"The Devil's Rain" boasts a stellar cast of big name stars from the mid-seventies. Ernest Borgnine stars as Jonathan Corbis, the Satanic Priest of a ancient cult of devil worshipers. William Shatner plays Mark Preston, a young man who is attempting to keep a dangerous book that his family has hidden away from Corbis who needs it to complete his rituals. Tom Skerritt ("Alien" and "The Dead Zone") plays Tom Preston, Mark's older brother who comes back home after hearing that his brother was in trouble. John Travolta, in one of his first feature films, makes a brief appearance as a faceless cult member.
While the the main cast members were established actors at this time, this film isn't the best performance for any of them. Some may look back at this film as a slight embarrassment on their resume, but I hope they had a fun time making this film. Not everyone movie is a blockbuster or a career defining moment; sometimes they need to be made for the audience that they hope to find.
Although "The Devil's Rain" had a great cast, it doesn't have much of a story line. The plot is basic and could have been expanded upon in several areas. With a running time of 85 minutes, it feels what story it has feels stretched thin. Had it been a part of an anthology, perhaps as the main segment with a runtime of 50 or 60 minutes, the overall effort may have been more effective.
The make up effects in "The Devil's Rain" is another point where the film may feel campy. Compared to today's standards, the effects are outdated and sloppy. But back then, on a PG rated film, I feel that it works. The Goat-like appearance that Corbis has is practical and effective. The cheap looking expressionless masks that the cultists wear become makes sense when their faces begin to melt in the film's climax. The cultists appearance also adds to the dread that they've lost their souls and that they are nothing but pawns for the Satanic Priest.
The bottle known as The Devil's Rain!
No comments:
Post a Comment