During a trip to Toledo, Lisa (Elke Sommer) enters a labyrinth of streets and disturbing encounters after seeing a mural depicting the Devil and meeting the enigmatic Leandro. A car breakdown leads her to a decadent villa inhabited by a blind countess, her son Maximilian, and Leandro himself, where past and present seem to merge.
The film, directed by Mario Bava, was shot in Spain and Italy between September and November 1972 and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 9, 1973. The disastrous reaction prompted producer Alfredo Leone to withdraw it, believing it unsuitable for distributors and audiences. Lisa e il Diavolo (Lisa and the Devil) was never released in theaters. In 1975, it was re-released with a different title, La casa dell’esorcismo (The House of Exorcism), with new scenes shot by Alfredo Leone himself, inspired by demonic possessions. The original Italian version – believed lost for years – only appeared on TV in 2004.
At the 21st minute, Sylva Koscina smokes a cigarette sitting on the bed while a man caresses her thigh. Shortly afterwards, the two have sex, but there is no nudity. At the 60-minute mark, a door swings open and startles Sylva, who jumps back and ends up with her back against the wall and her dress slipping down slightly, revealing part of her breast. The first real nude scene comes at the 74-minute mark. Elke Sommer is lying topless on a bed, asleep. A man pulls off her jeans, then sits next to her and kisses her breasts and lips. We see Elke Sommer naked on the bed again ten minutes later. She partially covers her breasts with her arm and there are some dry leaves on top of her. The actress stands up and covers herself with a sheet. Vegetation has grown around her.
The film, directed by Mario Bava, was shot in Spain and Italy between September and November 1972 and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 9, 1973. The disastrous reaction prompted producer Alfredo Leone to withdraw it, believing it unsuitable for distributors and audiences. Lisa e il Diavolo (Lisa and the Devil) was never released in theaters. In 1975, it was re-released with a different title, La casa dell’esorcismo (The House of Exorcism), with new scenes shot by Alfredo Leone himself, inspired by demonic possessions. The original Italian version – believed lost for years – only appeared on TV in 2004.
At the 21st minute, Sylva Koscina smokes a cigarette sitting on the bed while a man caresses her thigh. Shortly afterwards, the two have sex, but there is no nudity. At the 60-minute mark, a door swings open and startles Sylva, who jumps back and ends up with her back against the wall and her dress slipping down slightly, revealing part of her breast. The first real nude scene comes at the 74-minute mark. Elke Sommer is lying topless on a bed, asleep. A man pulls off her jeans, then sits next to her and kisses her breasts and lips. We see Elke Sommer naked on the bed again ten minutes later. She partially covers her breasts with her arm and there are some dry leaves on top of her. The actress stands up and covers herself with a sheet. Vegetation has grown around her.
