The Demons (1973)

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

If you know anything about Jess Franco films or the genre of Nunsploitation you should know what you're in for. Medieval period film, accusations of witchcraft, demonic possession, nuns going crazy in a convent. You know, weird stuff like that. Jess Franco was quick to cash in on the success and controversy of Ken Russel's The Devils and made his own Inquisition horror film The Devils (aka Les Demons) Franco style.While being burned at the stake, an accused witch curses the principal witchfinder and his minions. While this happens very, very slowly members of the royalty and religious establishment are caused to suffer and they also take pleasure in a series of their own sexual desires, torture and demonic possession by the witch's daughter Margaret. How Margaret becomes bewitched will unfold as you watch the film. As you already know (assuming you've seen Franco films before) Jess made very slow paced often sexually delirious, hypnotic dreamlike films with amazing visuals and music scores as is with The Demons. His films are often loved or hated by the b-movie cult community. I happen to like Franco films very much from all decades of his film career. Especially his output during 68-75. The man was making feature films at a furious pace. Some good, many well... not so good and at the height of his creative powers. He also had more and more freedom as the 70's moved along as censorship loosened in Europe giving him more freedom to create his own genre of film making. Zooms, close ups of butts, vaginal pubic hair, statues and buildings. His music scores, sometimes often overshadow the movie itself and deserve proper vinyl release. The Demons is an essential and often overlooked film of the demonically possessed nun genre and just a fun Euro-cult movie to watch. Like I mentioned above, everything from the music score to the delirious and wild sex scenes is all classic Franco from his most creative output post Soledad Miranda period in this film. If you're looking for a masterpiece of cult cinema Jess Franco's The Demons isn't the one for you, but if you are a true sicko like me and are looking for some of the most wild, delirious, sexually depraved gems of underground cult film making this film will give you a run for your money. I often tell people Jess Franco was the Marquis de Sade of Cinema. Many of his films capture the depravity of the Marquis works in so many of his movies. I give this film an 8/10 because for a Franco film this is actually a very well made low-budget demonic nun sleaze fest.

It's not at all surprising that Les Demons, Jess Franco's sequel to The Bloody Judge, was severely truncated for the US market: it's an extremely repetitious film, never quite knowing when to quit. That said, the full length version is still the way to go, because this being a Franco movie, it would be a crime to miss even a second of the depravity, of which there is plenty to wallow in.The film, clearly modelled on Ken Russell's The Devils (1971), opens with the torture and burning of a witch; as the old crone goes up in flames she places a curse on the people responsible for her death—Lord Justice Jeffries (Cihangir Gaffari), Lady De Winter (Karin Field) and Thomas Renfield (Alberto Dalbés). Years later, beautiful nun Kathleen (Anne Libert) begins to experience sinful dreams and, along with her equally tasty sister Margaret (Britt Nichols), is suspected of being a witch, bringing them to the attention of Lady de Winter and her wicked pals. After much cruelty, torture, and sex, it transpires that sisters Kathleen and Margaret are the dead witch's daughters, and that they are to be her instruments of vengeance.With a plot that goes in circles, Franco's trademark (ie. clumsy) directorial style (erratic zooms, roving camera etc), and loads of crap acting, Les Demons isn't exactly what you would call a Euro horror classic, but with Libert and Nichols regularly disrobing to indulge in all manner of deviancy (self gratification, lesbianism, sex with the devil—that sort of thing), plus a hefty dose of sadism and violence, this trashy piece of nunsploitation should still hold your attention to the end. A wonderfully incongruent soundtrack—including a funky bass guitar that kicks in whenever the women get saucy—only adds to the charm.6/10 (which, from me, is a pretty decent rating for a Franco film).

Jesus Franco Nunploitation film about two nuns who are sisters causing a convent to be turned upside down by lesbianism, demonic possession and other fun things.Its a well acted and we shot film that didn't seem to make a hell of a lot of sense. It was interesting to watch the twisted and lustful goings on for a while but after a while my interest drifted and I found myself no paying attention which made following the minimal story even more difficult. As these things go its actually not bad but not the sort of thing I want to be watching after midnight.6 out of 10.

Jess Franco at his very best can compete with the best of the cult filmmakers; but catch a bad effort and you'd never believe it in a million years. Les Demons represents a really bad effort for the prolific Spanish director, and that's really putting it lightly. The film would be best be described as demonic horror involving witches. The plot has something to do with a witch being burned at the stake, but really it's all so boring that I spent more time concentrating on my desire for it to finish than the actual plot. Luckily the version I saw was the chopped down seventy eight minute version, and although maybe they cut all the good bits out; I have to say I'm glad I saw the short version as I don't think I could have stomached almost two hours of this nonsense! As is usually the case for films like this; Les Demons is packed with sex scenes and most of them appear to serve no relevance to the plot whatsoever, and they're not even well filmed. The only thing that this film has going for it is that it's well shot at times and the music creates an effective mood. My opinion of Jess Franco changes according to which version of the director I'm watching; if it's good Franco then I'm a big fan, but if it's the Franco that made this film; I usually wish I hadn't bothered. Not recommended!