The Devil's Rain [Blu-ray]

Director: Robert Fuest Robert Fuest

Overview

This horror oddity tells the story of a well-networked throng of devil-worshipers populating a small Arizona town who possess a strange crystal icon which houses the captive souls of their sacrificial victims. The coven, led by the thick-browed Jonathan Corbis (Ernest Borgnine), are also determined to get their hands on a diabolical "Book of Names" which contains the identities of those victims. After the family of Tom Preston (Tom Skeritt) are murdered by the coven for concealing the book, Tom sets out to avenge them. During an outrageous climax -- in which none other than William Shatner is offered up in sacrifice and Borgnine is transformed by a lightning bolt into a chunky horned demon -- the receptacle of souls is shattered, releasing the title storm and causing the congregation to melt into puddles of multicolored goo (a scene which seems to last forever). Produced in 1975 but released two years later, this film touted John Travolta's name at the height of his popularity, though his role is remarkably small (he does melt nicely at the end, however).

Product Details

Release Date:	10/31/2017
UPC:	0663390001981
Original Release:	1975
Rating:	NR
Source:	Severin
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:26:00
Sales rank:	15,556

Special Features

cc Audio commentary with director Robert Fuest Confessions of Tom - interview with actor Tom Skerritt The Devil's Makeup - interview with SFX artist Tom Burman 1975 archive interview with actor William Shatner First Stop Durango - interview with script supervisor Ana Maria Quintana Consulting with the Devil - a conversation with the high priest & high priestess of the Church of Satan Hail Satan! - interview with Anton LaVey biographer Blanche Barton Filmmaker/horror collector Daniel Roebuck on The Devil's Rain On set Polaroid gallery by script supervisor Ana Maria Quintana accompanied by radio spots Theatrical trailer TV spots Poster/Still gallery

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ernest Borgnine	Jonathan Corbis
Eddie Albert	Dr. Sam Richards
Ida Lupino	Mrs. Preston
William Shatner	Mark Preston
Keenan Wynn	Sheriff Owens
Tom Skerritt	Tom Preston
John Travolta	Danny
Joan Prather	Julie Preston
Woodrow Chambliss	John
Claudio Brook	Preacher
Lisa Todd	Lilith
George Sawaya	Steve Preston
Erika Carlson	Aaronessa Fyffe
Tony Cortez	1st Captor
Anton La Vey	High Priest,Priscilla Corbis
Robert Wallace	Matthew Corbis
Al Delory	Composer

Technical Credits

Gabe Essoe

Gerald Hopman

James Ashton

James V. Cullen	Producer
Federico Farfan	Special Effects
Thomas L. Fisher	Special Effects
Robert Fuest	Director
Michael S. Glick	Producer
Sandy Howard	Executive Producer,Producer
Carol Wenger	Special Effects,Special Effects
Gabe Essoe	Screenwriter
Frederico Farfan	Special Effects
Gerald Hopman	Screenwriter
James Ashton	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Hollywood's post-Exorcist infatuation with Satan spawned a multitude of occult thrillers pining for similar exploitive success, though few had as surprisingly effective results as the equally kitschy/creepy Devil in the desert flick, The Devil's Rain. Featuring an impressive cast and an assured, eerie tone that endures despite some truly wild imagery, the film is a hidden gem in the world of obscure mid-'70s horror. Opening with a vivid title sequence featuring Hieronymus Bosch renderings of Dante's Hell accompanied by Al Delory's under-your-skin harmonics, director Robert Fuest (The Abominable Dr. Phibes and its sequel) keeps the audience uneasy from the get-go and ratchets up the tension from there. The cast should grab any hardcore cinephile by the throat, with William Shatner, Ida Lupino, Ernest Borgnine, and Tom Skerritt all adding their varied levels of class to an otherwise B-picture. John Travolta even makes an appearance, though his all-too-brief glimpses are obscured by various satanic extras as well as a case of a waxy, gruesome makeup job. In fact, this is one production that certainly benefited from a lax ratings board, as its gaping eye-socket nastiness spits in the face of its PG rating -- never mind that the picture just might hold the record for greatest melting effects in horror history, as evidenced in the finale once billed as "The Most Incredible Ending to a Motion Picture Ever!" While that statement certainly does some yoga stretches with the old truth, there are no lies in saying that Ernest Borgnine in demon-goat makeup is worth the price of admission alone.

All Movie Guide - Jeremy Wheeler