Eye Of The Devil (1966)

A marquis and vineyard owner (David Niven) is called back to his estate because of a drought which brings another dry season. His wife (Deborah Kerr) shortly follows but to her horror what she finds is a witches coven and a family history of paganism and human sacrifice. Based on the novel DAY OF THE ARROW by Philip Loraine and directed by J. Lee Thompson (GUNS OF NAVARONE), the film is rather sluggish for a horror flick. What it needs to work is a growing sense of terror but what we get is a constant barrage of Deborah Kerr's hysterics. It doesn't help that the normally lovely Kerr looks rather frumpy (her hideous Julie Harris costumes don't help either) and her tremulous voice begins to grate after awhile. Poor Niven isn't given much to do but look gloomy. The supporting cast is more effective. Flora Robson as Niven's suffering aunt, Donald Pleasence as a demonic priest and lovely Sharon Tate (who appears to be dubbed) as a sorceress. The cinematography by Erwin Hiller (I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING, CANTERBURY TALE) is particularly ungainly but there's an effective score by the jazz musician Gary McFarland (alas, poisoned at the young age of 38) though the score itself isn't jazz. With David Hemmings, Emlyn Williams and Edward Mulhare.