Mark of the Devil [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray]

Director: Michael Armstrong Michael Armstrong

Overview

Released as Mark of the Devil to U.S. theaters (accompanied by complimentary barf-bags for squeamish patrons with urpy tendencies), this gory torture-fest was produced in Germany under the title of Hexen bis aufs Blut Gequ?lt (Witches Tortured Till They Bleed). The story is comprised of equal parts Ken Russell's The Devils and Michael Reeves' sardonic Witchfinder General (aka The Conqueror Worm). It involves the demented Count Cumberland (Herbert Lom), an Austrian nobleman who implements the witch-hunting policies of the Inquisition as a means of obtaining land, riches, and nubile young wenches -- particularly the lovely Vanessa (Olivera Vuco), who has been accused of heresy and witchcraft. Cumberland's accomplice in the torture and terror, Baron Christian Von Mem (Udo Kier), realizes too late that his mentor is the true evil stalking the land, not the terrified innocents whose "trials" are a mockery of justice. Christian is sacrificed to the enraged villagers during the inevitable revolt at the film's climax, while the Count makes a hasty escape -- thus enabling the birth of a sequel, Mark of the Devil Part 2. Both films were repackaged in the mid-70's and released in time to join the ranks of the European demon-possession subgenre (American release ads proudly proclaimed "Damn The Exorcist!"). The barf-bags were not entirely unjustified for this graphically sadistic exercise which assaulted audiences with explicit scenes of torture, including the removal of one poor victim's tongue.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/28/2023
UPC:	0814456028668
Original Release:	1969
Rating:	NR
Source:	Vinegar Syndrome
Language:	English
Time:	1:38:00
Format:	Blu-ray
Sales rank:	9,256

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Herbert Lom	Lord Cumberland
Udo Kier	Count Christian von Meruh
Olivera Vuco	Vanessa Benedikt
Reggie Nalder	Albino
Herbert Fux	Chief Executioner
Gaby Fuchs	Deidre von Bergenstein
Michael Maien	Baron Daumer
Ingeborg Schoener	Nobleman's Wife,Actor
Doris von Danwitz	Elisabeth
Dorothea Carrera	Actor
Marlies Peterson	Actor
Günter Clemens	Actor
Johannes Buzalski	Advocato
Adrian Hoven	Nobleman
Curt Jürgens	Actor
Michael Holm	Composer

Technical Credits

Michael Armstrong	Director
Adrian Hoven	Producer