NOVA Horror Club Discussion - The Devils (1971)

"Hell will hold no surprises for you."

Banned in several countries upon its release, Ken Russell's The Devils is a provocative exploration of the intertwining of religious and political corruption, tearing into the mythology of holy authority and depicting a church more obsessed with domination than devotion.

Based on true historical events in 17th-century France, the film exposes how religious authority weaponized hysteria, sexual repression, and false virtue to destroy lives in service of power. This is history not as the pious remember it, but as the condemned endured it—blood, lies, and the spectacle of righteousness as a mask for cruelty.

The Devils is streaming on Shudder and available for rent on Amazon Prime Video.

🩸 DISCUSSION FORMAT

Rule #1: Be excellent to each other.
There are no right or wrong opinions. Be curious—not critical—about what others have to say.

Opening Round – “The Pulse and Three-Liner”
We’ll go around the circle clockwise. Each person will:

• Give the film a rating (out of 5 stars),
• Share a brief 2–3 sentence review,
• Mention what they found to be the scariest or most entertaining moment.

Main Discussion – Deep Cuts Welcome
Once the circle’s complete, we’ll open the floor.

Members are encouraged to explore any aspect of the film that stood out to them, including:

• Technical: cinematography, sound, lighting, effects
• Craft: performances, dialogue, production design
• Themes: moral ambiguity, genre tropes, symbolic elements

I’ll come prepared with a few discussion sparks each time, but anyone is welcome to bring questions or observations to the group.

Closing Question
We’ll wrap each session by asking:

“Would you change the end of the movie? If so, how—and why?”

This gives everyone a final chance to reflect, imagine, or challenge the film’s choices.