Devils of Darkness is a 1965 British horror film about a secret vampire cult enticing victims for its human sacrifice rituals.
The movie was directed by Lance Comfort (The Ugly Duckling; Daughter of Darkness) from a story and screenplay by Lyn Fairhurst (production manager on The Flesh Eaters) and produced by Tom Blakeley.
The Planet Films production stars William Sylvester (The Hand of Night; Devil Doll; Gorgo), Hubert Noël, Carole Gray (Island of Terror; Curse of the Fly), Tracy Reed, Diana Decker, Rona Anderson and Peter Illing.
Detailed plot [contains spoilers]:
The story begins several centuries before the main action, establishing the origins of the film’s principal supernatural villain, Count Sinistre.
Sinistre is a French aristocrat who becomes notorious for his cruelty and evil practices. He encounters Tania, a young Romani woman, and becomes obsessed with her. He ultimately kills her and, after she has been buried, uses supernatural powers to bring her back from the dead.
Rather than simply becoming another victim, Tania becomes Sinistre’s undead companion and wife. Their relationship is eventually exposed, and the two are captured. The authorities believe they are vampires and arrange for them to be buried alive. The implication, however, is that death cannot permanently contain them.
Brittany, 1964: Paul Baxter, an English writer, is taking a holiday in Brittany. He is staying at a country inn with other British visitors, including Anne Forrest and her brother Keith.
The area has an unsettling reputation. Local people tell stories about the mysterious Count Sinistre, but Paul initially regards the legends as little more than folklore. The peaceful holiday soon begins to deteriorate.
Keith goes exploring in a system of caves and is killed. The circumstances surrounding his death are sufficiently suspicious to make Paul uncomfortable, although there is initially no obvious supernatural explanation. Anne is subsequently drawn into the orbit of a mysterious aristocratic couple.
The couple are apparently respectable members of the local aristocracy, but the man is actually Count Sinistre, now operating under the modern identity Armond du Molière. His appearance has changed little despite the passage of centuries. He is elegant, cultured and outwardly civilised—the classic sophisticated vampire rather than an obviously monstrous creature.
Sinistre takes an interest in Anne. During an encounter beside the water, she becomes suspicious of him and discovers something deeply disturbing: he has no reflection. The discovery confirms that the old legends are not simply legends.
Anne subsequently dies by drowning. The local authorities, however, are reluctant to accept anything supernatural. Inspector Malin treats the death as suicide, apparently believing that Anne was overcome by grief following her brother’s death. Paul is increasingly convinced that there is something seriously wrong.
While investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths, Paul discovers a strange bat-shaped/golden talisman associated with Sinistre. He takes it from the scene. This seemingly minor action becomes the turning point of the story.
The talisman is extremely important to Sinistre, and the vampire wants it back. Paul therefore unwittingly possesses something that gives Sinistre a reason to pursue him personally.
Paul initially remains sceptical about vampires and supernatural explanations. But as more people around him begin dying, his scepticism becomes increasingly difficult to maintain.
Sinistre begins systematically eliminating people who might expose him or assist Paul. His methods vary. Some victims are killed directly by the vampire, while others become casualties of the wider occult organisation surrounding him.
Beneath the local cemetery is a network of caves and underground chambers that serves as the headquarters of a vampire/Satanic cult. The group performs rituals involving black magic, human sacrifice and vampirism. The cult also has influence among the local population, allowing Sinistre to conceal his activities and dispose of inconvenient witnesses.
Eventually Paul leaves France and returns to England. Unfortunately, he does not escape Sinistre. The vampire follows him, partly because he wants his precious talisman returned and partly because Paul has become a threat to the survival of his secret.
Paul becomes increasingly isolated as people around him are murdered. Among those drawn into the situation is Karen Steele, played by Tracy Reed. Sinistre’s interest in Karen provides another personal dimension to the conflict and places her in considerable danger.
Paul gradually discovers that the events aren’t simply the work of one vampire. Sinistre’s organisation is essentially a secret society devoted to maintaining his supernatural power.
Paul eventually discovers the location of Sinistre’s underground headquarters. The climax takes place around the caves, cemetery and subterranean chambers associated with the cult. Sinistre’s followers conduct their ceremonies while Paul attempts to rescue those still in danger and put an end to the vampire’s activities.
The various strands: Paul’s investigation, the talisman, the vampire’s pursuit of Karen and the hidden cult—come together in the final sequence. Sinistre’s apparent invulnerability is finally challenged, and the supernatural threat is brought to an end.
Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca
Contemporary critical reactions:
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: “Unconvincing excursion into the macabre, which is consistently disagreeable but never in the least alarming.”
Boxoffice wrote: “Set in a twilight world of demons, this thriller in DeLuxe Color has an eerie mood to please the chill seekers as it depicts the adventures of visitors in a small town in Brittany who stumble, unwittingly, into the hands of devil worshippers. Since so much has been written in recent years on the subject, we can assume that producer Tom Blakely had technical authority for the impressive ceremonial rooms where black magic rites are performed. … Running as the second half of a dual bill with Curse of the Fly, this is well produced of its kind.”
Filming locations:
Château du Rusquec, Loqueffret, Finistère, France
Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England (studio)
Filming dates:
May 14, 1964 – June 1964
Censorship:
The original UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC to heavily reduce a scene of a woman dancing with a snake. later releases were restored and believed to be uncut however, DVDcompare.net suggests there are missing scenes.
Choice dialogue:
Tania: “It’d make a marvellous horror. You know. Ghouls and witches.”
Cast and characters:
William Sylvester … Paul Baxter
Hubert Noël … Count Sinistre
Carole Gray … Tania
Tracy Reed … Karen Steele
Diana Decker … Madeleine Braun
Rona Anderson … Anne Forest
Peter Illing … Inspector Malin
Gerard Heinz … Bouvier, the Hotel Manager
Brian Oulton … The Colonel
Walter Brown … Bruno
Eddie Byrne … Doctor Robert Kelsey
Victor Brooks … Inspector Hardwick
Marie Burke … Old Gypsy Woman
Marianne Stone … The Duchess
Avril Angers … Midge
Budget:
£110,000 (estimated)
Tech specs:
1h 28m (88 min)
Aspect ratio: 1.85: 1
Trailer:
Free to watch online on YouTube:
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