Films about deals with the devil: a list of the best

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Hollywood artisans don't like to exaggerate religious themes, let alone flirt with the Antichrist. Naturally, there are exceptions, but there are not so many films where they make a deal with the devil. Filmmakers often prefer not to use the image of the devil, inventing worthy substitutes. Marvel has Satannish, who grants wishes in exchange for the soul, many introduce Azazel or Mephosto into the story, the image of the latter is based on the hero of the tragedy Faust, Goethe. This article lists the most famous and popular films about a deal with the devil.

The brainchild of director Renny Harlin

Youth occult film "Deal with the Devil" occupies a significant place in its genre in terms of beauty and gothic visualization, although the devil as such is absent in it. In the center of the story are the descendants of the powerful families of Ipswich, who study at the elite Spencer Academy. From their ancestorsmade a deal with the evil one, they inherited supernatural abilities. But for this, the guys are forced to pay a terrible price: every time they use power, 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 afterwards.

The Devil's Advocate (1997)

Promising successful lawyer Kevin Lomax, the hero of the film directed by Taylor Hackford, could not imagine how an extremely lucrative offer from the most influential international law corporation would turn out. He, at the invitation of the head of the company, Mr. John Milton, moves to New York, occupies luxurious apartments and enjoys the company of a loving wife. His career is growing rapidly, he easily wins one process after another, defending 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 story is saturated with a mass of high-quality special effects, unpredictable plot twists. But the main advantage is the duet of the leading actors - Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino. This is one of the best projects in the "deal with the devil" category.

Konstantin: Lord of Darkness (2005)

By the way, the first work of Keanu Reeves, in which his character faced the devil, was the comedy "The New Adventures of Bill andTed." Years later, the matured Keanu Reeves, who played Ted, again thundered into hell in Francis Lawrence's mystical thriller Constantine. The protagonist, exorcist and medium John Constantine, a real connoisseur of the other world, protecting Angela (Rachel Weisz) and her suicidal sister Isabelle, conspires with Lucifer (Peter Stormare), violating the insidious plans of the half-blood angel Gabrielle (Tilda Swinton).

Spawn (1997)

It seems that Hollywood without resurrections is like without hands. In the list of the most impressive resurrections, the main character of the comic book and the film is the assassin Al Simmons. During the next operation, he dies, ends up in hell, where he concludes an agreement with the Lord of Darkness and returns to earth as Spawn, the servant of the devil. Alas, in a new guise, he cannot return to his wife and beloved daughter, and in general there is no place for him among the living, but he is quite capable of heroically fighting otherworldly entities of all stripes. Especially since 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.

Nicolas Cage Heroes

In the filmography of the outstanding contemporary artist Nicolas Cage, there are several pictures that can be positioned as films about a deal with the devil. For example, two parts of "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 Steven Johnson, on the continuation of the film comicdirectors of "Adrenaline" were working.

In Crazy Driving (2011), John Milton, an escaped from hell, became the character of the actor. The character agreed with the devil on a delay in order to protect his granddaughter from aggressive sectarians. Having frolicked to his heart's content, Milton returns to hell with a sense of deep satisfaction.

Dorian Gray (2009)

In Oliver Parker's masterpiece, at the end of the 19th century, a young man of exceptional beauty, Dorian Gray (B. Barnes), comes to London to receive an inheritance from a deceased uncle. The artist Basil Hallward (B. Chaplin), inspired by his splendor, paints a portrait of Dorian. The cynical Lord Henry Wotton (K. Firth) admires the painting, and the young man himself voices the desire to give anything to stay that way forever. From that moment on, the canvas begins to age instead of him, taking away all wounds and ailments.

Unfortunately, the picture received mixed reviews, its IMDb rating: 6.30. Thanks to the fact that many brilliant actors, Colin Firth, Rebecca Hall and Ben Chaplin, were involved in the production of the film, the narrative was not mired in dullness.

"Blinded by Desires" (2000)

Comedy is not uncommon among films about a deal with the devil. For example, The Devil and Daniel Webster, directed by Alec Baldwin. In the movies, an aspiring writer makes a deal with the Dark Lord in order to succeed in the literary field and become a best-selling author. In exchange, after 10 years, he must give to the uncleansoul.

Or the comedy "Nerves on the Edge" directed by Roger Nygard, in which the main character was careless in his expressions, and now the devil himself will come to him in 8 hours.

But the devil has never been as 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. The object of recruitment this time is a failed programmer. The devil begins to shamelessly flirt with the man so that he does not resist and signs a contract according to which he gives his immortal soul for the fulfillment of seven wishes. 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 a real hell.

Recommended for viewing

The following films should definitely be added to the list of films about a 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 multiply the imagination of other people, bears a dark secret. First, he makes a deal with the devil, gaining immortality. After, having fallen in love, he changes the condition, refuses eternal life in favor of youth. However, there is always a price to pay for everything, now if he doesn't figure out how to beat the guard of darkness of the highest rank, he will take his 16-year-old daughter.
• Canadian mystical television series "The Collector of Human Souls". ATIn the mystical drama, the main character Morgan Pym acts as a collector of human souls, but one day he makes a deal with the devil. Now, according to the agreement, he has 48 hours to find redemption for the sinner's soul before it goes to hell.
• Solomon Kane (2009), directed by Michael Bassett, based on Robert Howard's fantasy adventure literary cycle. The English privateer Solomon Kane, previously ruthless and greedy, one day realizes that his soul is cursed. Deciding to atone for his sins, he lives as a hermit in peace and virtue. But dark forces attack the earth, and the hero again takes up arms.
• Musical drama Crossroads (1986) directed by W alter Hill, inspired by the legend of Robert Johnson, who allegedly made a deal with the devil: his soul in exchange for the fame and success of a musician.