Warner Bros. Breaks New Ground With Uncensored 4K Release of Ken Russell's The Devils
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Ken Russell's controversial 1971 film The Devils is receiving a 4K restoration and a theatrical NC-17 release via Warner Bros. Clockwork, marking the studio's first-ever film with that rating.
Fifty-five years after its initial release, director Ken Russell's notorious historical psychological horror drama The Devils is finally heading to theaters in its intended, uncensored form. Warner Bros. is bringing a pristine 4K restoration of the film to the big screen this October via its Clockwork imprint, carrying a strict NC-17 rating for its graphic sexual and violent content. This marks a historic milestone for the studio as the very first NC-17 release in its storied history, proving that even legacy distribution giants are willing to revisit and properly archive controversial cinema for modern audiences.
The film follows the 17th century account of Roman Catholic priest Urbain Grandier, played by Oliver Reed, who faces false accusations of witchcraft following the Loudun possessions, alongside Vanessa Redgrave as the repressed Sister Jeanne des Anges. Upon its 1971 debut, the feature earned a restrictive X rating and faced widespread bans, eventually becoming a legendary lost artifact of cinema history. High-profile directors like Guillermo del Toro have championed the new restoration, with del Toro describing the meticulous visual cleanup as an astonishing revelation for anyone who previously only had access to truncated bootlegs or compromised home video prints.
For digital culture enthusiasts and film history buffs alike, the return of The Devils highlights a broader ongoing shift in media preservation, where long-suppressed creative works finally escape corporate vaults. North American audiences can catch the limited theatrical run starting October 16 for a one-week engagement that includes select 35mm screenings, followed by a United Kingdom release on October 30. As physical media and archival restorations continue to find passionate niche communities online, Warner Bros. taking this bold step opens the door for other long-forgotten classics to find new life on modern screens. Read the full story on Polygon.
Tags: Film, Entertainment, Culture, Classics
Original article: Polygon