‘Witness its awakening’
The Evil is a 1978 supernatural horror film about a doctor who buys a dilapidated mansion, and hires a few friends to fix it up, but the mansion hides a deadly secret.
The movie was directed by Gus Trikonis (The Darker Side of Terror) from a screenplay co-written with Donald G. Thompson [as Galen Thompson].
The Ed Carlin produced movie stars Richard Crenna, Joanna Pettet, Andrew Prine and features a bizarre cameo appearance by Victor Buono (Arnold; The Mad Butcher; The Strangler; Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte; What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?) as the Devil; although his scenes were apparently re-edited for some releases.
Plot:
Psychiatrist C.J. Arnold (Richard Crenna) purchases an abandoned mansion, which was built over hot sulphur pits, in order to set up a drug rehab facility. He recruits a group of volunteers to help clean-up and renovate the large house.
Almost immediately, C.J.’s wife, Doctor Caroline Arnold (Joanna Pettet) begins sensing a strange and usual presence that starts to manifest as a ghostly apparition. Soon thereafter, more strange and eerie things start to happen which start to agitate the volunteers, along with the resident dog.
Richard Crenna
Later on, C.J. discovers a trap door in the basement, which he opens up and unknowingly unleashes a menacing spirit. Suddenly, all of the doors and windows become locked, trapping everyone inside the creepy mansion.
The unwilling occupants soon discover that the trap door in the basement is actually a gateway into Hell itself. Slowly, the evil force within the house starts to kill off the trapped occupants one by one through a series of bizarre deaths…
“The direction and the score are competent but much feels formulaic, even heavy-handed as loud music telegraphs the tension […] The very last minutes would better suit a TV special than a feature-length horror film but the appearance of Satan alone – always very rare – makes The Evil worth seeking out.” David Elroy Goldweber, Claws & Saucers book
Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca
“It’s all pretty expertly done, and director Gus Trikonis knows how to make a haunted-house movie. Victor Buono is sublime as the Devil himself…” James J. Mulay (editor), The Horror Film book
“Though it appears to be in the Exorcist–Omen school, this one is really more like The Shining […] With a solid cast of character actors, the result is better than you might expect and the film does have some moments that are frightening and surprising.” Mike Mayo, The Horror Show Guide book
Buy The Horror Show Guide: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca
” …The Evil really belongs to corpulent character actor Victor Buono […] who turned his brief cameo as the Devil into the most amusing slice of monstrous villainy since Vic Diaz in Beast of the Yellow Night.” Christopher T Koetting, Mindwarp! The Fantastic True Story of Roger Corman’s New World Pictures book
Buy Mindwarp! Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
“Surrealism doesn’t fuse well with exploitation and Victor Buono has a lame role as evil incarnate.” Los Angeles Times, 1978
“Crenna and Pettet confront the devil himself, played with sinister anglicism by Victor Buono. A silly idea? Maybe, but Trikonis and Buono make it click.” Variety, 1978
“An extremely fast-paced, tightly constructed film in the tradition of, but far superior to, The Legend of Hell House (1973), the film milks the haunted house sub-genre for all it’s worth.” The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror book
Buy DVD with Twice Dead: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Choice dialogue:
The Devil: “You really are an endless source of amusement.”
Cast and characters:
Richard Crenna as C.J. Arnold – Death Ship; Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell; Wait Until Dark
Joanna Pettet as Doctor Caroline Arnold – Welcome to Arrow Beach
Andrew Prine as Prof. Raymond Guy – Amityville II: The Possession; Grizzly; The Centerfold Girls; Barn of the Naked Dead; Simon – King of the Witches
Cassie Yates as Mary Harper – The Haunted (1991)
George O’Hanlon Jr. as Pete Brooks
Lynne Moody as Felicia Allen
Mary Louise Weller as Laurie Belman
Robert Viharo as Dwight (as George Viharo)
Victor Buono as The Devil – The Mad Butcher; The Strangler; Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
Milton Selzer …The Realtor
Ed Bakey … Sam the Caretaker
Galen Thompson [Donald G. Thompson]… Emilio Vargas
Emory Souza… The Demon
Filming locations:
Armand Hammer United World College of the American West, Highway 65, Montezuma, New Mexico
Release: In the United States, The Evil was released by Roger Corman’s New World Pictures on May 5, 1978.
International release titles:
Argentina … La razón del mal
Canada (French title) … L’héritage des Vargas
Canada (English title) … The Evil
Colombia … El enigma de la mansión siniestra
Spain (video title) … El poder de Satanás
Spain … Profecía diabólica
Finland … Pahuus
France … Le couloir de la mort
UK (VHS title) … The Evil Below
Italy … Le radici della paura
Poland … Zlo Romania … Maleficul
Sweden … Djävulen slår till
Slovenia … Zlovesce sile
Soviet Union (Russian title) … Зло
USA (laserdisc title) … House of Evil
West Germany …The Evil – Die Macht des Bösen
Yugoslavia (Serbian title) … Zlokobna sila
Production: The film went into production in May 1977 as Cry Demon before a title change to The Force Beyond.
TV spot [1080p HD]:
Trailer [1080p HD]:
Clip [1080p HD]:
Free to watch online on YouTube [1080p HD]:
Free to watch online on YouTube [720p]:
Related:
MOVIES & MANIA provides previews of new films, our own movie reviews/ratings, and links to other reviews from trustworthy recommended sources - all in one handy web location. Plus, links to legitimately watch 1000s OF MOVIES FREE ONLINE via platforms such as Amazon Prime, Plex, Roku, Tubi and on YouTube. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a very tiny amount from any qualifying purchases.Discover more from MOVIES & MANIA
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
