lord's lady, needed to be more sinister and conniving. The Lord, Naschy, demanded a tougher personality. As did his friend and enemy, Bredeston. And the alchemist, Eduardo Calvo, would have been more loathsome if he was more of a slimy snake-oil salesman.
If you're wanting a Naschy horror flick, this is not for you. If you're after a swash-buckling adventure set in medieval times, then watch an old Errol Flynn flick. There are many better films around than this one. And, in that respect, I cannot recommend anyone to sit through this film. It's not bad, and it's not total drivel. It's just ungood, in too numerous ways.
Now buckle your swash and come on over to my Absolute Horror and Obsidian Dreams lists to see where this mad Lord landed in my rankings... and to select a worthier film for your viewing pleasure.
Take Care & Stay Well.