It looks like there are two options for fans of the film THE
DEVIL’S RAIN to take advantage of. If you’re looking to spend few dollars for
the film then check out Cheezy Flicks version, a bare bones release that offers
the movie in decent format but nothing spectacular. It’s decent release but
can’t compare to the one being offered by Severin. Then again sometimes a
decent copy is all some people are interested in.
For the better version I can only recommend the Severin
release of the film. I thought I’d covered this back a few months ago only to
discover I hadn’t written about it after all! My deepest apologies to the folks
at Severin who were kind enough to send along a copy. Let me make up for that
with this write up, one that not only praises the film but their version of it.
If you’ve never seen the film you’re missing out on a
classic drive in staple. Released first on its own on the circuit and later
re-released to capitalize on the popularity of John Travolta who has a few
minor scenes in the film, the movie is one of those horror films heavy on
iconography and filled with stars on the rise and fading at the same time. I
saw this on a double bill at the drive-in with THE TWILIGHT PEOPLE and both
cemented themselves in my mind as classics from their forward.
Released in 1975 the film revolves around the Preston family
entrusted with protecting a satanic book sought after by satanic priest
Jonathan Corbis (Ernest Borgnine). Steve (George Sawaya) is captured by Corbis
but allowed to escape to take a message back to his wife Emma (Ida Lupino) and
youngest son Mark (William Shatner): give him the book or suffer his wrath.
Trying to save his family Mark takes the book to the ghost
town Corbis gave him directions to. Thinking he can trick Corbis and save the
book and his family, he faces off with him only to be defeated and taken
hostage as well.
In an attempt to find Mark, Emma sends his older brother Tom
(Tom Skerritt) along with his wife Julie (Joan Prather) and their friend Dr.
Sam Richards (Eddie Albert), a psychic researcher. They head for the same town
that Mark did and are confronted by Corbis and the robed followers he has gathered
there. A showdown is bound to take place with the fate of the world, the rule
of evil over good, hanging in the balance.
The depth of story is minor when you look at it on the
surface and relies heavily on the good versus evil setup. But it is the way all
of this is handled that makes the film so darned entertaining. The performances
by all involved are fantastic with none of the actors taking the subject matter
too lightly or too seriously at the same time. For them you can tell this is
nothing more than a performance and they intend to give it their all, low
budget horror film or not. Standing out among them is Borgnine who has played
heavy and good guy alike but whose presence here adds weight to his role.
Directed by Robert Fuest who began with the British TV
series THE AVENGERS and who would later helm both Dr. Phibes films shows his
ease with both the actors he gave direction to as well as behind the camera
offering clear, crisps shots in what some could turn into a fog fueled mess.
Some directors choose to hide their horror behind that sense of illusion while
Fuest puts it right out in front for all to see.
The effects work here rises above the low cost budget they
had to deal with offering the memorable melting sequence where followers of Corbis
feel the wrath of the Devil’s rain on them. Their slow physical meltdown is
memorable in both the trailer for the film at the time and in the film itself.
These were the kind of things that drew audiences to the film back in 1975 and
continue to do so to this day.
Okay, now that you’re interested let’s look at the
difference in these releases. As stated the Cheezy Flicks version is bare
bones, the movie only with a decent print used for transfer. But the Severin
release…words can’t begin to describe how much better it is. I mean come on,
this is a high definition transfer of the film, the first time that this has
ever been done.
In addition to that the extras for this film are
entertaining on their own and will provide plenty to watch along with the film
itself. They include an audio commentary track with director Fuest,
“Confessions of Tom” an interview with Tom Skerritt, “The Devil’s Makeup” an
interview with effects artists Tom Burman, a 1975 archive interview with
William Shatner, “First Stop Durango” an interview with script supervisor Ana
Maria Quintana, “Consulting with the Devil” a conversation with the high priest
and high priestess of the Church of Satan, “Hail Satan” an interview with Anton
LaVey biographer Blanche Barton, filmmaker/horror collector Daniel Roebuck on
the film, an on set Polaroid gallery of scrips supervisor Quintana, radio
spots, the theatrical trailer, TV spots, a poster and still gallery and
reversible cover art for the disc. Wow. What a collection of extras this is!
I provide links to purchase the films from amazon at the end
of my reviews but this time around I’m only going to provide one and that’s to
the Severin release. If you want the low budget Cheezy Flicks, and that’s not
slamming them just a statement of facts, they you can find it at amazon as
well. But for me I can only recommend the Severin version. It’s well worth the
price you will pay.
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