“This 4K restoration of the often-censored 1971 horror-drama is an unexpected miracle…This restoration is phenomenal, beautifully rendering the stark black-and-white sets designed by the legendary Derek Jarman. The camerawork, with Dutch angles galore and sequences in which the camera feels like it’s swinging on a rope, heightens the film’s chaotic descent into mayhem.” - Soham Gadre, Chicago Reader
“The film maintains an unrelenting air of hysteria that makes the bold, psychosexual imagery seem that much more provocative... Past and present bleed into each other to hallucinogenic effect, while Russell's sincere interest in religious and political history vies with his strong desire to gross people out.” - Ben Sachs, Cine-File
“Now we can finally experience all that Russell wanted us to experience. Get thee to an arthouse.”- Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
It’s true this film wasn’t made in 2026. However, as a long-awaited restoration of the provocative director’s intended cut, it was undoubtedly a significant new release of the year. An enduring masterpiece of cinema starring Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave, THE DEVILS is a prescient epic of obsession and corruption—and a defining work of art from a seminal filmmaker. Assembled from the original camera negative, this new 4K restoration offers the uncut and unfiltered theatrical experience that Russell always envisioned—and marks the film’s first release in a 4K restoration.
Awards & Nominations
1971 Venice Film Festival - Winner, Silver Lion for Best Director
2026 Toronto International Film Festival
2026 Cannes Film Festival
2026 Beyond Fest
Be Kind, Rewind | December 11–31, 2026
Join us as we rewind the best and biggest films of 2026—from favorite titles that graced the Siskel Film Center’s screens to movies that thrilled audiences across the country. A mini-reflection on the cinematic year that was, BE KIND, REWIND surveys breakout features, new epics from established masters, barnstorming documentaries, and one highly anticipated restoration. As the final days of 2026 slip away, the Siskel Film Center invites you to consider what these films reveal not just about the movies of the year but about 2026 itself.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu