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Released by: Scorpion Releasing
Released on: 9/20/2011
Director: Peter Sasdy
Cast: Joan Collins, Donald Pleasence, Caroline Munro, Ralph Bates, John Steiner
Year: 1976
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The Movie:
Joan Collins plays Lucy, a first-time new mother of the biggest newborn Dr. Finch (Donald Pleasence) has ever seen. After an immensely painful childbirth, the newborn thanks his mom by clawing her face. Something's not right with this baby; call a priest. Wait, no need…Lucy's husband Gino (Ralph Bates) has a sister visiting who just so happens to be a sister. Albana the Nun, played by Eileen Atkins, believes the baby may be possessed by the devil. She confides in Dr. Finch and they talk about the notion that perhaps this baby did not want to be born (hence the original title I Don't Want To Be Born).
Meanwhile, Lucy worries that perhaps little baby Nicholas is not really Gino's, but rather the owner of a strip club she worked at. Tommy (John Steiner) gave Lucy a good scrogging just before she married Gino and retired from her job as a stripper, and she hopes to find out something of his family history. Maybe this monster baby comes from his bloodline. She confides her concerns to her stripper friend Mandy (Caroline Munro), who we sadly don't get to see take her clothes off. She does parade around in something that looks like it can't decide between being a pair of pants and a dress, for whatever that's worth.
Also in the mix is a man who made some moves on her at the club, a fellow performer and the club's resident midget Hercules (George Claydon). She thwarted his advances and he laid a curse upon her. Could this perhaps be the answer? If so, how can she reverse the curse before her baby finally succeeds in killing her?
Think The Exorcist, It's Alive, Rosemary's Baby, and The Omen. Now forget those movies because this one isn't like any of them. Instead this is a weird little movie that doesn't have enough oomph to be put into the category of “demon kidsâ€, but has plenty of wacky elements to make it good stuff. Plus it has a nice helping of sleaze and that earns it some bonus points.
Performance-wise, you can't go wrong with the cast. Collins plays her part well, and even though she screwed around on her fiancée with the strip-club owner and deserved some sort of punishment, she certainly didn't deserve what she got, so you feel for her. Donald Pleasence is Donald Pleasence, so 'nuff said on that. Has that man ever not been awesome in a movie? John Steiner plays a great sleazbag and George Claydon as the evil dwarf is highly effective at giving the movie its creepy vibe. And the little baby…that poor little guy. Cute as a button and he's hated by some of the adults. So what if he's a violent sociopath? Look at him…how can anyone hate that baby?
Visually there's plenty to behold: decent death scenes (hanging, decapitation), some good nudity, London in the mid-1970s, plus the hair and clothing styles of the times. The music is fun as well, combining what sounds to be typical horror mood music with a 70s twist to it. The pacing is pretty decent as well, and there's not a whole lot of exposition to bog down the flow. This is a movie worth the price of admission.
Video/Audio/Extras:
NOTE: This review is based on a screener disc and may not be fully representative of the final product.
The film is presented here with new 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. It's pretty heavy on the film grain and present are some specs of dirt here and there, but overall it provides a good picture. The colors don't necessarily hit you over the head, but they look nice all the same. The black levels look decent as well. It doesn't appear to have DNR, which is good because if this movie looked too slick it would lose its seediness. The only audio option is a mono track that sounds great and seems to have a proper balance. No noticeable troubles like pops or hissing.
Aside from a trailer for the film there are trailers for other titles from Scorpion: Nothing but the Night, Final Exam, Humongous, The House on Sorority Row, Human Experiments, and The Pyx. Also, there is an interview with actor John Steiner running at just under 16 minutes. He talks about his memories on the movie and what he's up to now. He also shares some information with other films he was involved in, such as Salon Kitty. He sounds proud of his work and gives an enthusiastic interview full of great stories. Get this man on some commentaries.
Scorpion has released this title as part of their “Katarina's Nightmare Theater†line, offering an intro and outro that the viewer has the option of skipping if they so choose. Katarina Leigh Waters (of WWE and TNA wrestling fame) provides some good information about the movie and does a fine job of it. She's credited with the writing on her segments, so maybe she really digs these movies and isn't just there as a pretty face. Also, the cover sleeve is reversible, so you can have the “Katarina†banner on the front, or without it.
The Final Word:
Yes, the movie is silly. No, it will never go down as one of the great horror movies of the 1970s. But The Devil Within Her has enough going for it to please those who love left-of-center cinema. There are some genuinely spooky moments, murders that defy logic, full frontal nudity (random strippers), Joan Collins' boobs, bad Italian accents, and midget mayhem. Coupled with a nice transfer and good extras, this release is a solid one that should make people happy.
