Nicholas (Christopher Lee), the Duc de Richleau, meets his friend Rex Van Ryn (Leon Greene) at a country airport. Rex asks Nicholas about Simon Aron (Patrick Mower), another friend and Nicholas’ protégé. Since no one has seen Simon in months Nicholas and Rex decide to drop in on him and make sure he is alright.
When they arrive at Simon’s house, they find him entertaining an unusual group of people. Nicholas figures out that the group is part of a coven run by a man named Mocata (Charles Gray). The coven is planning on initiating Simon and a woman, Tanith Carlisle (Nike Arrighi), into their ranks. When Nicholas and Rex show up at Simon’s house, they interrupt the coven’s plans by kidnapping Simon. Later Simon escapes Nicholas’ protection.
Rex finds Tanith and takes her away. Tanith escapes but Rex follows her and discovers where the coven is having their initiation ceremony. Nicholas and Rex, once again, interrupt the ritual. This time, both Simon and Tanith are saved by Nicholas and Rex. Nicholas takes Simon and Tanith to the estate of his niece, Marie Eaton (Sarah Lawson), and her husband, Richard (Paul Eddington).
Mocata has a psychic connection with Simon and especially Tanith and tracks them down to the Eatons’ home. Mocata attempts to get Simon and Tanith back. When that fails, he pulls out all the stops and uses black magic to conjure up a demon. Nicholas and Rex, along with the Eatons, end up in a fight for their very souls.
“The Devil Rides Out” AKA “The Devil’s Bride” was released in 1968 and was directed by Terence Fisher. It is a British horror film produced by the Hammer Studios. The film is based on the 1934 novel by Dennis Wheatley.
The movie is touted as being one of Hammer’s best films even though it is one of their lesser-known offerings. It certainly does have the Hammer style and atmosphere. There are several times in the film where there is action that propels the movie forward. The result is an interesting story that keeps you engaged all the way to the end. I can understand why it was the favorite Hammer film of so many people.
The film was titled “The Devil’s Bride” in America because the producers were afraid that American audiences would think that, under its original name, it was a western.
In the film, Nicholas mentions the Goat of Mendes. This is in reference to Baphomet. Baphomet was a god with the head and legs of a goat and the body of a half man/half woman. Many depictions of Satan himself is of the same goat headed creature.