Originally rated X, this film combines historical, comedic, and surrealistic elements to tell a tale of politics and witchcraft. Hysteria occurs within the city when Father Urbain Grandier is accused of witchcraft by a sexually repressed nun.
It's a see-through movie composed of a lot of clanking, silly, melodramatic effects that, like rib-tickling, exhaust you without providing particular pleasure, to say nothing of enlightenment.
Film4
May 24, 2003
Russell is at his most spectacular in this magnificent tale of God, diabolism and desire, and by Reed's own admission the performance was among the best he ever gave.
No matter how thickly Russell piles on the masturbating nuns, tortured priests and dissolute dauphins, there's no getting round the fact that it's all more redolent of a camp revue than a cathartic vision.
Reed carries the film with an admirably restrained portrayal of the doomed priest. Redgrave, on screen only sporadically, is stunning as the salacious sister.
