The Devil's Messenger (1961)

In this feature version of the Swedish TV series "13 Demon Street," a 50,000-year-old woman is found frozen in an ice field, and a man's death is foretold in dreams.

Director:

Herbert L. Strock

Writer:

Leo Guild

Stars:

Lon Chaney Jr., Karen Kadler, Michael Hinn

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Satan (as Lon Chaney)
Karen Kadler	...	Satanya
Michael Hinn	...	John Radian (archive footage)
Ralph Brown	...	Charlie (archive footage)
John Crawford	...	Donald Powell (archive footage)
Bert Johnson	...	(archive footage)
Chalmers Goodlin	...	Bobby (archive footage)
Gunnel Broström	...	Dr. Hume (archive footage) (as Gunnel Brostron)
Tammy Newmara	...	(archive footage)
Jan Blomberg	...	(archive footage)
Ingrid Bedoya	...	(archive footage)
Eve Hossner	...	Girl in Photo (archive footage)

Storyline

In this feature version of the Swedish TV series "13 Demon Street," a 50,000-year-old woman is found frozen in an ice field, and a man's death is foretold in dreams.

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Plot Keywords:

anthology | independent film

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Genres:

Horror

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Details

Country:

Sweden USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

La mensajera del diablo

Filming Locations:

Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was edited out of three distinctive episodes, some of which directed by Curt Siodmak, from Swedish TV series 13 Demon Street, shot in English language but originally aired with Swedish subtitles.

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Goofs

Photographer Don tells Charlie that "somebody" is coming out of the house in the photograph. When Charlie suggests that he's imagining it and they should look at the photograph, he says "If I can't see her, you'll believe me."

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Quotes

Satan: Love is such a stupid emotion.

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Connections

Featured in Creature Features: Werewolf of London/The Devil's Messenger (1971)

User Reviews

So-so horror omnibus

This cheapo horror omnibus features Lon Chaney Jr. as the devil. He sends a young female suicide victim back to Earth on a series of interventions involving men destined for purgatory. The film is split up into three short stories within this framework.

The first story about an amoral photographer and a ghost has a reasonable premise but it isn't executed very well. The idea of the ghostly woman in the photograph advancing ever nearer is a little reminiscent of the central idea in Ring. And it's a good idea but there isn't enough time for the story to develop and the ending feels rushed.

Story two about the discovery of a prehistoric woman found in-cased in a block of ice is a complete washout. The lead character has an obsession with the ice lady that is never explained. He kills his colleague, the ice melts and the lady vanishes. It all seems a bit pointless.

The third story about the man who encounters the fortune-teller is probably the best, as it has more time to develop. However, despite an intriguing set up, the pay-off is distinctly uninteresting.

The Devil's Messenger is not terribly good but, as it contains three stories within a 75 minute film, it does at least move along at a brisk pace.