Ken Russell's The Devils Director's Cut (1971)

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Synopsis

Dir: Ken Russell. Drama/Biography. Based on the play ‘The Devils’ by John Whiting and the book ‘The Devils of Loudun’ by Aldous Huxley. After secretly getting married, a 17th century French priest (Oliver Reed) is accused of blasphemy by a jealous nun (Vanessa Redgrave).

Content elements

• Infrequent use of profanity and vulgar expressions
• Frequent portrayals of hand-to-hand and weapons, some in the context of torture - blood and some detail; frequent portrayals of corpses, death, self-harm, and suicidal behaviour - some blood and detail
• Frequent portrayals of sexual activity – buttock and female frontal nudity
• Frequent breast, buttock, and female frontal nudity in a non-sexual context; infrequent male frontal nudity in a non-sexual context
• Infrequent portrayals of alcohol use in a recreational context
• Infrequent portrayals of crude bodily functions

Thematic elements

• Religious hysteria
• Jealousy
• Revenge

Classification rationale

Rated 18A for frequent violence and nudity in a sexual context

Classification date