Guillermo del Toro has weighed in on the new trailer for The Devils, praising its striking visual style with a quick tip of the hat to Gaspar Noé. The filmmaker is one of the most distinctive voices in cinema, combining dark fantasy, horror and disturbing imagery with films that challenge audiences. His movies, including Pan’s Labyrinth, Crimson Peak, The Shape of Water and Nightmare Alley, often explore unsettling themes, grotesque creatures and morally ambiguous characters, making his reaction especially fitting.

The filmmaker known for turning dark and unsettling stories into visually striking cinema has now reacted to one of the most controversial films in the genre. 

Guillermo del Toro responded to a fan’s compliment on the restored film, The Devils, and its Gaspar Noé-inspired visual style. The Oscar-winning filmmaker reposted the post on X and agreed with the comparison, adding to the buzz around the controversial 1971 classic’s theatrical release. 

“Very Gaspar Indeed!” del Toro wrote, referring to the trailer’s intense visual resemblance to the provocative filmmaking style of Gaspar Noé.

For context, del Toro’s X comparison to Gaspar Noé likely stems from the trailer’s intense, provocative visual style, which evokes elements often found in the work of the French-Argentine filmmaker. Noé’s bold camera movement, disorienting imagery, saturated visuals, and disturbing subject matter combine to create an intense and confrontational viewing experience. The Devils also has a reputation for its similarly provocative style of filmmaking and unsettling atmosphere.

Meanwhile, The Devils is coming back in a new modern restoration based on Ken Russell’s private 2004 edit. The restored version revisits the controversial 1971 film, which suffered heavy censorship and an X rating for its provocative content. The restoration has recently premiered at Cannes and will be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Opening on October 16, it will have a limited theatrical run.  

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After decades of controversy and censorship, Ken Russell’s provocative classic is finally getting a new 4K restoration that aims to bring more of his original vision back to audiences. 

Ken Russell’s The Devils revolves around Urbain Grandier, a 17th-century French Catholic priest whose life is turned upside down when he becomes the subject of accusations amid religious zealotry and mass hysteria. The film is a dark and disturbing exploration of fanaticism and the abuse of institutional power, with political interests, personal ambition, and religious authority all conspiring to create an environment of fear and manipulation. With Grandier's persecution, the movie offers a disturbing portrait of power, control, and human cruelty.

Meanwhile, Guillermo del Toro, whose film Pan’s Labyrinth recently screened at the Cannes, has taken The Devils’ re-release with mystery. Now with the restored version finally bringing more of Russell’s controversial vision to the screen, the film has the potential to attract both longtime admirers and curious new audiences. Furthermore, Russell’s provocative classic continues to inspire filmmakers more than five decades after its initial release, as evidenced by del Toro’s short but passionate answer. 

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Can this restored version of The Devils finally win over audiences after the controversy surrounding its original release? Let us know in the comments.