Eye Of The Devil 1967 Based on the novel The Day Of The Arrow by Robin Estridge, screenplay by Robin Estridge and Dennis Murphy, direction by J Lee Thompson. J Lee has directed a few films I recognize but I haven't seen that many of them. The Guns Of Navarone, Cape Fear, Taras Bulba, John Goldfarb Please Come Home, The Chairman, Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes, Battle For The Planet Of The Apes and The Reincarnation Of Peter Proud. A lot of big studio thrillers and action films. This is a big studio horror film, think Rosemary's Baby, for those that don't like horror films too much.
David Niven is a owner of a vineyard in France. He lives in Paris and the vineyard is in the countryside. There grapes have been poor for three years in a row. David is called back to the Château. The lady in thepicture above is Sharon Tate, she's a witch who lives on the estate. David Hemmings plays her brother, he's a mental case with a bow and arrow.
Deborah Kerr plays David's wife, she's been left at home with the kids, David did not want her coming there. She can't stay home, she's a nervous type, she bring the children a day or so later. The first thing that happens is she's shot at by David Hemmings.
Sharon slinks about and Deborah really dislikes her, she wants David to toss them off the estate but he won't and won't explain why. We know he's got some sort of connection with them but it's a while before the whole story comes out. Turns out the estate needs a blood sacrifice to make the grapes grow strong. David's the man for the job and that's pretty much how it ends.
The movies B&W and looks nice. Sadly there's nothing nice about a family that uses witchcraft to stay afloat, especially one where the head of the family is the target for sacrifice. If you're going to be evil you'd think you'd sacrifice someone else. Once I found out how stupid the plan was I would in contempt of the family and the story. Poor marks from me. I doubt that I would watch it again.
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