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This week’s recommendation isn’t necessarily a ‘critical darling’. But in spite of that, my latest suggestion will undoubtedly appeal to anyone that enjoys the style over substance approach to filmmaking and also digs satanic panic cinema. Further, The Devil’s Rain is a visually striking effort that features an all-star cast and glorious practical effects work.
The Devil’s Rain follows the Preston family, who, for generations, has possessed a sacred tome that contains the names of those that have pledged their immortal souls to the Dark Lord. For centuries, the witchy Jonathan Corbis (played by Ernest Borgnine) has been trying to liberate the book from the descendants of the Preston clan. As Corbis grows closer to reclaiming the book, the Preston family begins to fear that all hell will break loose and evil will rule the earth.
I wasn’t kidding when I said that The Devil’s Rain favors style over substance. The narrative is all over the place and doesn’t make a tremendous amount of sense. Hell, what The Devil’s Rain actually is remains somewhat loosely explained at best. But the proceedings manage to be thrilling, in spite of a lack of narrative cohesion, and the visuals are incredible, especially when considering that the film is nearly fifty-years-old. From the witchy set pieces to the recurrence of stormy weather to the sequences featuring waxy, human replicas that melt away to nothing, The Devil’s Rain is surely a sight to behold.
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In addition to great effects work, the flick also features an all-star lineup of on-camera talent that includes the likes of Eddie Albert, William Shatner, Ernest Borgnine, and Tom Skerritt. Additionally, John Travolta and Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey feature in smaller cameo appearances. If you ask me, that’s some pretty impressive star power for an all-but-forgotten satanic chiller of yesteryear.
The real standout of the core cast is Ernest Borgnine as Jonathan Corbis. He plays the satanic priest with such gleeful enthusiasm, chewing up the scenery left and right. Although his performance is a bit over-the-top, there is still a profound sense of menace to it. Borgnine’s character convincingly comes across as a man hell-bent on doing the Devil’s work at any cost. And there’s something inherently unsettling about that.
Tom Skerritt also turns in a solid performance as primary protagonist Tom Preston. In spite of sporting a terrible haircut, the mustachioed actor serves as a relatable lead and proves a worthy adversary to Borgnine’s antagonistic turn.
Surprisingly, the film sports a PG rating. But 1975 was a far more permissive time. So, don’t let the softball classification fool you into thinking The Devil’s Rain doesn’t get dark. As hard as the film goes, it would likely be slapped with an R-rating for ‘intensity’ and ‘disturbing imagery’ if submitted to the MPAA today.
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In addition to being dark, The Devil’s Rain is also a particularly surreal effort, I find it to be a great choice to put on anytime I want to consume an edible and melt into the couch. The bizarre storyline and campier elements become even stranger under the influence of psychotropic drugs. Of special interest is the bonkers finale that sees multiple characters melting into a waxy puddle of oozy goo.
The Devil’s Rain is streaming on Shudder as of the publication of this post. Additionally, it’s available to watch for free (with ads) on Tubi, Pluto, and Plex.
That’s all for this installment of The Overlooked Motel. If you want to chat more about under-seen and underrated films, feel free to hit me up with your thoughts on Twitter @FunWithHorror!
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