To the Devil a Daughter
                                                                          
Director: Peter Sykes
Year: 1976
Rating: 6.0
After wading into Devil worship in The Devil Rides Out, I thought I might as well get another taste of it with another Hammer film. In The Devil Rides Out, Christopher Lee broke up the Satanic coven while this time he heads one. Probably more fun for him. And he is deliciously evil using his Dracula stare and grin to send a chill or two up your spine. This one is also based on a Dennis Wheatley novel but the author thought they had deviated from his work in such a vile way that he stated that he would never allow Hammer to adapt another of his books.  Though not having read the book, it is hard to imagine that the lurid sexual aspects were in a book written in 1953. Especially those around a young girl played by Nastassja Kinski. Though her character is supposed to be approaching her 18th birthday, Nastassja was in fact 14 years old at the time. She admittedly looks older, particularly when she gets totally naked. For a second, I thought I can't believe her parents allowed this but then I remembered that dad was Klaus Kinski. I am surprised this short scene hasn't been edited out of newer releases these days. It could never happen now. One hopes.



Lee isn't the main character though - that goes to a messy looking frazzled unlikable Richard Widmark who plays an author of the occult. He was apparently just as grouchy and sour on set as his character is in the film. He is asked by a man (Denholm Elliot) to pick up his daughter at the airport who is being brought into the country by a Satanic cult for evil purposes. Verney (Widmark) can't ignore an opportunity for his next book. He gets a lot more than he was bargaining for. Because Catherine (Nastassja) is the vessel to bring the Devil back. It doesn't quite make any sense but she was born and bathed in blood for this purpose. Brought up in a Satanic nunnery, her 18th is coming up and it is time for the big baptism. Which is way creepy echoing both Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist. Father Michael (Lee) shows up with a baby as well - a monstrosity of red gore that is supposed to take over the body of Catherine. I think. It was more than a bit confusing and it was late at night when I watched it. Not the best time for me to watch a scary movie. I couldn't sleep till 7. It just seems like bringing back the Devil in human form should be easier.



Verney is able to get Catherine away from her handler and takes her back to his apartment till her father picks her up. He brings over two friends (Honor Blackman and Anthony Valentine) to keep her safe while he goes out. But Father Michael is able to get a mental direct line to her and orders her to do awful things. Verney becomes obsessed with protecting her and puts his friends in danger. The father is a broken man falling into pieces and Verney has to face down Father Michael who tries to tempt him with a naked Catherine. The film has some tension, suspense, queasiness and a good cast going for it. It was a big hit for Hammer. One of their last.