- Format: PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Whv
- DVD Release Date: 11 Oct 2004
- Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0002XP014
-
Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
73,388 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
- #77 in Film & TV > Horror > Devils, Demons & Exorcisms
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details |
Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Hammer's To the Devil a Daughter was the last film made by the once great studio. Clearly ailing, Hammer again adapted a novel by Dennis Wheatley, the author behind one of their greatest successes, The Devil Rides Out (1967). Unfortunately for the studio, films such as Rosemary's Baby (1968) and The Exorcist (1973) had, in the intervening decade, radically changed horror cinema. With American star Richard Widmark echoing Gregory Peck's role in the far more polished The Omen (1976), the film seemed, rather than setting the pace as Hammer once had, to be very much jumping on the 1970's occult band-wagon. Christopher Lee is the satanic ex-communicated priest whose coven plan to incarnate the ancient demon Ashteroth, while a supernaturally beautiful Nastassja Kinski demonstrates the same willingness to disrobe as in Cat People (1982). Even so, this lacklustre, misogynistic film couldn't compete with Carrie and Suspiria (both also 1976) and Hammer thereafter concentrated on TV productions. Surprisingly, director Peter Sykes' next film, Jesus (1979), as well as being the most seen and internationally distributed film ever (with an audience of over two billion by 2000), is also the most faithful portrayal of Christ yet committed to celluloid. --Gary S. Dalkin
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
To the Devil a glove puppet,
By Mr. Jonathon T. Beckett "vampire lover" (Dracula's Crypt) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: To The Devil A Daughter [DVD] (DVD)
Occult novelist John Verney(Richard Widmark) is asked by his friend Harry Beddowes(Denholm Elliot) to look after his daughter Catherine whilst she's in London. What Verney does not know is that a group of Satanists lead by the excommunicated priest Father Michael(Christopher Lee) are desperate to get their hands on Catherine as she is required for a hideous ritual to bring the demon Azaroth back into the world. Soon Verney and his friends are fighting for their lives.
This film, Hammer's last feature length horror, is an excellent adaptation of Dennis Wheatley's novel. It is very tense and quite frightening in places, especially as the forces of evil do have the upper hand for most of the film. Richard Widmark as Verney is terrific, maybe an unlikely choice for many, but he is entirely credible as he begins to understand what a dangerous situation he finds himself in. Christopher Lee is gives a sinister, underplayed performance as the very dangerous Father Michael. There are a couple of reasons that stop this film from being a classic, the hand puppet emmissary of evil, and a terribly rushed garish ending. Apart from those quibbles, its a very fine film, and it really is a shame that Hammer concentrated solely on television output after this. A flawed classic. 4 out of 5
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The end of Hammer,
By
This review is from: To The Devil A Daughter [DVD] (DVD)
Having just seen this for the first time I was surprised at just how good it was. Whether those involved realised that it would be the last ever Hammer film I don't know, but it seemed as though a bit more effort was made with this.
Firstly as the previous reviewer stated its an excellent cast and unlike the later Dracula films Christopher Lee has a proper role which makes good use of his screen presence and unique voice. Denholm Elliot is also very good and the rest of the cast do a fine job. In many ways TTDAD resembles 'The Devil Rides Out' because it is also based on a Dennis Wheatley story, but I think the overriding influence was probably Hammers attempt to cash in on the success of the Exorcist and The Omen. As for the previous reviewers comment about the violence being unacceptable I'm afraid I can't rationally explain this. There is only one scene which can possibly be considered for this and nothing is shown, you only see the after effects (and this is just tomato ketchup). There is a little bit of nudity, but in terms of violence there is nothing here to upset the regular horror film fan. By comparison to a lot of modern horror films this is a restrained and subtle affair. So overall an enjoyable film which was a fine swan song for Hammer.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Give it a chance.,
By
This review is from: To The Devil A Daughter [DVD] (DVD)
I went many years ago with my Grandmother to see this film at the local cinema.I just had to add it to my collection and was very pleased that it has passed the passing years with flying colours.At the time the film suffered from too much agro.See it again and get to like it again like i did.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews |
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
