Ken Russell’s controversial 1971 horror drama The Devils is officially returning to theaters this October in a newly restored presentation of the film’s long-discussed director’s cut.
Originally released by Warner Bros. in 1971, The Devils quickly became one of the most controversial films of its era because of its graphic religious imagery, political themes, violence, and scenes of sexual hysteria. The movie faced heavy censorship in multiple countries, and several sequences were removed or altered over the years, leading to decades of incomplete versions circulating among audiences.
The upcoming theatrical rerelease will present a restored version of Russell’s preferred cut, including material that has rarely been screened publicly in theaters. The restoration was completed by the British Film Institute in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Based on Aldous Huxley’s 1952 nonfiction book The Devils of Loudun, the film dramatizes historical events that took place in 17th-century France. Oliver Reed stars as Urbain Grandier, a Catholic priest accused of witchcraft during a wave of mass hysteria and political manipulation in the town of Loudun. Vanessa Redgrave co-stars as Sister Jeanne, a sexually repressed nun whose obsession with Grandier becomes central to the accusations and chaos that follow.
Over the decades, The Devils has developed a major cult reputation within horror and arthouse cinema, with critics and filmmakers frequently citing it as one of Russell’s most uncompromising and visually confrontational works. The film is especially noted for its elaborate production design by Derek Jarman and Russell’s blend of religious horror, political paranoia, and psychological drama.
The restored version of The Devils is scheduled to screen theatrically beginning in October 2026. Additional release details and participating theaters are expected to be announced closer to release.
