The Devil's Daughter (1973)

Crappy film

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

If you decide to see "The Devil's Daughter" on YouTube, like I did, be aware that the picture is VERY pink and blurry. It's best watched on a small screen (such as your computer) and as for the pink...well, I guess we're stuck with it unless there's another copy out there somewhere.When her mother dies, Diane (Belinda Montgomery) is befriended by Lilith (Shelly Winters) who says she is one of her mother's old friends. She invites Diane to live with her and soon she agrees. But Lilith is a weird lady and so are her very odd friends...and Diane is naturally very creeped out by them. So, she moves out and gets a roommate--but she starts having weird dreams. She also is invited to a party at Lilith's home--and she soon discovers these new friends are all Satan worshipers. They also inform her that she's to be wedded to some demon...and not surprisingly, Diane thinks they're all a bunch of nuts. This is exactly the sort of plot that "The ABC Movie of the Week" did best--and the number of odd, supernatural films they made is huge. Think about it...films about alien impregnation, monsters living in the chimney, aliens turning folks into mindless zombies and witchcraft were the sorts of subjects of many of their productions...so "The Devil's Daughter" seems like a natural! It's creepy, strange and a lot of fun to watch. Not exactly a must see but it sure fits the bill if you want a bit of a fright.

After her mother's untimely and violent death, Diane Shaw (Belinda Montgomery) meets a woman named Lilith Malone (Shelley Winters) who claims to be one of her mother's old friends. Lilith invites Diane to stay with her for a while. At first things seem almost ideal, but a series of strange events soon puts a different spin on things. Diane decides to leave Lilith's house, but can't seem to escape her control. Is Lilith who and what she claims to be? Or is she the devil in disguise? I just love watching Shelley Winters in a movie like this. Although she's in control most of the time, there's at least one scene where Winters loses it that's too much fun. I don't think her turn in The Devil's Daughter is anywhere near her best, but she always a joy. The rest of the cast is good. Jonathan Frid, Abe Vigoda, Diane Ladd, and Joseph Cotton are all good in their respective roles.I also love these 1970s made-for-TV movies. As I wrote in a comment to another Movie of the Week, young people today would be surprised at how much we enjoyed watching these movies. And if it was horror or horror related, it was something we really looked forward to. Movies like Satan's School for Girls, Gargoyles, and The Night Stalker were the highlights of the television schedule. The Devil's Daughter is another fine example of made-for-TV horror. It's not the best of the bunch, but it is effectively creepy in spots. A few of the scenes, like the party Diane attends where she discovers her titular birthright, are eerily reminiscent of Rosemary's Baby. Overall, it's an enjoyable little film – not great by any stretch of the imagination – just enjoyable. I would rate it even higher if the screenplay weren't so predictable. I defy anyone who has seen more than a handful of horror to find many surprises in the plot. But even as predictable as the film's climax may be, it's still a trip to watch unfold.

Sweet young Diane Shaw (a fine and sympathetic performance by the comely Belinda J. Montgomery) is given a place to stay by the seemingly friendly Lilith Malone (superbly played by the ever reliable Shelley Winters) following the death of Diane's mother (Diane Ladd in a strong cameo). Diane discovers much to her display that her mother was a member of an evil Satanic cult and made a deal with the devil to marry her off to the chosen one when she reaches legal age. Director Jeannot ("Jaws 2") Szwarc does a commendable job of creating and sustaining a compellingly eerie and mysterious atmosphere. J.J. Jones' polished cinematography gives the picture a bright, attractive look. Lawrence Rosenthal's shuddery'n'spooky score likewise does the trick. The bang-up supporting cast qualifies as another major asset: Jonathan Frid (Barnabas on "Dark Shadows") as Lilith's creepy mute chauffeur Mr. Howard, Robert Foxworth as charming architect Steve Stone, Abe Vigoda as sinister anthropologist Aliknine, Joseph Cotten as the amiable Judge Weatherby, Ian Wolfe as the kindly Father MacHugh, and Lucille ("Private Parts") Benson as the flaky Janet Poole. The dark surprise ending is a real corker, too. A very solid and satisfying vintage 70's made-for-TV fright feature.

I saw this movie in 1982 age 12,only once. and i still remember like it was yesterday all the actors was very well done, it gave me a great in pact in my life. I really want to see this movie on DVD and I want others to encourage the company to release it. no luck yet to found it.Shelly was a wonderful actress and the rest of the crew also,it will be nice if there was a new version, but nobody cannot beat the classic.#1 there something about classic movie like rosemary baby and other's that , style, real acting,capture the real story behind it,the electricity that we feel with the old classic,I never see this movie since, the devil's daughter i really miss it it's a worth wile movie to release on DVD. ATTENTION EVERYBODY I FOUND THIS MOVIE DVD OR VHS AT [email protected] she;s from IOWA USA enjoy!