Cannes 2026: Ken Russell's The Devils, Pan's Labyrinth, Moonlighting

"Cannes Classics has become one of its most interesting sections, offering restorations of great films from around the world, and they slotted arguably the hottest ticket on the Croisette this year in “Ken Russell’s The Devils,” a complete version of the masterful director’s controversial film. Released theatrically in October 2026, it will serve as the launch of Clockwork, a branch of WB dedicated to this kind of thing, and it sets the bar as high as possible for this new brand. People have been asking for a full version of “The Devils” for decades, and the result is absolutely mesmerizing, a 4K restoration from the original camera negative that amplifies the film's remarkable production design."

"Russell's film has been accurately praised for what can only be called its fury: it's a movie that looks at the conflict between church and state and wants to burn it all down, but only after the orgy. This uncut version, which restores the infamous “Rape of Christ” sequence along with an amazing beat at the end that I won't spoil just in case you haven't read about it, feels angrier than ever. A filmmaker friend told me the night before that he had seen Russell's film fifty times but felt like he had never really seen it until this viewing. And it's not just the new footage: it's the complete package, one that is going to drive nails into the hands of moviegoers later this year."

"Famous critic Mark Kermode introduced the film by saying that Russell saw it as his only political film, but this masterpiece was so controversial that it never really reached theaters in the form preferred by the filmmaker until 2004, when Kermode helped him assemble the director's cut for the first time. The years since saw further restoration, and fans will now be able to experience something that has been a sort of Holy Grail for movie lovers for half a century."

Cannes Classics presents restored films from around the world and screened Ken Russell’s The Devils in a complete, uncut form. The theatrical release is scheduled for October 2026 and will launch Clockwork, a WB branch focused on this type of restoration. The film is presented as a 4K restoration from the original camera negative, enhancing its production design. The restored version reinstates the infamous “Rape of Christ” sequence and includes an additional beat at the end. The film’s controversy stems from its depiction of conflict between church and state. Russell’s preferred version was assembled for the first time in 2004, and further restoration has continued since then, making the full version a long-sought “Holy Grail” for film lovers.

Read at Roger Ebert