Review of To the Devil a Daughter (1976) by Stuart K — 22 Aug 2009

And so it came to this. To The Devil A Daughter would prove to be Hammer's final horror film, (until their recent resurrection), it showed a tantalising glimpse of a new direction for the company. But, it came too late, with the likes of The Exorcist and The Omen at the cinema, the game was up for Hammer.

But, it's a good, dark film. Nothing cheesy about it, it's very bleak indeed. Based upon Dennis Wheatley's novel, it has excommunicated priest Father Michael Rayner (Christopher Lee) running a satanic cult, and there's one 18 year old girl Catherine (Nastassja Kinski), who is the Devil's representative on Earth, although she doesn't know that, but Father Michael can control her.

But, Catherine's father Henry Beddows (Denholm Elliot) seeks the help of respected occult novelist John Verney (Richard Widmark), to save her soul and defeat Father Michael and his fellow Satanists.

It's an underrated Hammer Horror, but it's story does feel a bit disjoined, (the ending is rushed), but it has a good cast to it's name, (look out for Honor Blackman, Brian Wilde and Frances de la Tour!!) It's suspenseful and well photographed by the great David Watkin.

If only Hammer had survived then...