The Devil Rides Out (aka The Devil's Bride) (1968)

A connoisseur (Christopher Lee) of black magic challenges an apostate (Charles Gray) of Satan when he attempts to baptize a young friend (Patrick Mower) into the cult of devil worshippers. The battle between the forces of good and evil rages as each attempts to hold on to the souls of the friend and a young girl (Nikki Arrighi) promised to Satan. Based on the novel by Dennis Wheatley and adapted for the screen by science fiction writer Richard Matheson (I AM LEGEND) and directed by Hammer horror veteran Terence Fisher (CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN). Thanks to a sturdy screenplay and solid direction, this Hammer horror manages to make the absurdities believable rather than silly. The film's actors play their roles with the utmost sincerity which is good as the film dangerously flirts with unintentional snickers. Lee's witchcraft cop is notoriously sloppy though as he continually lets characters needlessly endanger themselves when he should know better. But it's handsomely shot and provides some solid eerie moments. With Leon Greene and Sarah Lawson.