The Devonsville Terror

As much as the horror genre at large tends to victimize women, some titles particularly zero in on misogyny to the point that it can be hard to convince oneself to watch them. Rarely is that more true than when the tale on hand is one of witchcraft, and the appalling, bogus violence of "witch trials," with clear indication of pitting female characters against men. Suffice to say that I've held off for awhile on watching 'The Devonsville terror' for just this reason. Then again, maybe there are more specific reasons to have had reservations about this. One can't fault a production for being on the more indie and low-budget end of the spectrum, though without especial points of brilliance for counterbalance, the evident shortcomings will be foremost. On that note, while stunts and practical effects look great, the more grandiose visuals show their limits. Ulli Lommel's direction feels kind of limpid, or at least highly variable, with the result of some stilted acting and pacing. Even Donald Pleasence, a legend in and of himself and the highlight of no few otherwise tepid features, seems to struggle some in a role that is distinctly small and limited. Suffice to say this falls well short of perfect by any measure, and I can understand how it hasn't been regarded well.

The acting isn't all bad, not by any means, and some actors come off better on average than others despite the weak direction. True, maybe they're aided by having their characters spotlighted as sympathetic figures, but I think this goes primarily for star Suzanna Love, and co-stars Mary Walden and Deanna Haas. Paul Willson makes an unexpected impression with the nervous energy he carries as Mr. Gibbs, reminding of Philip Seymour Hoffman in 'Synecdoche, New York.' Meanwhile, there is some directness in the writing that comes across as a result of inexperience (or to be less kind, plain amateurism) - though even with definite rough edges, I'm pleased to say that more than not the screenplay whipped up between Lommel, Love, and George T. Lindsey is kind of terrific, or at least strikes some major chords. The primary thrust is undeniable as three women, fresh faces around the sleepy backwoods town of Devonsville, raise the hackles of the almost uniformly provincial and reactionary residents. The newcomers' progressive and free-thinking values concerning religion, the environment, education, feminism, gender equality, and more are met by staunch, stubborn, and aggressive conservativism, selfishness, antiquated values, and outright ignorance, not to mention attitudes of patriarchy, male entitlement to women's bodies, homophobia, and that simple-minded misogyny. Such notions could surely be utilized to greater effect, and have been elsewhere, but 'The Devonsville terror' nevertheless boasts firm foundations with the themes and Big Ideas with which it plays.

From that foundation is built a tale of curses, superstition, and the past repeating itself - not to mention genuinely disturbing violence, specifically male violence against women, and the all too real and dangerous ideas and beliefs that precipitate that violence. And it must surely be said that there are some fantastic thoughts in play in terms of the characters, scene writing, and overall narrative, even setting aside the most substantial themes on and. Unfortunately, here is where the picture meets with its biggest problems of all, because when it comes to the fundamentals of storytelling, the writing is possibly the weakest part of all. When events come to a head in third act we trust that, as per conventions of the genre, the principal women will exact sweet revenge, or even if that is not true, then at least the outcome will be hugely horrifying and satisfying for we viewers. What happens instead is that the climax seems to come from out of nowhere, a climax during which one supporting character who has been no more than a footnote all this time plays a large part. That climax is followed by an exceptionally curt ending that is deeply unsatisfying and begs the question of what purpose there was to the plot in the first place. There is no true resolution for two of three crucial figures. In the meantime, I repeat that the practical effects are splendid, but Lommel makes the regrettable choice of holding one shot so long during the climax that the artifice of those effects is betrayed, and this follows on the most tawdry and unconvincing use of all of those would-be grandiose post-production special effects. Right where it matters the most, 'The Devonsville terror' falls apart and leaves a bad taste in our mouths.

It's a shame, because there was enormous potential here. Other movies have played with like-minded material, and the same themes and ideas, to tremendous profit. In too many ways, however, this one flounders, and squanders the best possibilities. Lommel's direction is unreliable, with some discrete bad decisions, and other facets are subsequently lowered. And beyond the admirable core notions of the screenplay the team of writers had no more than very mixed success in summoning forth a workable story, or even just workable individual scenes. So much of the tale that has been presented to us is just left hanging when all is said and done, with even those underlying themes left somewhat unused; in generosity I assume Lommel, Love, and Lindsey recognized the deficiency, but hadn't the time or budget to rewrite, let alone shoot and edit more footage. In one manner or another the final product is the same, and for all that 'The Devonsville terror' could have been - and from the outside looking in, sounds like it should be - the film is less than one might hope or expect. There is value here, and I'm glad for those who like it more than I do, but I'm just disappointed. I anticipated a viewing experience that would be unpleasant, but ultimately rewarding, and when all is said and done only one of those descriptors holds true. There are worse things you could watch, but the sad fact of the matter is that there are much better things, too, and there's not much reason to spend time with this.

The little town of Devonsville, 1683. Three slightly eccentric, yet innocent women are gruesomely tortured and executed. Devonsville, 1983…around the same time three hundred years later 3 single women come to settle in the town that is still congested by Puritan, superficial villagers. The 20th century-inhabitants of Devonsville simply seem like reincarnations of their forefathers and they quickly begin to suspect the newly arrived ladies of witchery. The gorgeous new teacher (Suzanna Love) in particular.

