Hollywood artisans do not like to exaggerate religious subjects, especially to flirt with the Antichrist. Naturally, there are exceptions, but there are not so many films where they make a deal with the devil. Often, filmmakers prefer not to use the image of the devil, inventing worthy alternates. Marvel has Satannish, fulfilling wishes in return for the soul, many introduce Azazel or Mefosto into the narrative, the image of the latter is based on Goethe, the hero of the tragedy “Faust”. This article lists the most famous and popular films about the deal with the devil.
The brainchild of director Rennie Harlin
In the beauty and gothic visualization, the youth occult film "Deal with the Devil" occupies a significant place in its genre, although the devil as such is absent in it. In the center of the story are the descendants of the powerful Ipswich families studying at the elite Spencer Academy. From their ancestors who made a deal with the crafty, they inherited supernatural abilities. But for this, the guys are forced to pay a terrible price: each time using force, they age prematurely, but it is very difficult to resist the temptation and not abuse it. However, in almost all films about a deal with the devil, an unenviable fate awaits the heroes later.
The Devil's Advocate (1997)
The promising successful lawyer Kevin Lomax, the hero of the picture by director Taylor Hackford, could not imagine what would result in an extremely advantageous offer from an influential international law corporation. At the invitation of the head of the company, Mr. John Milton, he moves to New York, occupies a luxurious apartment and enjoys the company of a loving wife. His career is growing rapidly, he easily wins one process after another, protecting the obviously guilty criminals. But soon he loses family peace and becomes convinced that evil spirits are involved in everything that happens.
The film balances on the verge of drama, psychological thriller and horror. The narrative is full of a lot of high-quality special effects, unpredictable plot twists. But the main advantage is considered a duet of leading actors - Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino. This is one of the best projects in the category of films about a deal with the devil.
Constantine: Lord of Darkness (2005)
By the way, the first work of Keanu Reeves, in which his hero ran into the devil, was the comedy "The New Adventures of Bill and Ted." Years later, the matured Keanu Reeves, who played Ted, again thundered into hell in the mystical thriller Francis Lawrence's "Constantine." The protagonist, exorcist and medium John Constantine, a true connoisseur of the other world, defending Angela (Rachel Weiss) and her suicide sister Isabelle, is in a conspiracy with Lucifer (Peter Stormare), violating the insidious plans of half-angel Gabriel (Tilda Swinton).
The Spawn (1997)
It seems that Hollywood without resurrection is like without hands. In the list of the most impressive resurrections, the main character of the comic book and the film is hitman Al Simmons. During the next operation, he dies, goes to hell, there he concludes an agreement with the Lord of Darkness and returns to earth as Spawn - the servant of the devil. Alas, in a new look, he cannot return to his wife and beloved daughter, and on the whole there is no place for him among the living, but he is capable of completely fighting heroically with otherworldly essences of all stripes. Moreover, his new boss intends to arrange the end of the world. This is definitely a non-trivial example among films about a deal with the devil.
Heroes of Nicholas Cage
In the filmography of the outstanding contemporary artist Nicolas Cage, there are several paintings that can be positioned as films about a deal with the devil. For example, two parts of the "Ghost Rider". The hero of the actor is an immortal biker in the service of the prince of darkness, collecting the souls of sinners, whose head turns into a burning skull at night. The first part was directed by Mark Stephen Johnson, the adrenaline directors worked on the continuation of the film comic strip.
In Crazy Riding (2011), the character of the actor was John Milton, who escaped from hell. The character agreed with the devil about a respite to protect his granddaughter from aggressively minded sectarians. Having frolic freely, Milton with a feeling of deep satisfaction returns to hell.
Dorian Gray (2009)
In the masterpiece of Oliver Parker at the end of the 19th century, young man Dorian Gray (B. Barnes) came to London to receive an inheritance from a dead uncle. The artist Basil Hallward (B. Chaplin), inspired by his splendor, paints a portrait of Dorian. The cynical Lord Henry Wotton (C. Firth) admires the painting, and the young man himself voices the desire to give anything to stay so forever. From this moment, the canvas begins to age instead, taking away all wounds and ailments.
Unfortunately, the picture received conflicting reviews, its IMDb rating: 6.30. Due to the fact that many brilliant actors, Colin Firth, Rebecca Hall and Ben Chaplin, were engaged in the production of the film, the narrative was not mired in dullness.
Blinded by Desires (2000)
Among the films about the deal with the devil, comedy is not uncommon. For example, The Devil and Daniel Webster, directed by Alec Baldwin. In the movie, a novice writer makes a deal with the Dark Lord to succeed in the literary field and become a best-selling author. In exchange, after 10 years, he must give to an unclean soul.
Or the comedy "Nerves at the Limit" directed by Roger Nygard, in which the main character was careless in expressions, and now after 8 hours the devil himself will appear to him.
But the devil has never been so seductive as in the comedy Blinded by Desires. This is a film about a deal with the devil-girl, in which the embodiment of evil appears in the guise of the fatal beauty Elizabeth Hurley. This time, the loser programmer becomes the object of recruitment. The devil begins to shamelessly flirt with a man so that he does not resist and signs a contract, according to which he gives his immortal soul for the fulfillment of seven desires. But each medal has two sides, fulfilling wishes, the devil does not allow the main character to enjoy the result, gradually the life of the unfortunate turns into real hell.
Recommended for viewing
The following films should be added to the list of films about the deal with the devil:
- Fantastic film directed by Terry Gilliam “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (2009), in which the protagonist, who has the gift to liberate and repeatedly enhance the imagination of other people, carries a dark secret. First, he makes a deal with the devil, gaining immortality. After falling in love, he changes the condition, refuses eternal life in favor of youth. However, you always have to pay for everything, now if he does not figure out how to arrange the guard of the gloom of the highest rank, he will take his 16-year-old daughter.
- Canadian mystical television series Collector of Human Souls. In a mystical drama, the protagonist Morgan Pym acts as a collector of human souls, but one day makes a deal with the devil. Now, according to the agreement, he has 48 hours to find atonement for the sinner's soul before she goes to hell.
- The picture of director Michael Bassett “Solomon Kane” (2009), created based on the science fiction adventure cycle of Robert Howard. English privateer Solomon Kane, formerly ruthless and greedy, once realizes that his soul is cursed. Having decided to atone for his sins, he lives a hermit in peace and virtue. But dark forces attack the earth, and the hero again takes up arms.
- The musical drama directed by Walter Hill, Crossroads (1986), inspired by the legend of Robert Johnson, who allegedly made a deal with the devil: the soul in exchange for the fame and success of the musician.