The The 1968 was a groundbreaking year for horror cinema.

Over in the US, George Romero was reinventing the American horror film with his

indie grind house hit, Knights of the Living Dead. Meanwhile, the big Hollywood studios

were also tapping into the zeitgeist when they made Rosemary's baby, a contemporary

New York story starring an up-and-coming actress made by a hip new director.

But over in the UK, Hammer were producing their own occult movie that same year

called The Devil Rides Out. Unlike the more modern trendy US offerings, this film, based on a Dennis Weekly book and starring Christopher

Lee, still firmly belonged in the old-fashioned Gothic tradition.

Moving forward into the 1970s, this became a problem for Hammer.

They slowly gained a reputation as being this somewhat stuffy uncle,

unable to keep up with the new Hollywood offerings.

This is exemplified in one of their later occult movies, another Dennis

Wheatley adaptation called To the Devil A Daughter.

In 1967, Rosemary's Baby. In 1974 1974 the Exorcist and now a motion picture that probes

further into the mysteries of the occult that any has dared before but it wasn't Rosemary's baby or the exorcist. To the devil

a daughter disappointed audiences and became a box office flop and it was the final

nail in the coffin for Hammer Horror.

However, 1968 The Devil Rides Out is now often cited as Hammer's greatest film and its gothic

sensibility means that it's remained a timeless occult classic. Classic.

Join me as we continue exploring the evolution of the occult, and we discuss two Hammer Classics, to the Devil A Daughter and The Devil Rides Out.

When this ceremony has been performed, I should destroy you John Bernie.

Welcome back to the evolution of horror. My name is Mike and as ever I am your host.

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