To the Devil… A Daughter: One of the Better Post-Exorcist Satanic Horror Films

Peter Sykes’ To The Devil A Daughter was Hammer’s last theatrically released horror film, co-produced with the German company, Terra Filmkunst. Released in 1976 to an indifferent response, it was nevertheless an interesting attempt to make a commercially successful film. The film exploits the resurgence of interest in the occult, which surfaced in counter-culture music and literature during the late 1960s. Dennis Wheatley, author of the source novel, experienced renewed popularity. Legendary occultist Aleister Crowley (whose novel The Moonchild bears a striking resemblance to the film) appeared on the record sleeve of The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Two extremely successful films, Rosemary’s Baby (US, d. Roman Polanski, 1968) and The Exorcist (US, d. William Friedkin, 1973), had already made a dramatic impact… read more >