How a 1975 horror flop became a cult classic and a pop culture icon
In short: The Devil's Rain is a supernatural horror film that failed to impress critics but gained a lasting cult following. Beyond its melting-flesh climax, the production is infamous for its alleged mafia financing, the film debut of John Travolta, and a bizarre connection to the iconic mask of Michael Myers.
Directed by Robert Fuest and released in 1975, The Devil's Rain follows the Preston family as they battle a generations-long curse initiated by a Satanic priest named Jonathan Corbis, played by Ernest Borgnine. The film, shot in Durango, Mexico, centers on a struggle over a book of souls and an ornate glass bottle that holds the essence of the cult's disciples. While the plot involves psychic researchers and desert ghost towns, the film is perhaps best remembered for its chaotic production history and its strange legacy in horror cinema.
The film's behind-the-scenes narrative is as dramatic as its onscreen events. Ernest Borgnine later alleged that the production was financed by the mafia, specifically noting the distributor's ties to the Colombo crime family, and claimed he was never paid for his work. During the 1974 shoot, a young John Travolta was introduced to Scientology by co-star Joan Prather, a connection that would eventually help popularize the movement. Furthermore, a mold of William Shatner’s face, created for the film's makeup effects, was later purchased by the production team of the 1978 slasher film Halloween to create the iconic mask worn by Michael Myers.
Critics at the time were largely unimpressed. Vincent Canby of The New York Times compared the experience to watching an egg fry, while Roger Ebert included it on his most-hated list, citing a dull, stretched-thin narrative. Despite these reviews, the film has achieved a unique status. Michael Adams described it as the ultimate cult movie, noting its meta-layers: it is a film about a cult, created with input from Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey, and it served as the catalyst for a future superstar's lifelong involvement in a controversial organization. Today, it remains a curious artifact of 1970s genre filmmaking, preserved in a 2017 Blu-ray restoration.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Devil's Rain (film)
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