Ulli Lommel's The Devonsville Terror is cheap 80's taking on the gruesome subject of the Inquisition and witchery, a horror sub genre that I personally cherish highly. Obviously, the atmosphere and tension doesn't come near the classic titles in this sub genre, like 'The Witchfinder General' or 'Mark of the Devil' but it does feature some chilling scenery and ingenious horror moments. Veteran horror actor Donald Pleasance stars as the town's doctor who constantly has to pick living worms out of his own flesh (due to a curse placed on his family, centuries ago). The film is overall decent and certainly worth a watch if you're an undemanding horror lover. Too bad about the bad ending, though…Well, it isn't exactly a BAD ending. More like an unsatisfying one. Just when the plot takes a vicious new twist, the end-credits start rolling over the screen and you're left behind with an empty feeling in your stomach.

I watched this film completely sober, which is never a great idea when you're watching low-budget horror films. But this one was alright. The plot was firmly established, the death scenes were obviously amateur but at least creative in their methods. And Donald Pleasance, who can really do no wrong (I watched this film about a week after seeing "Alone in the Dark" - I should have made it a double feature). Other critics of this film might say it is not original. Maybe so, but the director and the actors were able to establish a "creepy level" unparalleled in any other film. Almost every two minutes some character acted in a way that weirded me out. What was made into a 90-minute film should have been a Twin Peaks-esque television show. The only thing really missing in this film is a woman talking to a log. Were there plot holes and other flaws? Sure. The laser beams from the eyes were a bit unusual, and the weekly meetings with the drunk priest, and the unexplained need for hypnotized people to be naked, and the obvious fact the wormy arm was not a real arm... but I digress. A fine film ion its own right - 6 out of 10.

"The Devonsville Terror" focuses on a small town in New England where three women perceived to be witches were executed in 1683. 300 years later, a mysterious woman, Jenny (Suzanna Love) arrives in town as the new school teacher. She seems to be a student of the feminist movement, which doesn't sit well in these parts. Little has changed in Devonsville— the one room schoolhouse has a class of about 20 kids and still has a fireplace, and the people still seem to have retained a colonial mindset. The arrival of two other women (a scientist and a female sex radio host) gets the townsmen riled up and curious as to whether or not the witches have returned reincarnated. Meanwhile, a doctor (Donald Pleasance) spends all of his screen time pulling worms out of his arm and studying a curse bestowed on his family linked back to the executions.

I'm not even going to get into Uli Lommel's filmography of the past decade because it truly is that bad, but I will stand up for him on two counts, because he did make two decent horror films in the '80s: this, and "The Boogeyman" (1980). "The Devonsville Terror" plays out like a Halloween TV movie of the week and draws from historical occurrences such as the Salem witch trials. Because of this, the script is actually pretty informed and intelligent in terms of logistics. It's a Lommel film, so some coherence has either been lost in editing or was never entirely present to begin with, but overall it's a mostly cohesive picture.

It's obvious from the get-go that this film's thematics are rooted in feminism, and it acts as a reiteration of the modern issue of cultural progress vs. tradition, which, for a horror film, is a bit sophisticated. All three of the modern female characters who enter the town represent three things that much of conservative America fears: feminism, sexuality, and science. That alone sets this film apart for me and elevates it above most horror fodder. Thematically, this film is far elevated above what it need be.

As for the horror— it's not scary. There are a few spooky shots and some really cool camera-work (the kaleidoscopic flashback shots of the witch executions are the things horror classics are made of), but I'd say it's more atmospheric than anything. It has the autumnal New England setting down to a tee, and is a perfect October/November watch. The opening scene in the film where the witches are executed is perhaps the best scene in the film, and really sets the tone for the rest of the movie. Not only is it well shot, but it's also well acted and actually still fairly shocking.

The acting in the film is not great, but is good. Suzanna Love plays the vulnerable, educated schoolteacher and has a gentleness that juxtaposes nicely with the harsh, judgmental nature of the townsfolk who seem to be against her. Donald Pleasance has little screen time and spends all of it in a single setting pulling worms out of his arms (which is apparently the result of a curse by the witches tracing back through his paternal lineage), but he's a pleasure to watch as always.

Overall, "The Devonsville Terror" is a shocker for those who thought Uli Lommel never made a decent film. This is not a bad movie. It's actually on par or even above average as far as '80s horror goes, and it is a thematically sophisticated genre film. Not only is it well made, but it's also plain fun to watch. Definitely not something just anyone would enjoy, but if you like your witches and ghouls served '80s TV movie style, then "The Devonsville Terror" is prime pickings. 7/10.

Three hundred years ago the citizens of Devonsville accused three women of witchcraft and killed them using pretty crude (but at least in one case kind of effective) special effects. In the present day (or the early 80's at least), Suzanna Love (the film's co-writer and wife of director Ulli Lommel) comes to Devonsville to be the new school teacher.

Things don't go too well. She pretty early on tells the kids that God could be a woman, which doesn't go over too well with many of the rural folk. Paul Willson (from "Cheers"!) develops an unrequited crush on her ... and so on. Wilson and other local troublemakers decide that Love and two other young women who are new to town (a radio DJ and an environmental scientist) are reincarnations of the witches and decide to kill them.

It's hard to know what to say about this film. In fairly objective terms, it's real junk. But the ways in which it's junky start to work in it's favour. It's shot in rural Wisconsin under circumstances that are so low tech it ends up looking a bit like a home movie. Robert Walker Jr. Is on hand as one of the nice guys in town, but his presence barely registers. Donald Pleasance has a much bigger role as the town doctor, but he seems to have been available for one day. All of his scenes are shot in the same cramped edge of the same room.

The film kind of gestures at feminist themes (string independent young women persecuted by closed minded men), but kind of undoes that in a climax that suggests that they were right. Basically, I think it's an oddly watchable film that has no right to be.

Willson's head melts like that creepy Nazi in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" during the climax and that's basically worth the price of admission.