IL DEMONIO (1963)

"A LOST CLASSIC... BRUNELLO RONDI'S FILM HAUNTS AND DISTURBS YOU WITH ITS QUIET POWER." -UNSEEN FILMS

For his second film as writer/director, famed Fellini collaborator and Oscar® nominated screenwriter Brunello Rondi (LA DOLCE VITA, 8½) created this “profoundly unnerving” (Film at Lincoln Center) “overlooked classic” (Gruesome Magazine) that would influence WITCHFINDER GENERAL, DON’T TORTURE A DUCKLING and THE EXORCIST: In rural Southern Italy, an emotionally disturbed young woman – “a damn near perfect performance” (Rock! Shock! Pop!) by Daliah Lavi of THE WHIP AND THE BODY – turns to witchcraft to curse her former lover. But is her increasingly alarming behavior due to obsession or possession? Frank Wolff (ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST) co-stars in this still-potent 1963 shocker co-written/co-produced by Luciano Martino (THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH), scanned in 4K from the original negative in Rome with newly discovered footage – including the complete ‘spider walk’ scene – missing from all previous releases.

Disc 1: Blu-ray

• Audio Commentary With Film Historian Kat Ellinger
• “The Kid From A Kibbutz” — Daliah Lavi And The Road To IL DEMONIO (27.5 mins) Video essay written and narrated by film historian Tim Lucas and edited by filmmaker and programmer Chris O’Neill
• Once Upon A Time In Basilicata Brunello Rondi biographer Alberto Pezzotta looks at IL DEMONIO and the themes that dominated the director’s eclectic career
• LA TARANTA – Documentary Short By FLAVIA THE HERETIC Director Gianfranco Mingozzi
• Trailer

Disc Specs:

• Runtime: 100 mins
• Audio: Italian Mono
• English Subtitles
• Region Free
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1