What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Devils
Ken Russell · Film · 1971
If you loved The Devils, start with The Exorcist (Jeremy Slater, 2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Devils across media.
You are drawn to how The Devils weaponizes religious fervor to expose the dark intersection of institutional power and sexual repression.
Books on the same thread
The Exorcist
William Peter Blatty · Book · 1971
Shares a thread with The Devils: Religious Horror.
Much like The Devils, this novel uses the terrifying spectacle of demonic possession to explore the visceral tension between fragile human faith and overwhelming, corrupting external forces.
Demons
Fyodor Dostoevsky · Book · 2010
Explores: Radicalism, Nihilism, Ideological extremism.
This Dostoevsky classic echoes the political intrigue of The Devils by examining how a charismatic leader can manipulate the collective consciousness of a community toward total, destructive radicalism.
The Name of the Rose
Umberto Eco · Book · 1984
Explores: Religious Heresy, Medieval Philosophy, Secrets and Conspiracy.
If you appreciated the historical scrutiny of The Devils, you will find this investigation into religious heresy and institutional secrets equally gripping in its intellectual and atmospheric intensity.
The Innocence of the Devil
Nawāl Saʻdāwī · Book · 1994
Explores: gender inequality, oppression of women, mental illness.
This novel mirrors the focus on suppressed women found in The Devils, providing a searing critique of how patriarchal structures and religious dogma actively enforce the oppression of women.
Series on the same thread
Midnight Mass
Mike Flanagan · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with The Devils: Religious Horror.
This series captures the same descent into mass hysteria seen in The Devils as a small town is consumed by the arrival of a charismatic and mysterious religious figure.
Sybil
Series · 1976
Explores: Dissociative Identity Disorder, Childhood Trauma, Mental Illness.
The exploration of fractured identity and internal trauma in this drama resonates with the psychological unraveling of the repressed nuns depicted throughout the narrative of The Devils.
Jesus of Nazareth
Franco Zeffirelli · Series · 1977
Shares a thread with The Devils: Historical Drama.
While more traditional than The Devils, this epic offers a contrasting look at the weight of religious life and the profound human impact of institutionalized faith systems.
The Exorcist
Jeremy Slater · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with The Devils: Religious Horror.
This series continues the thematic inquiry into spiritual warfare started in The Devils, focusing on how priests navigate the intersection of personal doubt and ancient, demonic-like manifestations.
Podcasts on the same thread
heretics.
Podcast
Explores: contrarianism, dissent, free speech.
Just as The Devils highlights the persecution of those who challenge the status quo, this podcast examines the modern social cost of acting as a dissenter against group-think.
Heaven's Helpline
Podcast
Explores: sexual abuse, institutional cover-up, religious institutions.
This investigation into institutional cover-ups echoes the political corruption and moral hypocrisy that Father Grandier faces within the rigid, suffocating power structures portrayed in The Devils.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Devils based on historical events?
The Devils depicts 17th-century France and follows the story of Father Urbain Grandier. The film dramatizes his role as a polarizing figure in the city of Loudon and his subsequent downfall following accusations of witchcraft made by a sexually repressed nun.
What leads to the downfall of Father Urbain Grandier in The Devils?
In The Devils, Grandier’s influence is undermined after a sexually repressed nun accuses him of witchcraft. This accusation targets his unorthodox views on sex and religion, effectively turning his reputation as a protector of Loudon against him in the eyes of his peers.
Why is Father Urbain Grandier considered a polarizing figure in The Devils?
Grandier is a polarizing figure in The Devils because he holds unorthodox views regarding sex and religion. While he is outspoken and maintains a reputation for protecting the city of Loudon from corruption, these same traits alienate others and eventually lead to his demise.
Does The Devils feature a religious setting?
Yes, The Devils is set in 17th-century France and centers on the life of Father Urbain Grandier. The narrative focuses heavily on the intersection of his unorthodox religious views, his influence over a group of nuns, and the political corruption within the city of Loudon.