Mark of the Devil

The 1970 German film Mark of the Devil  (Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält)  is not an especially great film.  There’s nothing in the writing, acting, directing, or editing to make this one stand out as a great film – or even a good film. The editing was jumpy, the acting stiff and the sound was irritating, but it wasn’t the worst movie I’ve ever seen.

Perhaps most damning is the fact that this film is more remembered for its outlandish promotional material than for the film itself.  Advertisements for the film declared it to be "Positively the most horrifying film ever made" and "Rated V for Violence", and barf bags were given out at theaters for those movie-goers with nervous stomachs. 

You can hear a radio spot for the film here.

But despite the lack of outstanding qualities, the movie still seemed relevant and timely.

Set in Austria during the early 18th century, the movie follows a Witchfinder (Herbert Lom) and the young man he trains (Udo Kier), both traveling the courtyside terrorizing people suspected of practicing witchcraft and devil worship.  Those who are accused of worshiping the devil or of being witches are tortured until they confess to their crimes.

Whether they were guilty or not was immaterial.

I accuse you of having trampled on the cross, of having ridden to the Sabbath, of throwing the Holy Cross of our Savior into manure so that the skies grew dark, and the rain fell upon the earth! 

But replace witchcraft with terrorism and witchfinders with CIA or FBI agents and this film is still pertinent. We like to think that we are more civilized, less barbaric, less cruel, less bloodthirsty than those who hunted down suspected witches and burned them at the stake during the dark and unenlightened medieval years.

But are we?  If American citizens can be assassinated without due-process, without indictment, and without trial by jury…

 If we have leaders who believe torture to be a morally acceptable practice…

Is there a moral difference between the rack and thumbscrews and water-boarding?