The Devils

In 17th century Loudun, a daring priest named Urbain Grandier challenges prevailing norms with outspoken stances on faith and sexuality. His fearless rhetoric draws both fervent admirers and wary rivals, earning him a reputation for defending the town against moral decay. Yet his influence becomes the center of a volatile storm when a deeply repressed nun accuses him of witchcraft, igniting a fierce power struggle that pits church authorities against secular and ecclesiastical forces. As rumors spiral, the community confronts questions about desire, authority, and the price of challenging established doctrine. The film uses stark chamber drama to sketch a society under strain. Dark forces loom. Its tone blends myth, history and moral conflict. Striking visuals stay grounded in history.

Directed by Ken Russell, The Devils adapts ideas from Aldous Huxley and John Whiting and arrived in 1971 with Russell intent on pushing boundaries. The production drew attention for its provocative visuals and unabashed blend of history, sexuality and horror.

The film cost about 2 million to make and earned roughly 11 million worldwide, marking it as a commercially successful risk for a controversial art house drama of its era. Its notoriety sparked debates about censorship and artistic freedom globally.

The Devils became infamous for censor battles and graphic scenes that challenged church authority on screen, fueling debates about censorship and artistic freedom. Its notoriety helped define Ken Russell's reputation as a provocateur and left a lasting imprint on how religious and sexual themes are depicted in cinema for audiences.

Critical response at release was mixed, with some praising Redgrave's fearless performance and Russell's audacious staging, while others found the mix of historical grit and sensationalism uneasy. The film probes power and zeal, exposing how authority can weaponize fear and how desire tests moral codes that endure in modern cinema.