The Devil’s Rain (1975) is the kind of movie that dares you to ask: “Is this horror or just a really bizarre religious fever dream?” Directed by Robert Fuest, this cult classic (in the sense that “cult classic” sometimes just means “a movie people remember for how odd it was”) delivers a mix of Satanic rituals, eye-less cultists, and an ensemble cast that includes everyone from Ernest Borgnine to John Travolta. However, despite its big names and bigger ambitions, this film is more a study in how to bungle an apocalyptic Satanic horror than anything truly terrifying.
Plot? Or Just Random Satanic Shenanigans?
The plot of The Devil’s Rain is a mess. At its core, it’s about a family cursed by their ancestors’ betrayal of Satanic priest Jonathan Corbis (Ernest Borgnine). The film opens with the classic “ghost town haunted by eyeless cultists” setup, and then proceeds to become an incoherent chase scene where no one seems to know why they’re running or even who they’re running from. Mark Preston (William Shatner), the devout Christian son of the Preston family, gets swept into Corbis’s cult, where Satan and a strange bottle of “Devil’s Rain” — which, I kid you not, is just full of melted Satanist souls — become the centerpiece of this surreal mess.
For a film with a premise that promises the destruction of souls and fire and brimstone, what you actually get is a convoluted series of events where the characters seem more confused than terrified. A Satanic cult, a book that can “bind souls to Satan,” and a fight over a bottle of rain that melts people — it sounds promising on paper, but in reality, it’s a clumsy trip from one random event to the next.
Ernest Borgnine as a Satanist: Because Why Not?
Speaking of Corbis, Ernest Borgnine is the film’s greatest treasure and also its most ridiculous element. Fresh off his role in The Poseidon Adventure, Borgnine shows up as the charismatic yet over-the-top leader of the Satanic cult. He’s so hammy in his role that it’s hard to tell if he’s acting or just trapped in some nightmare he can’t wake up from. The real question here is: why is Ernest Borgnine, a man who made a career out of playing rough-around-the-edges, no-nonsense characters, taking on a role where he’s essentially trying to summon hell and melts people into goo? The answer is unclear, but it’s definitely the most entertaining part of the film — for all the wrong reasons.
Also, there’s John Travolta in his film debut, playing Danny, a minor role that is just about as forgettable as any minor role could be. Watching him in this film, you can almost hear the pre-Scientology thoughts going through his head: “Wait, so, this is where my career is going?” Spoiler alert: It does not get any better from here for Travolta.
Satanic Rituals or a Glorified Dinner Party?
The so-called “Satanic rituals” in The Devil’s Rain have about as much menace as a group of suburban dads attempting a potluck barbecue. Sure, there’s an eye-gouging, body-melting sequence, but instead of making the viewer fear the Satanic cult, you’re more likely to start questioning what was going on behind the scenes. Why does the cult seem more like a 4H club outing than a scary demonic organization? Why does everyone seem to be moving at a leisurely pace while the earth itself is about to explode? These are questions that will not be answered by The Devil’s Rain.
The movie’s idea of building suspense is to throw in some random events (like the melting wax man, or Tom Skerritt inexplicably wearing a Satanist robe and sneaking around the cult) and hope that the atmosphere of confusion passes for tension. Spoiler: It doesn’t. There’s no dread, no chilling atmosphere — just scenes of people wandering around looking mildly uncomfortable and occasionally getting melted into goo.
Gore That’s More Slapstick Than Scary
Let’s talk about the gore. The melting Satanists, while amusing, are not the horrifying death scenes the film likely intended them to be. Instead of feeling like an impending doom, the melting sequences resemble bad special effects from an old-school kids’ show, where the “melt” is just a cheesy effect that looks like the aftermath of eating too much Halloween candy. There’s no weight to the gore — it’s played for shock value, sure, but it’s more laughable than chilling.
In the climactic battle between good (Shatner’s Mark) and evil (Corbis), the sheer absurdity of it all only escalates. The film ends with Mark smashing the Devil’s Rain bottle, and everyone melts into nothingness — and then the twist comes: Tom, who’s supposedly freed, is actually hugging the now-demonic Corbis. If you’re looking for a plot that makes sense, you won’t find it here. But if you’re in the mood for an absurd and campy ending, The Devil’s Rain will not disappoint.
Conclusion: A Cult Classic for All the Wrong Reasons
The Devil’s Rain is a film that tries hard to be a demonic horror masterpiece, but ends up becoming a train wreck of bizarre performances, poorly executed effects, and a plot that feels like it was written in a fever dream. It’s the kind of movie you watch because it’s so laughably bad that you can’t look away. If you’re a fan of so-bad-it’s-good cinema, then The Devil’s Rain may be right up your alley. For everyone else, it’s a frustrating experience filled with way too much confusion and not nearly enough terror. And for those hoping for something genuinely scary or deep, this movie will leave you wondering how it ever managed to get made.
