The Devil Rides Out(1968)
1968 · Terence Fisher · 96 min
The powers of good are pitted against the forces of evil as the Duc de Richelieu wrestles with the charming but deadly Satanist, Mocata, for the soul of his friend. Mocata has the knowledge and the power to summon the forces of darkness and, as the Duc de Richelieu and his friends remain within the protected pentacle, they are subjected to ever-increasing horror until thundering hooves herald the arrival of the Angel of Death.
Horror
6.5214 votes
TMDB score
2/5
Intensity
1/5
Gore
2/5
Stays with you
How The Devil Rides Out scares
The Devil Rides Out leans on old-school gothic atmosphere rather than modern scares, with candlelit rituals, hypnotic stares, and a sense of creeping dread building toward a big supernatural showdown. It's more of an adventure against evil than a true nightmare, with a couple of theatrical shock moments rather than a barrage of jolts. There's almost no blood or gore here, and the fear is mostly about occult manipulation and unseen forces rather than physical harm. It plays like a fun, stylish old horror outing that entertains more than it unsettles, great for fans of classic Hammer films and vintage devil-worship stories.
On The Horror Database's 0–5 scare profile, The Devil Rides Out rates psychological 3/5, visceral 2/5, gore 1/5, lingering effect 2/5, and overall intensity 2/5.
- Psychological: 3 of 5
- Visceral: 2 of 5
- Gore: 1 of 5
- Lingering: 2 of 5
- Intensity: 2 of 5
Slow burn vs Jump scares: 35 of 100 — leans Slow burn
Supernatural vs Real-world: 8 of 100 — leans Supernatural
Fun-scary vs Disturbing: 18 of 100 — leans Fun-scary
Intensity over runtime
Shape only — no eventsReveal pacing shapeHide pacing shapeHidden by default — shows where the tension peaks and lets up.
A brisk, talky start gives way to escalating occult set-pieces that climb steadily into a frantic, all-night siege before a quick resolution.
Intensity across the runtime, 0 to 100: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 3.
How scary is The Devil Rides Out?
On The Horror Database's 0–5 intensity scale, The Devil Rides Out rates 2/5 — moderately scary, building its fear through slow-burn dread rather than shocks. It works on both fronts, unsettling the mind while going for the body. Expect it to be restrained with gore and fun-first. Some of it will follow you to bed, but it lets go within a day or so.
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