Il Demonio

The write-up and preview clips from this movie would have you believe it is a precursor to The Exorcist. It really has more in common with Don’t Torture a Duckling than your typical pea soup vomiting exorcism cash-in movie. The plot is about a woman having a breakdown over a lover’s rejection. She turns to folk religion and curses and ends up being persecuted by all those around her. The black and white photography is stark and beautiful and the acting is all top-notch. It all works very well as a drama and character study rather than any sort of horror movie (folk or otherwise).