This Banned 1971 X-Rated Horror Film is Finally Being Released - Here's Everything We Know

Ken Russell's cult horror film The Devils has been the stuff of legend in the film community for decades. But until this year, nobody has been able to (legally) see it as the director originally intended.

Following a 17th-century Catholic priest who was accused of witchcraft and subsequently burnt to death, The Devils was inspired by the true events of the Loudun possessions. The film was in part adapted from Aldous Huxley's 1952 book The Devils of Loudun, but took major deviations, mainly for the director's portrayal of the nuns who accuse the priest of wrongdoing.

Since its release in 1971, the film has been the subject of much controversy for its highly sexual and violent content, with even the Vatican condemning it, and Italy banning its release. Russell was forced to make significant cuts to the story before it was allowed to be released at all - albeit with an X rating.

Now, as part of the new label Warner Bros. Clockwork's first repertory release, The Devils will finally screen in its entirety at the Cannes Film Festival in the classics section (the label recently made waves after nabbing Oscar-winner Sean Baker's highly anticipated follow-up to Anora).

The cast also includes some big acting legends, including Vanessa Redgrave, Oliver Reed, Dudley Sutton, Christopher Logue, and Max Adrian. Russell also directed Women in Love, Altered States, and Lisztomania, all films that pushed cinematic boundaries and gained him a cult following among horror fans.

If you won't be at Cannes, the film's restoration journey isn't ending there: The Devil's U.S. rollout will begin Friday, Oct. 16, with an international release to follow soon.

The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 12 to May 23.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM.