The Antichrist (aka  L'anticristo) is a wonderfully realized, at points totally over the top, and highly camp example of Euro-Possession horror. The early 1970s Italian film has all you want from the genre- filthy toughed ‘n’ gruffly toned dialogue, sweaty priests, furniture & body levitation, and all manner of devil-loving shenanigans.  Here as part of Studiocanal’s Cult Classic series is a Blu-Ray release of the film- taking in both new & archive extras.

The Antichrist (aka Blasphemy, The Tempter) appeared in the year 1974- and while it’s very clearly inspired/at points wholesale rips off elements of 1973’s The Exorcist. There is enough flair, scope, difference, and good old entertainment to be had with the film- to make it wholly worthwhile.

The film was helmed by Rome-born Alberto De Martino- whose directorial output covered most bases in Italian exploitation. They went from the sword-and-sandal action of The Invincible Gladiator (1961), onto the gothic horror of The Blancheville Monster (1963), though to host of Spaghetti westerns like Assault On Fort Texan (1964), and Django Shoots First (1966). He made a few giallo's such as The Killer Is On The Phone (1972), Formula for a Murder (1985), and an action/sci-fi hybrid Miami Golem (1985).
 
 
After the credits the film opens with what seems to be on montage of religious mania/ possession- whether this is real, or contrived Mondo- I’m unsure, but it starts things up well. We then focus on a group of people surrounding a statue of the Virgin Mary- they all seem to have different health issues of the mind on body. Among the group are daughter and father Ippolita (Carla Gravina) & Massimo Oderisi (Mel Ferrer)- she is in a wheelchair, and he is a suited man in his late 50’s early 60s.  Just after they touch the statue- a clearly demented/ possessed man is pulled towards the statue with a card effigy around his neck- he runs away- to throw himself off a building.
 
We then head back to the Oderisi’s house- where much of the films take place. And it’s clear the family is very wealthy with a huge mansion, with among other things a most impressive corridor lined with set-in-the-wall figures. Also living in the house is a third member of the family- the very swish & constantly groovy threads switching Filippo (Remo Girone) who is around the same late twentysomething age as his sister Ippolita.
 
Massimo is doing/ trying everything he can to get his daughter walking again- but after many tests, it’s declared it’s psychosomatic. So, they bring into the house smug & arrogant physicist Marcello (Umberto Orsin) who decides Ippolita needs a past life regression hypothesis. During this, we find out she was an accused witch in another life and burnt at the stake. Also, while sitting in their large sitting room the effigy from the possessed man reappears- before going up in flames.
 
One day while lounging naked in her bed Ippolita starts dreaming- and we see it played out on her bedroom walls. As she shifts back to her past life- where she meets a goat-headed man in the forest- he throws her down and starts having sex- with shapes of his arms & legs indenting on her mattress.
 
Fairly soon she is talking dirty in deep growls, furniture is been levitated, and windows & doors are blown open. She froths at the mouth- spits. & vomits green/ yellow goo. Things really go from bad to worse with her father being dragged & nearly hung by unseen hands, and ceilings. 
crack.
 
They bring in a male faith healer/ witch, and a sweaty grey-haired priest- with suddenly appearing hot coals, burning bibles, and even rain downpours inside the mansion's grand rooms. With the whole thing amping up to a finale in none other than Rome's Colosseum on a stormy night.
 
The film runs at one hour and fifty-two mark- and normally for this type of thing that would be a tad too long, but it’s not here. It remains entertaining and engaging throughout, and I’d certainly say it stands as one of the classier & watchable films of the possession genre in general- be it euro cult bound or otherwise. Acting wise everyone sells the whole thing well enough- with of course a fair bit of hamming it up, and 70’s camp drama abound.  All in all, it makes The Antichrist well worth a look.
 
 

This recently released Blu-Ray scan looks wonderfully clean and crisp- with in particular the reds being extremely vivid & eye-catching. On the disc, we get a fair selection of archive extras & one new extra. So first off, the new audio interview is with director Alberto De Martino- this runs just over the eleven-minute mark- it’s in Italian & was recorded in 2012. He starts off by talking about how the film came about after he saw The Exorcist in NYC. He discusses how he thinks in the future scientists will isolate parts of the brain that believe in Satan & aliens. The film's link between demonic possession & sexual frustration. He discusses the film's female lead- who was a good actress- though spoke little or no English. He talks about other members of the cast- relating a few stories. He chats about the court case the makers of The Exorcist took out against the film, and how he won the case. He discusses how he feels the two films vary. All in all, a most worthy interview.
 
On the archive side, we get the following things. Audio Commentary with author/critic Lee Gambin and critic Sally Christie. The Tempter Opening credits, and TV spots. The Blu-ray version of the release Blu-ray edition comes with four collector’s art cards.
 
If you only have a passing interest in demonic possession cinema- you need to check out The Antichrist, as it stands as one of the most consistent & entertaining examples of the genre. And this new Blu-Ray release presents us with a classy print, and a small- but-good selection of extras.