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Lisa and the Devil
Lisa e il diavolo
1973 95 min Germany, Italy, Spain R 18+
★6.5
Horror
Director: Mario Bava
Trailers
Description
Lisa is a tourist in an ancient city. When she gets lost, she finds an old mansion in which to shelter. Soon she is sucked into a vortex of deception, debauchery and evil presided over by housekeeper Leandre.
Budget:
$1M
Starring
Telly Savalas
Actor
Elke Sommer
Actor
Sylva Koscina
Actor
Awards
1 nomination total
Key opinion
Mario Bava's Lisa and the Devil is a polarizing, dreamlike masterpiece that prioritizes surreal atmosphere and gothic texture over logical narrative coherence. While fans of arthouse horror celebrate its unique visual style and Telly Savalas's iconic performance, critics point to an overly theatrical screenplay and an unsatisfying, ambiguous conclusion.
| Acting | Telly Savalas delivers a standout, understated performance as a uniquely playful and malevolent devil figure. | |
| Production | The film masterfully employs vivid, surreal visual aesthetics and gothic house décor to establish a thick, lingering sense of dread. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay utilizes a complex, dreamlike narrative structure that some viewers find intellectually rewarding while others dismiss as nonsensical and illogical. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is criticized for a sluggish, disjointed start that requires patience before the atmospheric elements coalesce. | |
| Screenplay | The film's heavy reliance on theatrical dialogue and fable-like artifice alienates viewers expecting traditional cinematic realism. | |
| Ending | The narrative culminates in an indeterminate and vague conclusion that leaves viewers frustrated by a lack of clear resolution or motivation. |