When the conversation moves to the best cinematic villains, most of us immediately go for Darth Vader, Kahn, or the Joker. Oddly enough, the ultimate evil, the Prince of Darkness and lord of hell, the Devil…often gets overlooked. This month, the horned-one is back on the big screen in THE FIRST OMEN (read Reel Speak’s review HERE), which is a prequel to the classic THE OMEN from 1976. With the biggest bad of them all back creating terror, it is hot time for Reel Speak’s Top 10 Best Devilish Films.
For the most part, Hollywood has done good work in portraying the Devil in other forms aside from the children’s-book version of horns, tails, and pitchforks. He has appeared as men, women, beast, and children. Some of the earliest versions came in the 1922 silent horror-essay HAXAN, and the 1926 silent fantasy FAUST. Despite his obvious horror roots, he has jumped into other genres, including comedy, and even animation with Disney playing with the Devil more than once. The most hellish films are the ones that portray the Devil in his purest form; seductive, tricky, hidden, and evil. To qualify for the list, the Devil must have a strong presence in the film so that the movie could not exist without the character, and it must take place in a real-world setting...because that's where the Beast is at his best.
So, let’s go to hell…
10. OH GOD! YOU DEVIL! (1984)
Comedy legend George Burns starred in this nearly-forgotten trilogy of films which was capped with Burns playing the role of both God and the Devil. The plot is simple (a struggling musician sells his soul for fortune and glory), but Burns gives it more than one layer. His trademark cigar is perfectly placed, and the red-eye effect he sports is enough to scare anyone. Burns would win a Saturn Award for his performance, at 88 years old.
9. THE PROPHECY (1995)
Before Viggo Mortensen was crowned King, he was dazzling and chilling in his portrayal of Satan in this fantasy thriller. The film itself got panned hard by critics upon release, but it does have some great moments…and is worth it just for Viggo. Not to mention the excellent supporting cast of Christopher Walken, Elias Koteas, Virginia Madsen, and Adam Goldberg.
8. THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (1987)
The Eighties were pretty hot on the Devil, and in 1987 they scored the hottest casting of them all when they brought in Jack Nicholson to play the part. George Miller of MAD MAX fame directed this comedy where three women (Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon), get entangled with the Devil (Jack). It is funny and creepy, and reminds us that the Devil likes to seduce.
7. THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST (1988)
Some of the best depictions of the Devil come in unexpected forms. Mel Gibson gave him feminist qualities in his THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST (2004), but before that, Martin Scorsese presented the fallen angel in the form of a little girl…posing as Christ’s guardian angel. This stroke of genius played with the old saying: that the greatest trick the Devil ever played was convincing us he didn’t exist.
6. BEDAZZLED (2000)
The late great Harold Ramis directed this re-adaptation of the Faust tale. Similar to THE PROPHECY, this romantic comedy wasn’t exactly considered to be high art in its time, but it survives thanks to its portrayal of the Devil. This time, Elizabeth Hurley takes on the role, granting a shy man (future Oscar winner Brendan Fraser), seven wishes in exchange for his soul. Hurley is smoking hot here, and together with Fraser, they keep the film afloat and remind us of the many ways the Devil can come for us.
5. THE OMEN (1976)
This horror classic helmed by Richard Donner was more about the Anti-Christ, but the Number of the Beast hangs heavily over the film. The Devil is coming, and the threat of his arrival is just as scary as him sitting next to us.
4. THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER (1941)
This adaptation of the 1936 short story also deals with the theme of a deal with the Devil, and despite its age, holds up to today’s standards. The film sports some dazzling special effects for its time, and Walter Huston’s performance as Satan chills to the bone.
3. THE WITCH (2015)
Robert Eggers delivered this folk-horror film where a Puritan family on a secluded farm encounter supernatural forces. The Devil hangs around as a beast in disguise this time, and most of the film isn’t about what we see but we don’t see, and it scares just as much as it un-nerves. But most of all, it lets us know that the Prince of Darkness is an elemental part of this world.
2. THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE (1997)
Keanu Reeves plays a young lawyer who begins working for a prestigious law firm in New York City, which is led by a John Milton (Al Pacino), who is nonother than the Devil himself. Packed with twists and turns, the last 20 minutes of the film contain an extended monologue from Pacino that truly sells the idea of what the Devil is up to…and it may not be so bad. He’s a fan of man who has nurtured all of our desires. It’s a script worthy of debate and the basis for many a college term paper. This Blogger’s favorite of the list.
1. THE EXORCIST (1973)
This may seem like the obvious and easy choice, but it’s obvious and easy for many good reasons. First off, the Devil is usually equated with horror films, and THE EXORCIST still stands as one of the best, if not the best of its genre. Centered around a young girl (Linda Blair), who is possessed by the Devil, the film shows just how evil the dark one can be; making her bark, drool, spit, float above her covers…and play all sorts of tricks on everyone (Jason Miller, Max von Sydow, Ellen Burstyn), trying to save the girl. As a horror film it definitely shocks and scares, but what it says about the Devil is what really gets under our skin: he doesn’t want to kill us, he wants to get us.
REEL SPEAK'S TOP 10 BEST DEVILISH FILMS
- THE EXORCIST
- THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
- THE WITCH
- THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER
- THE OMEN
- BEDAZZLED
- THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
- THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK
- THE PROPHECY
- OH GOD! YOU DEVIL!
No comments:
Post a Comment
A few rules:
1. Personal attacks not tolerated.
2. Haters welcome, if you can justify it.
3. Swearing is goddamn OK.