The Devil's Nightmare

• Director: Jean Brismee
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Horror
• Movie Type: Haunted House Film, Sex Horror
• Themes: Mind Games, Ghosts, Psychic Abilities
• Release Year: 1971
• Country: IT/BE
• Run Time: 88 minutes
• MPAA Rating: R

Plot

This seedy but effective little supernatural thriller involves a group of seven travelers -- each of whom represents one of the Seven Deadly Sins -- who take shelter in a mysterious baron's haunted castle, where they are visited in turn by a seductive, lingerie-clad succubus (Erika Blanc), who metes out suitable punishment in accordance with their evil deeds. It is revealed that their enigmatic host is a former Nazi general whose family's Satanic legacy includes the birth of a malevolent she-demon into each generation. Only the token priest of the group manages to stand up to the evil forces. A Belgian/Italian co-production; also released as The Succubus, The Devil's Longest Night, Castle of Death and The Devil Walks at Midnight. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Review

This European combination of the demonic possession and haunted house genres is steeped in spooky atmosphere. Sadly, Au Service du Diable has little else to offer. Despite some intriguing ideas (like the castle’s guests being used to represent the seven deadly sins), the script lumbers from setpiece to setpiece in a laborious, uninspired fashion that robs these moments of any shock effect. The proceedings aren’t helped by Jean Brismee’s slack direction, which allows the film to drag along at a snail’s pace and delivers the film’s potential highlights in a perfunctory, visually flat manner. The only truly memorable element of the film from a stylistic standpoint is the moody score by frequent Ennio Morricone collaborator Allesandro Allesandroni, which makes effective use of Morricone-esque fuzz guitar and wordless female singing. The actors have little to work with in terms of characterizationss and the acting suffers as a result: only Erica Blanc’s alluring turn as a succubus and Daniel Emilfork’s creepy work as a mysterious villager rise above the overall mediocre level of performances here. As a result, Au Service du Diable fails to live up to its grandiose title and can only be recommended to hardcore Eurotrash enthusiasts. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide

Cast

Erika Blanc - Lita Muller; Shirley Corrigan; Daniel Emilfork; Colette Emmanuelle; Frederique Hender; Jacques Monseau; Ivana Novak; Lucien Raimbourg; Jean Servais; Christian Maillet

Credit

Jean Brismee - Director, Alessandro Alessandroni - Composer (Music Score), Charles Lecocq - Producer, Jean Brismee - Screenwriter, André Hunebelle - Screenwriter, Charles Lecocq - Screenwriter

Similar Movies

The Haunting; 13 Ghosts; The Haunting; 13 Ghosts

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