Devil's Rain Retro Review

Last week, I wrote a column for Halloween about the film "Five Card Stud". It was generally well received by my readership. Except for my friend Shelly, that is! "What does this have to do with Halloween?" she asked. "I don't understand the connection!" I told her that this column WAS my Halloween column! I was trying to do something different for my column!

That film had mysterious and unexplained killings, a mysterious killer and several long and intense scenes! Just like in a more conventional horror film! Shelly's response was "I just don't really see the Halloween aspect".

So, I decided to write another Halloween column this week!! And I promise to write a more conventional piece! So, if you like this week's column, thanks! If you do NOT like the column? --blame Shelly!

SPOILER WARNINGS are in full effect!!

"The Devil's Rain" was released on June 20th, 1975. It is directed by Robert Fuest (almost sounds like "Faust"doesn't it now?). The movie stars William Shatner in between the Star Trek TV Series and the Star Trek movie series (Shatner starred in many B-movies during this time). It also stars several OTHER well know TV and movie stars of the era! MASH Movie alumni Tom Skerritt plays "Tom Preston", the Shatner's character's (Mark Preston's) older brother. The movie also stars Green Acres star Eddie Albert as Dr. Sam Richards, Ida Lupino as " Emma Preston", the mother of the Shatner and Skerritt characters. "Eight Is Enough" actress Joan Prather plays Tom's wife "Julie Preston". Julie is hinted at as having psychic power, but this is not alluded to very much in the movie. Keenan Wynn portrays "Sheriff Owens". The cast is rounded out with Ernest "MacHale's Navy" Borgnine as Johnathan Corbis, the main villain. This movie also has a small appearance of John Travolta as cult member "Danny". Devil worshipper Anton LeVay is "High Priest Of The Church Of Satan"as well as the films' Technical Advisor.

The plot concerns a curse placed on the Preston family generations ago. The curse is the result of the forebears of today's Preston family, having betrayed an evil man named Johnathan Corbis. Corbis is a Satanic cult leader. Corbis ends up being discovered for what he truly is and is burned at the steak. Hence, his curse upon the Preston family as they were instrumental in Corbis' downfall. Corbis had a large book that held the secrets of great Satanic power that the Preston's have hidden away.

The film reaches the modern day as Mark Preston and his mother are worried. Steve Preston, Mark's father is missing. After hearing a sound outside, they open the door to discover Steve literally MELTING in the rain. Steve tells his family to give the book to Corbis. Steve Preston then melts completely into a wax like substance on the ground. Mark tells his mother that he doesn't believe that the creature was his father and seconds later, they hear the sounds of Steve's truck being driven into the driveway. Mark, thinking that his father is alive, races out only to find that he has been tricked. There is no trace of his father. There is only a small voodoo doll strapped to the steering wheel. Then Mark hears a commotion in the house. Corbis' men have kidnapped his MOTHER now!

Mark finds the ancient book and prepares to confront Corbis. He finds Corbis in a ghost town in the desert. Mark tries to get a drink from an old hand pumped well. The well will not work. Suddenly a man walks up to Mark. "Need some water?" the man asks. He pumps the handle once and water comes out instantly. Mark takes one drink and spits it out. The water is bitter! The man then asks: "Did you bring the book?" Mark says that he will only speak to Corbis himself. The man replies: "Then speak!" Mark realizes that this man IS Corbis!

Mark immediately challenges Corbis to a contest of wills in order to see who's faith is stronger. Mark also draws a pistol and aims it at him. Corbis, unperturbed by this threat, accepts the duel. The duel is short lived, as Mark produces a cross on a chain around his neck. Corbis causes it to transform into a venomous snake! Mark quickly discards the snake, which reverts back to a cross. Corbis' followers capture Mark and Corbis erases his memory.

The movie then shifts gears somewhat and we are introduced to Tom Preston, his wife Julie and Dr. Sam Richards. Richards is a psychic researcher. It seems that Tom's wife has a special gift. She tells of a vision of the fate of Mark Preston. The trio go in search of Tom's brother. Their search leads them to the church--and Corbis! Corbis meanwhile has been working to turn Mark Preston into another of his army of soulless minions. During this ritual, Corbis turns into a Satanic Goat Man! Tom Preston has witnessed this scene. He is discovered by Corbis' cult members but is able to escape. He returns later and with the help of Dr. Richards, finds the unholy source of Corbis' power. It is an ornate glass bottle. The bottle is full of the souls of those that Corbis has taken as his disciples. These souls of the damned are being bombarded with water cascading down upon them constantly. THE DEVIL'S RAIN!!

When Tom and Dr. Richards are trapped by the cult members, Dr. Richards threatens to destroy the Devil's Rain. But the acolytes prove too powerful for him and they snatch the bottle back. Mark Preston himself grabs the Devil's Rain. Dr. Richards begins to appeal to whatever humanity that Mark Preston still possess to destroy the Devil's Rain! Mark throws the bottle down, despite Corbis' demands for the bottle and destroys the Devil's Reign ! A storm begins to rage and the cultists melt into nothingness. Tom and Julie make a hasty exit. Tom embraces his wife in relief that it is all over. BUT The viewers see that it is actually CORBIS that Tom is embracing ! Julie's soul is trapped within a SECOND bottle ! She is the first victim of the NEW Devil's Rain!!

Critics almost universally hated and panned the film. Roger Ebert critiqued: "It is as horrible as watching an egg fry!" Australian Film Reviewer Michael Adams called "The Devil's Rain" the ultimate cult movie! It is ABOUT a cult, has a cult following, was devised with input from a cult leader (the aforementioned Anton LeVay) and saw a future superstar indoctrinated into a cult he'd help popularize.

"The Devil's Rain" is a good movie to watch, when you want to sit back, relax and just enjoy a fun movie!