To the Devil a Daughter (1976)

Really Surprised!

Film Perfection

Dreadfully Boring

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

This Horror Movie is much Better than it Ought to be Considering its Troubled Production. Hammer Studios was in Dire Straits and this was the One that was going to Save the Beloved British Studio. Although it made a Tidy Profit, it was Not to be.It was Hammer's Biggest Budget Movie, went on Multiple Locations, but it wasn't in the Tarot Cards as the Studio Closed it Doors just one Film Later (a non Horror Film, a remake of The Lady Vanishes).The Film has a Cast of well Knowns including Richard Widmark, Christopher Lee, Honor Blackman and Nastassja Kinski (her age is referenced anywhere from 15-17 depending on the source). This is Significant because the Actress has some Daring Sex Scenes.After Completion Chris Lee, Richard Widmark, and Author of the Source Material Dennis Wheatley all but Disowned the Movie. One can see why, but then again, it seems Like a bit of Insincere Embarrassment and Over Reaction.Sure it is Lurid, Gross, Bloody, and Disturbing in its Seventies Exploitation kind of way. After all, it was "The Exorcist" (1972) that made oodles of Money and Everyone, including the Cash Hungry Hammer were trying to Emulate. Even Today "The Exorcist" and this one are Lurid, Gross, Bloody, and Disturbing. So...What The?The Movie is Worth a Watch for a number of reasons and will Deliver the Goods to Horror Fans and Fangoria Types. It may not be as Good as its Inspirations but the Movie is Odd enough and Gory enough and with that Cast, it finds itself in Cult Film Status despite the Rushed and Disappointing Ending and the on the Set Bickering. It's a Nasty Bit of Business this, and a number of Things make it Interesting, and a Good Try for Hammer. It was just that Their Time was Up and Others would have to Carry On the Tradition. R.I.P. Hammer Horror.

To the Devil a Daughter was an effort by legendary Hammer Films to update their Gothic horror formula for the contemporary 1970s. As such, it is mostly successful but lacks the confident dramatic touch that earmarked most of Hammer's better movies. The story is based on a novel by Dennis Wheatley and is more than creepy enough, revolving around an excommunicated priest (Christopher Lee) and his cult, who want to bring the devil into the world via a young and naive nun (Natassia Kinski). Richard Widmark is our protagonist, an occult writer who takes Kinski's character under his wing in an effort to protect her from Lee's machinations.The cast is terrific. Lee, as usual, delivers a standout turn as the defrocked priest, while Widmark is a very human and fallible but likable hero who soon learns he and his friends are in over their heads but can't bring himself to stand by and do nothing. Kinski is charismatic as the young nun who has no idea what the cult has in store for her, and her natural beauty certainly enhances the picture.The actual story, however, is unfortunately very up and down. I haven't read the source novel yet so I can't compare, but it seems like the scriptwriters didn't know for sure what direction to take with the various plot threads. This is especially apparent in the film's conclusion, which is terribly anti-climactic and left this viewer scratching his head bemusedly. At least it avoids the cheap "jump" non-ending of many modern horror films. There is also a rather unfortunate devil-baby which is too obviously fake to produce anything but wry smiles. Sometimes it's best not to show everything.Pacing isn't great either, and some of the subplots are quite boring. I think this is due, at least in part, to the very naturalistic tone the director adopts from the outset. It was probably hoped this would lend the picture authenticity, but it also negates excitement and tension. Altogether the movie plays rather more like a weird documentary than a horror film.To the Devil a Daughter isn't the worst of films, but it's not nearly as good as it should have been, either. Its interesting plot isn't developed with the necessary suspense and while the cast is outstanding, the script and direction let them down. Worth watching once for Hammer fans, as long as expectations are tempered accordingly...Curse of Frankenstein this is not.

Having achieved moderate success with its adaptation of The Devil Rides Out, Hammer returned to the Dennis Wheatley well for To The Devil A Daughter, with an established US name in tow to hopefully bolster transatlantic box office, in the shape of Richard Widmark (Christopher Lee would be the baddie on this occasion, having played the heroic Duc de Richlieu in the former offering).And, as with The Devil Rides Out, time has shown Wheatley's work - or, rather, the screen adaptations of them - to be rather turgid and tame. The plot centres around a young woman who is due to be converted into a conduit for evil by a rather unpleasant black magic ring, and Widmark plays the main hero trying to keep her safe, assisted by other less well informed types (ie. spearcarriers fated for nasty ends).The trouble is that much of the movie comprises the two factions jockeying for position - nothing much actually happens. And, when it does happen, it isn't very good. There is a "special effect" of an embryo thingie which is, frankly, ludicrous, and the final showdown involves a video negative/contrast effect, and then - oh, the baddie is gone. Simply disappeared. Not smashed to bits, sucked into a pit, consumed by the demons he was trying to summon - just gone. Talk about your anti climax.No, I'm afraid 35 years' distance doesn't make this a forgotten gem, it just reminds us that it wasn't very good to start off with, but it didn't matter because we didn't have the choice and we were much less demanding.Nastassia Kinski gets her kit off, by the way, and reminds us that fronts were fluffy in 1976.

An occult writer(Richard Widmark)attempts to prevent a young nun(Nastassja Kinski)from falling into the hands of a satanic priest(Christopher Lee)and his heretical religious cult,who plan to use her as the human host for their dark god."To the Devil a Daughter" is Hammer's last theatrically released horror film.The lush photography and memorable performances are the main reasons to see this underrated gem of occult horror.There are some bizarre and highly unsettling dream sequences and a bit of graphic nudity and gore.The childbirth scene is particularly gruesome.Very young 16-year old Nastassja Kinski provides some sleaze and Christopher Lee is gloriously evil as a devilish priest.8 out of 10.