Les possédées du diable (1974)

A man is tormented by an ex-lover, Lorna, who posseses a strange power over a women, including the man's daughter.

Director:

Jesús Franco (as Clifford Brown)

Writers:

Jesús Franco (as Jesus Franco Manera), Nicole Guettard (as Nicole Franco)

Stars:

Pamela Stanford, Guy Delorme, Lina Romay

Cast

Credited cast:
Pamela Stanford	...	Lorna / Patrick's old friend
Guy Delorme	...	Patrick / Father
Lina Romay	...	Linda / Daughter
Jacqueline Laurent	...	Marianne Mariel
Richard Bigotini	...	Marius / Hotel Porter
Catherine Lafferière	...	Mad woman
Howard Vernon	...	Maurizius / Lorna's butler
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jesús Franco	...	Doctor
Raymond Hardy	...	Doctor's assistant
Caroline Rivière

Storyline

The businessman Patrick takes his wife Marianne and daughter Linda on a vacation. Patrick's old friend Lorna shows up just in time for Linda's 18th birthday and takes demonic, sexual possession of the girl's body and soul.

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Plot Keywords:

vacation | possession | birthday | murder | roulette | 

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

X

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

February 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Linda

Company Credits

Production Co:

Comptoir Français du Film Production (CFFP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min 97 min (heavily cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Lorna the Exorcist: Stephen Thrower on 'Lorna' (2011)

User Reviews

Franco's sexy fairytale

The vast filmography of Jess Franco is littered with cheap timewasters that are not of interest to anyone; but among those films are some real gems. Lorna the Exorcist, however, falls somewhere between the two sets of films; it's not vintage Franco, but it's better than a lot of his stuff and does at least make for a decent viewing. I had a feeling that this film may be a rip off of another film released in the early seventies with the word 'Exorcist' in the title; but actually the film is more of a nightmarish fairy tale with some sex involved (although clearly the film is cashing in on the title!). The plot focuses on a businessman named Patrick. He takes his wife and daughter on holiday; but things turn awry for Patrick when a woman named Lorna turns up. Lorna and Patrick had relations some years earlier and it emerges that Lorna is some kind of witch that has power over various women; including his daughter, who is almost ready to turn eighteen. Lorna begins to infiltrate Patrick's life, and he tries to protect his daughter.

The main draw of this film for most Franco fans will undoubtedly be the beautiful Lina Romay who stars as the eighteen year old daughter. The rest of the cast is nothing to write home about; but there is a role for Franco stalwart Howard Vernon, as well as sometimes collaborator Pamela Stanford in the central role. The version of the film that I saw ran for just over eighty minutes, and I wouldn't be surprised to find that its cut as the film is not particularly graphic or disturbing. There is a fair bit of sex; including lesbian sex and we are treated to the entire usual trademark Franco zoom shots. The most memorable scene takes place in the bedroom and involves a really bad case of crabs! The plot itself takes a backseat to the atmosphere and sleaze elements, but it's actually not too badly worked and it does at least succeed in keeping the film interesting for most of the duration. Overall, Lorna the Exorcist is not hugely memorable and is in no way a classic horror film; but it's decent enough stuff and most Franco fans wont regret tracking it down.