Watch The Antichrist

The Antichrist is a 1974 Italian horror film directed by Alberto De Martino. The film stars Carla Gravina, Mel Ferrer, and Arthur Kennedy. The story follows two couples, the Johnsons and the Martins, who are drawn to a remote villa in Italy to investigate the supposed mystic powers of a young woman. The film opens with a séance where the young woman, who goes by the name of Ippolita (Carla Gravina), is possessed by an evil spirit. The séance is conducted by a group of spiritualists who hope to uncover Ippolita's powers. The scene descends into chaos as Ippolita lashes out at her handlers.

From here, the story shifts to the Johnson and Martin couples. Both couples have received an invitation from Ippolita's mother to come to Italy and investigate her daughter's abilities. The two couples, despite their differences, head to Italy together.

Once they arrive at the villa in which Ippolita resides, they discover a host of strange and eerie occurrences. The villa appears to be alive, with doors opening and closing on their own and strange noises echoing throughout the house. Ippolita, meanwhile, is becoming more and more unhinged, and it becomes clear that she is not in control of her powers.

As the film progresses, it becomes apparent that Ippolita is the incarnation of the Antichrist. The couples become embroiled in a battle between good and evil, with Ippolita's mother and a local priest taking up arms against the evil spirit inhabiting her daughter.

The Antichrist is a slow-burning, brooding film that relies heavily on atmosphere and dread to create a sense of unease. The film's soundtrack is sparse and minimalist, with the sound of footsteps and creaking doors used to great effect to create a tense and unsettling mood.

The performances are solid across the board, with Carla Gravina giving a particularly strong performance as Ippolita. She manages to convey both a sense of innocence and a dark, otherworldly presence. Mel Ferrer and Arthur Kennedy, meanwhile, bring gravitas to their roles as the warring spiritualists and priests.

The film's direction is strong, with director De Martino making great use of the villa's Gothic architecture to create a sense of claustrophobia and isolation. The film's climax, in particular, is a masterful exercise in tension and horror.

Overall, The Antichrist is a solid horror film that deserves more recognition than it has received. It's a slow, deliberate film that won't be for everyone, but those who appreciate atmospheric, brooding horror will find a lot to enjoy here. If you're a fan of classic horror films that rely on mood and atmosphere over gore and jump scares, then The Antichrist is definitely worth checking out.

The Antichrist is a 1974 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 52 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8.