Product: The Devil's Bride [VHS] (1968)
Rating: 5.0
"Hammer horror meets Dennis Wheatley..what more can you ask?
This is in my opinion Hammer's best film of the sixties and definately Christopher Lee at his very best. Refreshing to see the screens greatest villain in a heroic role for once and to appear in a film which he survives without being staked,disintegated or burnt to death. Hammer's star director Terence Fisher is back on fine form with this taut satanic thriller which is the best adaption of a Dennis Wheatley novel to be translated to the screen. Chris Lee plays the Duc de Richeleau a nobleman out to protect his young protege Patrick Mower from falling into the clutches of a group of satanists led by the excellent Charles Gray (remember him as Blofeld in Diamonds Are Forever and as Henderson in You Only Live Twice). Excellent set pieces troughout including a classic scene in which the Angel of Death turns up on a horse to claim a soul and cannot return empty handed. Superb acting throughout from all paties including Leon Greene and Nike Arrighi but this film is a landmark in the careers of both Christopher Lee and Terence Fisher and its the only Hammer film where both of them can really excel themselves makes one wonder why the studio didn't use them more wisely before. This is a classic film and although a little dated in parts still remains one of the best satanic horror films ever made.