Did anyone see “the Devil’s Rain” on IFC? I thought it was pretty damn good. Sure if you’re a snob you could make fun of it but you won’t convince me. If you where reared watching “the 4 o’clock movie” or “film at 11”, than this is for you. “Rain” will transport you to a place were you are easily swayed by the most minor of terrifying thrills. Don’t give in to a hipster attitude and ironic mocking. Don’t be fooled by the aging cast that includes Ernest Borgnine, Ida Lapone, Eddie Albert, and Keenan Wynn. Also included is a younger set with Tom Skerrit, John Travolta and William Shatner falling somewhere in-between. It might look like “work for hire” on paper and maybe it was. However these “negatives” are used to its advantage. They give some earnest performances and everyone is up for the challenge of giving the material its due. Remember this is from the same person who gave us “Wuthering Heights” w/ Timothy Dalton and Dr. Phibesw/ Vincent Price. It is part mythology, part Western, and part Dennis Wheatly. Brimming with decent art direction and foreshadowing, the ending is a shocker with its melting corpses. Amazingly, characterization and even humanity is underscored through the goo and black robes as people cling to life or something like it. The story line is something you have ever seen before but aren’t they all pretty simple? A satanic cult (headed by Borgnine) is searching for a book that shall grant them greater power. The book belonging to a family (Shatner and Skerrit are brothers) has kept it from their hands for generations. Perhaps what’s scariest is the idea that this cult is continually haunting the same family since the Puritan days. One of the highlights is a metaphysical / psychological ‘Mexican standoff’ between Borgnine and Shanter as they test each other’s faith and personal will. Search all you want. You won’t find it anywhere else.

In short, this is everything you wanted Michael Winner’s THE SENTINEL to be. If you love horror films than please don’t pass this over. Directed by Robert Fuest with some advice from Anton Levey. It’s like an American Paul Nashy movie. That is the best way to describe it. THE DEVIL’S RAIN! That final sequence is scary.

I have a soft spot for this film, having my House burgled and car stolen whlist watching it at the Cinema (the guy was caught driving the car and stolen stuff in his house!).
Chatting with Bob Fuest regularly in the late 90s he revealed that he was off set when the melting scenes were added/shot (this is common knowledge presumably), and that the funding was, how to put this delicately, the Mob (?!), and that Travolta had extremely bad breath. He charmingly thought my old Laserdisc was a soundtrack LP to the film (heck - who really wants to know what a Laserdisc is, even back then! :rolleyes:).

How did that work? Did he steal your car from outside the cinema and proceed to the house... or did he break into your house and see the notation on your wipe-off bulletin board (DEVIL'S RAIN, 7:30, Odeon) and go there to take the car, too?

When I noticed this was on last night, I almost...almost...tuned it, but knew I'd probably be up for the duration and had to get up early this morning. As uneven as it is it has that certain something that keeps you watching.

But, hey, I like THE SENTINEL, too...it's like all the old-timers who couldn't get RAIN got offered THE SENTINEL to pacify them, or maybe THE VISITOR or THE MANITOU ("where the hell's my devil movie?"). :)

Who says I drove to the Cinema that night (we got the London Underground up to the West End)? :rolleyes:

I'm still trying to figure out who IDA LAPONE is... :lol:

But, it sounds like the kind of movie I would, and do, enjoy...

Couple years in LA, and RHS can't conceive of not driving to any given destination anymore. It's sad, really...

:ph43r:

Oh yeah? Well, you (points at JEFFREY ALLEN RYDELL) drive (turns imaginary steering wheel) me crazy! (rotates index finger near right ear to indicate lunacy.)

On the other hand, LA has really increased your skill set when it comes to underlining specific points for emphasis and clarity.

Still some second act doldrums to address, I'm afraid.

:P

I don't know where you live but I live in America and in America there are no second acts.

Fortunately, I live on just this side of paradise...

Indeed – Google Devil’s Rain production company Bryanston Pictures, and you’ll see lots of entries for Louis “Butchie” Peraino, an alleged Colombo crime family associate who allegedly used the company as a rinse for mob money.

Ahem, that's alleged mob money.

A dear friend of mine always calls this film THE DEVIL'S PISS. I think he's right.