The Devils (Russell, 1971): BFI Southbank, NFT1, 8.40pm
70th LONDON FILM FESTIVAL (7th - 18th October 2026) DAY 3
Today is the opening day of the London Film Festival. With its date at the end of the year, London is a "festival of festivals", as the Telegraph film critic Robbie Collin put it in one of his previews,
so the films shown have mostly been seen and commented on by critics
who have watched the features at such high-profile festivals as Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Sundance and Berlin.
So I'm making it simple with one recommendation a day. I will be concentrating on the repertory choices but I've also read the
reviews of the contemporary releases and talked to and listened to the trusted critics all year and I
am as confident as I can be that this is the pick of the movies within
the parameters I have set. Firstly, there's no point highlighting the
major gala films - they will be sold out quickly. Secondly, there is
little to be gained in paying the higher Festival ticket prices to see
films that are out in Britain soon. I will be returning to the London
Festival films worthy of seeing and set to be released in the coming
months on this blog as and when they get a general release in London.
Here then (from October 7th to October 18th) are the films you are likely
to be able to get tickets for and the movies you are unlikely to see in
London very soon unless you go the Festival. Here is the LFF's main website for the general information you need. Don't
worry if some of the recommended films are sold out as there are always
some tickets on offer which go on sale 30 minutes before each
screening. Here is the information you need to get those standby tickets.
Time Out review:
There's plenty here that's still incredibly shocking. The
scenes of plague are truly vile, as are the climatic torture scenes. But
what horrifies most is Ken Russell's nihilistic view of the world in
general, and humanity in particular: almost without exception, we are
shown to be vain, lustful, perverse, self-serving, murderous,
disease-ridden, exploitative, decadent, deluded creatures unworthy or
incapable of salvation. Approach with extreme caution.
Tom Huddleston
Here (and above) is the trailer.
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