The Devil's Nightmare (1971)

It's the same old story - travelers are stranded, and so have to take shelter in an old creepy castle. We've seen the story setup a million times in the horror genre; however, this Belgian flick comes with a twist, setting it apart from its cookie-cutter clones.

CHARACTERS

• Lisa Müller (Erika Blanc) the Baron's daughter
• Baron von Rhoneberg (Jean Servais)
• Regine (Shirley Corrigan)
• Corinne (Ivana Novak)
• Nancy (Colette Emmanuelle)
• Mr Mason (Lucien Raimbourg)
• Alvin Sorelle (Jacques Monseau) the priest in training
• Hans (Maurice De Groote) the butler
• Howard (Lorenzo Terzon)
• Matt Ducard (Christian Maillet), tour guide

RATING: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10

REVIEW: This is how Gothic horror should be done. Great setting and Gothic vibe, with a compelling story, and moments of genuine horror thanks to the amazing make-up effects. The girls are gorgeous and the film makes full use of their assets. If I had to nitpick, there's a little too much sitting around talking, slowing things to an absolute crawl at times. Yet, it's not enough to bog things down too much; a great example of the genre.

SYNOPSIS

A bus carrying six tourists and the tour guide driver Matt Ducard (Christian Maillet) has to take a detour. A creepy guy they pass along the way (Daniel Emilfork) tells them there's a castle up ahead where they can stay the night. (We'll later learn this is actually Satan.) The tourists, including blonde Regine (Shirley Corrigan), enter the ancient, cursed estate. The slovenly tour guide Matt, cranky old Mr Mason (Lucien Raimbourg), Alvin Sorelle (Jacques Monseau) the priest in training, smoking hot Corinne (Ivana Novak), boring guy Howard (Lorenzo Terzon), and blonde fox Regine. In front is Howard's wife, Nancy (Colette Emmanuelle). Regine is alarmed by the sudden arrival of the butler. Hans (Maurice De Groote) the butler is a bit disfigured [The make-up artist for this film is phenomenal; more great work to come.] Hans shows Regine and Corinne their room.

Baron von Rhoneberg (Jean Servais) performs alchemy in the basement laboratory. He's the owner of the castle. We get to know the individual tourists a little better as they separate into their rooms. Howard and Nancy have a terrible marriage. She claims he only married her for her money. And that may very well be true. Regine and Corinne have sex. A spectacular scene. They have dinner, and the Baron tells the guests that the family is cursed. Every generation, the eldest daughter must be a succubus, due to a pact with the devil made long ago. And look who just arrived: Lisa Müller (Erika Blanc) the Baron's daughter.

She is indeed a succubus, and appears in the priest's bedroom to tempt him. Alvin is somehow able to resist. He retreats to the study, but she follows him - showing him her breast to test his resolve. But Alvin doesn't budge. Lisa proceeds to kill each of the tourists one by one in a manner like the Seven Deadly Sins. [A clever idea, decades before Se7en.] The first is Matt, who's killed appropriately as Gluttony, choking on the food offered him by the succubus. When Lisa is at the moment of killing the tourists, she becomes this horrifying monster.

Lisa follows Nancy through the halls. She pushes her into a pile of gold, where she sinks like quicksand - representing Greed. Corinne has a midnight tryst with Howard, and is killed inside an Iron Maiden - representing Lust. Howard is beheaded, representing Envy. Mr. Mason is impaled, falling out a window, representing Wrath. Finally, Alvin finds Regine dead from a snake bite, representing Sloth. Satan offers Alvin a deal. If he'll just sign this pact, all the tourists will be restored to life. He does so. But it's all for nothing because Satan has their tour bus fall off a cliff. Alvin should have known better!

THE END