Eye of the Devil Rating: Sorry, this product is not currently available. Cast: David Niven Sharon Tate Donald Pleasence David Hemmings Complete Cast (6 total)

Eye of the Devil Reviews

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Weird film made very memorable by Sharon Tate...
I remember seeing this on late nite television when I was very young. It is funny how certain images stay with us. I remember being at once attracted to Sharon Tate (a true beauty) and yet kinda scared because she was a wicked girl in this movie and it made me very uneasy. But I was able to see this film, of all places at a midnight show in London (in August 1999) , and it has real atmoshpere and chills. And to be sure, Sharon Tate may finally be remembered for something else than the way she died. Her beauty is almost intoxicating and I don't mean that in a lesbionic way, she just was. Also note the location, so weird.

Odd, but intensely compelling film
I am surprised this movie is not out on DVD or video because it's one of the few films of the beautiful Sharon Tate, the actress killed by the Mason Cult. Supposedly her "introduction" film along with fellow actor David Hemmings, MGM made a big todo of showcasing them before the films release.

The film was also called 13 in some releases, and the supposedly unlucky number seems apropos for the film with Tate later being murdered, and the trouble over initial casting. The simply gorgeous Kim Novak was set to play the lead, they had actually begun filming when she was thrown from a horse. A broken bone resulted in her being replaced by the powerhouse Deborah Kerr, who seems, truthfully, better suited to be playing David Niven's wife.

This is like no other Niven film, an high popular, but I believe, underrated actor. He made it seems so easy. But you watch him with Gregory Peck in GUNS OF NAVARONE and you will see he was a marvellous talent.

It's a low-key thriller, in the WICKERMAN vein. Kerr, Niven and family have been living a good life in Paris, but the arrival of mysterious priest from Niven's home, starts them spiralling into a nightmare of unbelievable proportions. Niven, says the countryside of his province requires the return of the Marquis de Bellac, there is a prolong draught of years, and he must go back, though he won't say what he can do to stop a draught. He insists Kerr and the children stay behind.

In typical headstrong fashion, Kerr is not content to remain behind being the 'little woman', so she and the children travel to the medieval honour of Bellac. Stuck in a time warp of the Middle Ages, Bellac is a total feudal estate. Niven in NOT happy to see she has come. She soon runs afoul of two strange young people (Hemmings, an archer, and the beautiful Tate, who shows disdain for all the males around her). Though they are not really a part of the estate, they seems to come and go as they please and laugh at Kerr's affront.

The strange priest, played by Donald Pleasence, continues to exert a strong hold over Niven, almost as if he is compelling and preparing Niven for 'what will come'. It is clear things are very wrong at Bellac. After a ride in the wood, she discovers that nearly every Bellac Marquis has died a mysterious death at an young age, and is harassed by hooded monk-like figures after finding the tomb of the last Marquis in the wood. There are strange comings and goings at all hours. Niven;s aunt tucks her head and ignores it all, but seems ready to burst into tears. A strange man is hiding in the attic and he warns her to leave before it's too late. Oddly, she discovered though the whole area is very religious, the religion has a taint of heresy about it.

One day, she catches Tate teaching the children to play on the edge of the crenellations of the roof. When she rushes up to stop it, she soon finds herself at peril, as Tate hypnotises her in to nearly stepping off the roof.

Worse, is the distance between her and her husband, and his insistence he has accepted his fate.

Very understated, mesmerising dancing in the ring of 13....with a knockout of an ending.

Ted Turner occasionally shows this - beware he cuts it bloody pieces!

POWERFUL!

Highly recommended to those who appreciate The WICKERMAN.

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