THE DEMONS (1972): X RATED KULT TWO DISC DVD SET

-------------------------- So you thought that Ken Russell's THE DEVILS (1971) was the ultimate sex-violence-witchcraft-crazy nuns historical epic. Jess Franco's 1972 THE DEMONS/DIE NONNEN VON CLICHY/LES DEMONS is equally outrageous and 100 proof Jess Franco, at least in its full version. There are a number of versions of this impressively framed (by Cinematographer/Director Raul Artigot), thoroughly depraved immersion into the corrupt 17th Century English government, equally corrupted convents, rebels and horny nuns running around for nearly 2 hours (in the longest version). We'll be looking at the three versions released as a 2 Disc DVD set by Germany's X RATED KULT company in 2004. This set also includes the Director's Cut (101 minutes), which has since been released as a stand alone. Then there's the 2014 Redemption Blu-ray, which is actually missing some brief, but crucial, footage included in the 2 disc set. Not to mention various VHS releases from the U.S. and some European companies.

----------------------------------------------------- My original DVD REVIEW, written when the X RATED KULT two disc set was brand new: Two young women (Anne Libert) and Margaret (Britt Nichols) are convent bound young women whom Lord Jeffreys is informed are the spawn of an exectuted witch. He sends out Lady de Winter (Karin Field) and Renfield (Alberto Dalbes), the girl's real father, to find them and bring them back to face the Inquistion. More nudity, lesbian interludes and torture than Franco's first film about Lord Jeffreys, THE BLOODY JUDGE, LES DEMONS is now available on an essential 2 disc box set from X RATED KULT DVD. Disc 1 contains the longest 114 minute version with German and French language options, original trailer, alternate scenes and other bonus materials. This version, presented in a colorful 2.35:1 transfer finally reveals the films as the Sadean epic that it is: post-modern erotic Fantastique which comments on the Inquisition and nunsploitation genres of that era (cf THE DEVILS). Franco's use of the widescreen ratio is simply stunning, with an impressive use of multiple fields of action. All the sex, nudity and violence is present in this uncut print. It should also be noted that this version has some shots which were not in the Redempton Blu ray print. Disc 2 contians a new "Director's Cut", re-edited and rescored by Franco in 2003. He replaces the anachronistic electric rock score of Raiteux with synthesized cues from Daniel White-Jess Franco scores for GEMIDOS DE PLACER, BARBED WIRE DOLLS and other titles. This constitutes a fascinating, self-reflexive, musical commentary along with a new Spanish language track featuring Jess Franco himself dubbing Howard Vernon's character! At 101 minutes it cuts the outrageous Doris Thomas' masturbation scene in the long version (over 4 mn) to 1mn and also loses some expository scenes. The print looks slightly crisper and more colorful than the longer 114 mn version but the Spanish dubbing is technically limited and somewhat hollow with a "studio" ambiance. As with many Franco "alternates", it consistutes a separate new film in itself. Onscreen title: LAS POSEIDAS DEL DEMONIO. Note that the masturbation scene is not essential to the film's plot but it does point to the direction Franco would take in his subsequent films. Stretching out erotic sequences as delirious interludes of sexual pleasure examined by his ever probing telezoom lens would become one of Franco's personal signatures during this period and well into the 1980s films. It's more than just a time saving tool here and in such films as LA COMTESSE NOIRE and LORNA THE EXORCIS. It becomes aesthetic signage of Franco's intense focus on a temporal-spatial dimension which takes the viewer out of the plot and the linear vector into a kind of musical representaton of sexual energy as the primary emotion in the scene. Finally, there is the Original German 85 minute version, which censors some of the sex, nudity and torture. English language option included. This is the only version with the original credit sequence intact, the other two have new video generated fonts. All three versions are letterboxed at 2.35:1 (although it may appear as wide as 2.50 on some monitors) and have multiple language options. The oversized box is lavishly and lasciviously illustrated with four potential covers. "The X-Rated Nunsploitation Series 5" Available from Xploited Cinema. "Sex und Gewalt hinter Klostermauern"

----------------------------------------- Considering that THE DEMONS is actually a remake of his 1970 THE BLOODY JUDGE/NIGHT OF THE BLOOD MONSTER, with Christopher Lee playing the role of the historical Witchfinder General, Judge Jeffries, the acting and staging here is not as theatrical as it is in THE BLOODY JUDGE. Here the Judge is played by the Iranian actor Cihangar Garffari (John Caffari), who doesn't have quite the psychological grasp which Lee had on the character. Franco decided to create an updated cut in 2003, eliminating over 10 minutes of footage from the full 114 minute version. The English language version opens with the prog-rock style electric guitar powered Jean Bernard Raiteux score heard over the opening credits. The score of the Spanish language version is credited to Franco, Daniel White and Ezekial Caldas, a replacement score overdubbed by Franco for this "Director's Cut." I have to admit this cut of the film is not my preferred way to view. It loses much of its unique atmosphere as a result of the Franco approved replacement score and shorter length. The newly recorded Spanish dub track is also technically and aesthetically inferior to both the English and Franch tracks.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It is perhaps misleading to view THE DEMONS as merely a remake of THE BLOODY JUDGE, also featuring a witchburning judge played by a very different actor, Cihangir Gaffari, here credited as John Foster, whose interpretation of the role is quite wooden compared to Lee's performance. The film stands as a fresh interpretation in its own right and something of a stepping stone in the Franco multiverse. In an inteview included on the 2023 Mondo Macabro disc of THE WITCHES MOUNTAIN, Gaffari complains that Franco, as Spanish co-producer of the film just disappeared at the end of shooting, forgetting to pay the actor for his performance. This was after Gaffari had already donated some of his own money to the film's production. Disc 2 contians a new "Director's Cut", reedited and rescored by Franco in 2003. At 101 minutes it loses some of its epic scope. The print looks slightly crisper and more colorful than the longer 114 mn version but the Spanish dubbing is technically limited and somewhat hollow with a "studio" ambiance. As with many Franco "alternates", it consistutes a separate new film in itself. Maybe Franco considered it more updated and marketable in this reedited-rescored cut. Onscreen title: LAS POSEIDAS DEL DEMONIO.

------------------------------------------- Finally, there is the Original German 85 minute version, which censors some of the sex, nudity and torture. English and German language options are included. This is the only version with the original credit sequence intact, the other two have new video generated fonts. The video quality of this print can only be described as "Grindhouse" and the directed is credited to Franco's "Clifford Brown" beard. As noted above the aspect ratio appears to be closer to 2.50:1 on playback. The score by Jean Bernard Raiteux can only be described as early 1970s "prog rock" in style and is perfectly anachronistic and likely the idea of post production editor Gerard Kikoine. Franco would criticize this score in later interviews, missing the point. All three versions are letterboxed at 2.35:1 and have multiple language options. The oversized box is lavishly and lasciviously illustrated with four potential covers. "The X-Rated Nunsploitation Series 5" Available from Xploited Cinema. "Sex und Gewalt hinter Klostermauern" is emblazoned on the back cover over a close-up of a male nipple being clipped off and full frontal nude shots of female characters masturbating and stretched out on a torture rack. I guess one would term this 2004 release a collectors item

------------------------------------------ There's also an extensive file of alternate takes, missing shots and footage, additional credits and image galleries which alone makes this boxset worth searching out.

(C)Robert Monell, 2025 .