Ken Russell's 1971 film "The Devils" gets a rare big-screen showing at The Beverly Theater, and if you've never seen it, you're in for one of the most notorious pieces of cinema ever released. Starring Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave, the film follows a corrupt priest in 17th-century France who becomes entangled in accusations of witchcraft and demonic possession, all set against a backdrop of political scheming and religious hysteria. Russell's direction is unrelenting—stark, expressionistic sets, feverish performances, and imagery so intense that the film faced censorship battles for decades and still circulates in various cut versions today.

Watching this one in a theater rather than at home changes the experience entirely. The Beverly's intimate 150-seat space means Russell's disturbing visuals and Peter Maxwell Davies' unsettling score hit with real weight, no distractions, just you and one of the most polarizing films of the 1970s New Hollywood era. Falling right around Halloween, the timing suits the film's themes of possession, hysteria, and institutional corruption perfectly, though "The Devils" trades cheap scares for something more psychologically disturbing and harder to shake.

Come with an open mind and maybe skip the popcorn during some of the more graphic scenes. This isn't a casual watch, it's a film that generated real controversy for a reason, and seeing it projected in a proper theater setting gives you a sense of why it's remained a topic of debate among cinephiles for over fifty years.