Index

 Reviews

 Interviews

 Articles

 Short films

 Capsule reviews

 Links

 Contact

 About EMVG

Best viewed without Internet Explorer

© Esa Linna unless stated otherwise

Don't Deliver Us From Evil. France 1971. Directed by Joel Seria

Two teenage girls get bored in convent and have fun as much they can in their summer vacation. In the countryside they start to tease locals and bypassers, and in the end their games become unstoppably lethal.

Infamous film by French director Joel Seria is as controversial as ever. The sexual situations by teenage girls is nothing but politically correct, but the viewer has to put them into context to understand. Don't Deliver Us From Evil is not a paedophile's daydream, but compelling and sinister story that has take influence from same origin that Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures. These two films do not share much, since Don't Deliver Us From Evil's world is even bleaker than in Jackson's film.

Lead actresses Jeanne Goupil and Catherine Wagener look disturbingly young, but they were 19 and 20 year old when the film was made. Their looks still add an extra value to effectiveness, and without doubt the graphic violence will keep the light-hearted away too. Still, there are moments that make you wonder if more twists in the plot could have made Don't Deliver Us From Evil even better.

Overall Don't Deliver Us From Evil or Mais ne nous délivrez pas du mal (like the original title is in French) is very strong film with it's dark atmosphere and great, young but capable lead actresses, but there is missing that one nail that would've made it a total classic. But don't get me wrong, these kind of films are no longer made. This is a piece of history, that hasn't been taught in cinema lectures.

And now Don't Deliver Us From Evil has a great DVD release too. Despite some artifacts from the source, colours look good and overall quality of the picture and the sound is satisfying. The extras include British writer Paul Buck's interview in featurette "Hellish Creatures", where he discusses about the original, true story of two girls murdering other's mother. Then there's Joel Seria's interesting interview where he tells also about his own past and childhood, Jeanne Goupil's interview, art gallery and comprehensive essay by Pete Tombs. Once again, an important release by Mondo Macabro.