The Devils 4K Restoration — NYFF Review

Good art should make you uncomfortable. It should push boundaries and make you question everything you thought you knew. If there’s one filmmaker whose work feels synonymous with the phrase “pushing boundaries,” it’s Ken Russell. His 1971 film, The Devils, is arguably the most boundary-pushing film of his entire career. It may have been one of the most popular films at the British box office in 1972, but it received negative reactions from critics. Roger Ebert gave it zero stars. Tony Mastroianni of the Cleveland Press said Ken Russell directs movies “with all the delicacy of Jack-the-Ripper and even less restraint,” going on to argue that The Devils has little substance and that “most of it is lurid for the sake of being lurid.” Beyond its poor critical reception, the film was also censored and banned in some countries. However, in recent years, the film has experienced a critical re-evaluation. With dozens of sold-out screenings of the 4K restoration of the director’s cut, it feels as though the film and Ken Russell are finally getting the respect that they deserve.