The Devils 1971 Internet Archive

Unlike a commercial Blu-ray (which doesn’t exist), the Internet Archive versions are often bundled with scholarly commentary. You can watch the film while listening to Mark Kermode explain which frame was cut by the BBFC and why. This transforms the viewing into a film history lecture. You’re not just watching a movie; you’re witnessing a legal and cultural battle.

A serviceable, if grimy, anamorphic widescreen transfer. The colors are muted compared to Russell’s intended psychedelic palette (the original prints popped with sickly yellows and blood reds). The audio is Dolby Digital 2.0—clear enough for Oliver Reed’s booming baritone and Peter Maxwell Davies’ screeching, modernist score, but lacking the subsonic terror of a restored surround mix. the devils 1971 internet archive