In this memorably silly and incredibly entertaining rural horror flick, a family named the Prestons must do battle with a Satan-worshipping villain, Jonathan Corbis (Ernest Borgnine). Mark Preston (William Shatner) and his brother Tom (Tom Skerritt) are among those with the balls to face this minion of the Devil. What Corbis really wants is to lay his infernal hands on a very important book.Robert Fuest ("The Abominable Dr. Phibes", "The Final Programme") directs this insane, sometimes uproarious feature. The script, credited to Gabe Essoe, James Ashton, and Gerald Hopman, is pure nonsense. One truly must approach this after checking their brain at the door. The film has a very effective pace, as it hits the ground running and starts unleashing its horrors within the first few minutes.There is some excellent atmosphere to enjoy, and much striking desert imagery photographed in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The overcast skies in early scenes merely add to the mood. Al De Lory composed the suitable music score; Alex Phillips Jr. did the lighting. The action takes place in some very desolate environments.The acting is deliciously hammy from Borgnine and Shatner. Borgnine in particular has rarely been as much fun as he is here...especially when he's covered in goat's head makeup for much of the last half hour. The slumming big name cast also includes a typically amusing Keenan Wynn as a sheriff, Ida Lupino as the Preston matriarch, and Eddie Albert as Dr. Samuel Richards. Joan Prather plays Skerritts' wife, Claudio Brook appears in the stylish flashback sequence as a crusading priest, Lisa Todd is cast as a temptress, and that's none other than John Travolta making his film debut as one of Corbis's many disciples. (His dialogue basically consists of "Blasphemer!").The extremely protracted ending is the unqualified highlight. Most of the cast melts when the title element is unleashed. Apparently in this story selling your soul to the Devil turns your body into wax. Who knew?"The Devil's Rain" is trashy, and stupid, but for certain tastes, a Hell of a lot of fun.Eight out of 10.

*Spoiler/plot- The Devil's Rain, 1975. A group of Satanists in the American rural town are visited by outsiders. The outsiders are descendants of people that persecuted the Satanists in 1600s New England at witch trails. The Satanists wish to get revenge. But one of the children of an earlier victim vows to destroy the Satan worshipping town folk. *Special Stars- William Shatner, Ernest Borgnine, Isa Lupino, Tom Skeritt, Eddie Albert, Keenan Wynn. *Theme- Devil worship is an old religion.*Trivia/location/goofs- Universal. John Travota's first film role. Anton Lavey, California's most famous legal devil worshiper based in San Francisco was in this film. The shooting of the film was plagued by eerie events and accidents. Because of this Ernest Borgnine vowed to never work on a project with this subject matter again.*Emotion- A hugely un-intentional comedic bad film plot that is even more watchable with the large amount of big movie & TV stars that perform in it. Shatner was post Star Trek TV show cancellation. Travolta was just starting out from New York. Ernest Borgine's horned devil scene in full face make-up is a creepy must-see experience for any audience. Top notch film to see. *Based on- Devil worship and hippie cults in the SoCal area. Charles Manson murder matters had just be exposed at devil worship related by LOs Angeles district attorney.

Here's another film I remember seeing as a kid, starring pre-sausage looking William Shatner (plimsoles), John Travolta (slippers), Keenan Wynn (moccasins), and Ernest (Doc Martens) Borgnine. Also: Tom Skerrit (thigh high leather boots). I thought it was okay then…but now I think it's…still okay.We get dropped right into the action as Shatner and his mum and their shoes are frantically awaiting the arrival of their dad/husband/shoe protector, but someone with his face (and no eyes, wearing shoes) appears and says 'Give Corbis the book (and the shoes)', and then melts in the rain like a prawn cracker does in chicken noodle soup served in a ladies stilleto. Shortly afterwards, Shatner's mum and her shoes are kidnapped as he is looking at a doll (wearing sandals) tied to a steering wheel and he himself sets off for a seemingly deserted town to battle Corbis (Borgnine) who quite naturally is the head of a devil/shoe worshipping cult who needs a book/shoes which would increase his evil shoes powers or something. Also: Tom Skerrit (thermal socks).Also: Tom Skerrit also turns up as Shatner's brother to look for everyone and their shoes and gets involved in a battle with Borgnine (it is unclear whether or not his shoes are involved at this point – possible shoe spoiler). Also, Skerrit also runs into Travolta who has no eyes but still has a dimple on his chin (used to keep gravy warm) and then Borgnine turns into a goat wearing wellies and everyone has no eyes, but nifty Nike Air Max trainers. Also: Tom Skerrit finds what looks like a TV full of souls wrapped in some stuff (probably shoes).This film has virtually no plot (and very little shoe action). There's a bit of a backstory involving Borgnine and the footwear people used to wear during the Salem Shoe Trials, and you've got to love all the melting action, but it mainly involves people looking for other people and their shoes. Also: Tom Skerrit's always struck me as being a bit bland as an actor, especially up against Borgnine who's anything but bland. Maybe it's his shoes? The Devil's Rain still feels like about half a film. Plenty of goo, little else. It caused me to bend a brogue slightly.Also: Tom Skerrit.

A curse hovers over the Preston family for generations. They betrayed their former cult leader Satanic priest John Corbis (Oscar-Winner:Ernest Borgnine). Corbis wants the Satanic book that holds great power. Mrs. Preston (The late Ida Lupino) is kidnapped by Corbis' followers. Now, it is up to Mark Preston (William Snatner) is to find his kidnapped mother and the followers lives in a Ghost Town in the desert. But these cult followers tricked Mark and they turned his mother into one of Corbis' followers. While Mark keeps the book hidden from Corbis. Now Mark's brother Tom (Tom Skerritt) and his wife (Joan Prather) are searching for his brother and his mother along with Dr. Sam Richards (The late Eddie Albert), a psychic researcher. While these satanists truly want the book. Tom has to find a way to his family before it is too late.Directed by Robert Fuest (And Soon the Darkness) made an offbeat approach to a story about Satanists. At times, "The Devil's Rain" is effective at times but also, it has some moments of unintentional laughter. Especially when Satan appears in his goat-like appearance. Some strong performances from Borgnine, Snatner and Skerritt makes this movie watchable. The movie does have good make-up effects and it is well shot in Widescreen by Alex Phillips Jr. (Born in East L.A., Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia). But the problem with "The Devil's Rain", the premise is not coherent enough and this picture could have been really scary.But still, it is fairly entertaining with an early-role for John Travolta in a bit part. As one Australian film critic called "The Devil's Rain", "The ultimate cult movie", "It's about a cult, has a cult following, was devised with input from a cult leader, and saw a future superstar indoctrinated into a cult he'd help popularize". That what's pretty sums it's all for "The Devil's Rain". Todd-AO 35. (*** ½/*****).