Oh, this is gonna be hell for me.... Why, you ask? Well, it's because one of these movies is a horror classic, a cinematic masterpiece, and an eternal testament to the talents of a truly great director. And the other is a rip-off of another horror classic, a hacked-up ruination of that cinematic masterpiece, and a great insult to that truly great director. But, here's the thing: these are both the same fucking movie!! Well, kind of... You see, the difference between them is.... oh forget it! There's only one solution to this: a double review!
LISA AND THE DEVIL (1973): Starring- Elke Sommer, Telly Savalas, Alessio Orano, Sylvia Koscina, Eduardo Fajardo, Gabrielle Tinti, Espartaco Santini, and Alida Valli.
Directed by- Mario Bava
Well, here I go. After the enormous success of his film, BARON BLOOD (1972), director Mario Bava was given carte blanche to direct what he would consider his masterpiece, and this is what he came up with: a hauntingly beautiful masterpiece that transcends both the horror genre and the art of film. Everything in this film is beautiful, even the death scenes.
The "plot" is as follows: Young Lisa (Sommer) is visiting Spain and follows a tour to view a beautiful fresco of the Devil carrying away the dead to Hell. When she hears a strange, whimsical music playing, she follows the sound into a small antique shop. The music is coming from a music box owned by the sinister Leandro (brilliantly played by Savalas), who bears a remarkable resemblance to the image of the Devil (hint, hint....). She wanders out of the shop and finds that her tour is gone, and that all the streets seem to be deserted.
Lisa proceeds to wander the streets, and is assaulted by Carlo (Santini), who believes her to be his long-lost wife, Elena. After accidentally knocking Carlo down a stone stairway, Lisa hitches a ride with a wealthy couple (Koscina and Fajardo) and their driver (Tinti).
The group move on until the car breaks down in front of a small villa owned by a mad, blind Countess (Valli) and her seemingly innocent son, Maximilian (Orano). These two live here all alone except for their butler- guess who- devilish Leandro. Lisa and the others decide to stay there for the night. Once inside, their night becomes a nonsensical, lyrical, dream-like, moody, nightmare of murder, betrayal, necrophilia, seduction, incest, ghosts, and a melding of past, present, and future, all overseen by Leandro, or the Devil, if you prefer....
I could go on for pages and pages attempting to describe the many things that happen within the confines of this film, but that would only ruin the experience for you. Let me just say that when you see this, don't try to make sense of the plot, this isn't a film that revolves around it's story. And there's definitely nothing else like it.
My rating: * * * * out of * * * *
Unfortunately, this version of the movie was too different for Bava's producers, who expected a simple, straightforward horror movie and got something much different. Bava could find no one to distribute the film. In fact, technically, this version of the movie was never released theatrically. Sadly, after the film had languished in the vaults for several years, it was re-edited by producer Alfredo Leone and released as....
THE HOUSE OF EXORCISM (1974): Starring- Elke Sommer, Telly Savalas, Robert Alda, Sylvia Koscina, Alessio Orano, Eduardo Fajardo, Gabrielle Tinti, Espartico Santini, and Alida Valli.
Directed by- "Mickey Lion" (Mario Bava and Alfredo Leone)
..... this monstrosity. After finding no one to distribute LISA AND THE DEVIL, producer Alfredo Leone decided to cut more than 20 minutes out of the film (including its ending) and to insert newly-shot scenes that would cash in on the most popular horror film of the day.
What movie was it, you ask? Well, just think about it. Can't figure it out? Alright, I'll give you a hint- A young woman is tied to a bed, possessed, and is being exorcised by a priest who is rapidly losing his faith. Still can't think of it? OK, here's another hint- it starts with THE and ends with EXORCIST. Yes, that's right. They took a beautiful, atmospheric masterpiece, and turned it into an EXORCIST clone. And it isn't even one of the better EXORCIST clones!
Father Michael (Alda) is watching over a young tourist (Sommer), who mysteriously began screaming profanity and spitting up green vomit (Gee, where have I heard that before?). Eventually, the priest decides it's time for an exorcism. He begins speaking with the demon and learns the story of how it came to be inhabiting the body of this poor young girl. (The "story" is really just the mangled remaining footage from LISA AND THE DEVIL.) After hearing this story, Father Michael realizes that the only way he can save the girl is to exorcise spirits from an empty, ancient villa. And he does. THE END.
Why? Why would they do this to such a beautiful, complex movie is beyond me. I mean this is just crap. In case you're wondering, the added-on exorcism scenes are godawful. Not even classic actor Robert Alda can save them with his lazy, half-hearted, phoned-in performance. And these scenes are a great insult to Mario Bava, who refused to be present during their shooting, and had his name removed from the final product (Note the "Mickey Lion" pseudonym).
Also, just look at that stupid title! "THE HOUSE OF EXORCISM"? What the hell does that mean?!
It's trash.
My rating: * out of * * * *
So, to summarize, definitely see LISA AND THE DEVIL, destroy any print you can find of THE HOUSE OF EXORCISM.
