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This movie deals with characters who make a serious business of "defying the devil", or standing up to evil in any form that it might take. One such person is John (Hedges Capers), who picks up where his beloved grandpappy (Denver Pyle) left off. He embarks on an incredible journey full of offbeat and sometimes horrific encounters, often playing his guitar as he walks on.This was derived from a book titled "Who Fears the Devil?" by Manly Wade Wellman, who adapted several real life folk tales that he heard. It's a highly intriguing story the likes of which I haven't quite seen on film before. It's refreshingly unpredictable from one moment to the next. It gets a lot out of its Appalachian locale; the atmosphere is quite heavy and the settings are extremely well shot.The very colorful cast of characters are brought to life by a marvelous cast also including Severn Darden (playing a truly interesting part), Harris Yulin, R.G. Armstrong, Sidney Clute, Val Avery, Percy Rodrigues, Susan Strasberg, and Sharon Henesy. Capers also composed some of the songs, as did the late, great Hoyt Axton; these songs are spirited and infectious.The special effects are crude but tolerable, the pacing consistently slow but steady, and the movie overall rates as a uniquely strange and flavorful experience that I would say deserves its cult following.It's certainly motivated me to check out the authors' works, which is a good thing for any adaptation.9/10
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