It's time to celebrate because John Slaney has returned with his 11th volume of Slaughtered on Sight (older articles here), where he will rep apart some of the most unusual posters ever made. Today he takes on Ovidio G. Assonitis and Robert Barrett's 1974 classic, The Devil Within Her. Read on and enjoy!
“The Devil Within Her” 1974 Starring: Juliet Mills, Gabriele Lavia, Richard Johnson Written by: Ovidio G. Assonitis, obert Barrett, Aldo Crudo, Sonia Molteni Directed by: Ovidio G. Assonitis, Robert Barrett Produced by: Ovidio G. Assonitis, Edward L. Montoro Originally released in: Italy
”A HORRIFYING AND BLOOD CHILLING DRAMA OF POSSESSION.”
It’s been quite a while since my last installment of ‘SoS’ – and, honestly, with the ludicrous volume of content on BD (and, of course, the infamous and upcoming Halloween season), I’d be startled to find out that anyone even noticed. But, nevertheless, I have some spare moments on hand and I feel I should offer up something new; regardless of whether or not people actually care.
”The Devil Within Her” is probably best known by the name, ”Beyond the Door;” at least, that’s the name given the top spot on IMDB. And that poster is also very different:
... But I don’t know that it’s better, really. In fact, while clearly funnier, the first poster, I think, is also the better design. There are some hilariously stupid elements, of course (otherwise it wouldn’t be in this article), but the movie’s concept seems more effectively represented.
Granted, for some reason the doll with the pin through its chest is bleeding in flawlessly-shaped and spaced teardrops; and, for whatever reason – ignorance, laziness or both – what I assume was meant to be a sort of Satanic baphomet (e.g. and upside-down pentacle or pentagram) is, instead, just a regular ol’ pentacle. But, I suppose your average movie-goer a la 1974 wouldn’t have known the difference.
And, well, the “baby” looks like he or she might be thirty or thereabouts. It’s definitely puzzled and maybe a tad upset, but it also seems to have a little five o’clock shadow goin’ on there – the workings of an old-fashioned handlebar moustache, even. And its eyes are MAMMOTH. If the whole being-possessed-by-the-devil thing doesn’t kill the kid, he’ll have quite a doe-eyed future in modeling and television commercials – provided the makeup department can make the beard disappear.
I guess the disembodied goat head with the green glow surrounding it just wasn’t quite enough – that’s why the ‘pentagram’ is there – to get the point across that Satan is somehow, in some way, involved in this whole fiasco. Sure, there’s an evil, floating goat head, but, even then one might say, ”but what does it really mean? Oh! Look, a pentagram! Now I get it.
Now, how great is that bonnet? Because the pillow the little demon-spawn is laying on is so similar, and because his ears are showing, it’s not immediately apparent that old-face Mcboy-goat is wearing a lace bonnet – but he is. And for that, I thank the artist.
And ‘speaking’ of the “artist,” I think she/he was the wrong choice to tackle the babe possessed idea. Not only could [he] not capture the soft, gentle youthfulness of an infant, but, in his failure to do so, he’s hampered the effectiveness of the very concept... Imagine it – this little bearded kid starts growling and spitting and gnashing and setting the nanny on fire with his mind... Would anyone be incredibly surprised? Had the child an adorable, rosy, dimpled face, people would be pretty disturbed upon realizing it’s possessed or whatever. But as soon as baby-stubble began showing signs of demonic infection, the family would shrug their collective shoulders and leave the snarling, unshaven whelp in the back yard for the coyotes. Of course, then there may be a bunch of possessed coyotes – but that’s a cool movie!
Damn it! And look at the ring finger on that crawling carnival sideshow! Jesus! That kid is a mess-and-a-half. If I was the devil, I think I would of picked a more fitting vessel. I mean, as the spiritual possessor of a freak child, you’re running with two kinds o’ scissors – the kind that leaves the doughy, devilish doorstop for the wolves, or the kind that parades him across the country under the heading, “Infant Aged Like a Baseball Mit by Demonic Possession!” Sure, the kid is indefinitely demonized and displayed like a pork roast in a butcher shop’s front window, but his parents will make a killing on the freak-show circuit. Hells yeah.
I’ve asked the same of you many times before, but really look at this poster... Can you believe that’s a movie poster? Well, I suppose you can, considering my past articles. But, really, it would be an interesting thing indeed – the compilation of a vast database, devoted to the unbelievably misguided design efforts in the world of cinematic promotion; of which, ”The Devil Within Her” is certainly a flawless, sparkling example.
There needs to be an immediate increase in the number of glowing goat heads on movie posters. Am I right? I’m right.
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