Eye of the Devil

Eye of the Devil

Year: 1966

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: J. Lee Thompson

HorrorMysteryThrillerHorror the undead and monster classicsIntense violence and sexual transgression

This is the climax in mind-chilling terror! A French nobleman deserts his wife because of an ancient family secret.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Eye of the Devil yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Eye of the Devil (1966)

Trace every key event in Eye of the Devil (1966) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Summoned to Bellenac and given the amulet

Philippe is abruptly recalled from Paris to the ancestral estate of Bellenac. At the estate, a sinister priest hands him a strange amulet, hinting at a dark fate tied to his lineage. The summons sets the family on a path toward unsettling revelations and looming danger.

Bellenac estate
2

Arrival at the chateau and the dove omen

The family travels to Bellenac and arrives at the chateau. Archer Christian shoots a dove, which lands at Catherine's feet, signaling a dark omen. Aunt Estelle immediately notes Christian’s wickedness and Odile’s troubling influence, foreshadowing the danger to come.

Bellenac chateau
3

Aunt Estelle warns about Christian and Odile

Estelle dismisses Catherine's concerns, calling Christian a wicked boy and Odile no better. She makes it clear she will not intervene, highlighting the town's dangerous history. The family begins to sense the siblings' unsettling hold over Jacques.

Chateau
4

Midnight ritual with the impaled dove

Odile and Christian carry the dove into a candlelit room where robed figures sit. The dove is offered to an altar whose cross resembles the amulet, and Catherine is locked out as an old man warns her to flee. The ritual marks the growing threat surrounding the family.

Night Chateau interior
5

Catherine senses a fixation on Jacques

Catherine watches Odile enchant Jacques by turning a toad into a dove, heightening her suspicion of the siblings' fascination with her son. Philippe remains dismissive, insisting on the family's grave ancestral duties.

Chateau
6

Research uncovers Montfaucon history

Jean-Claude helps Catherine uncover the Montfaucon family's history of mysterious deaths—twenty-two heads since the 1200s. The revelation deepens the sense of a curse hanging over Bellenac and its inhabitants.

Library/study at Bellenac
7

Tomb exploration and a dangerous chase

Catherine visits the tomb of Edouard de Montfaucon and finds a matching carving, triggering a chase by robed figures. She faints and is revived after Philippe administers a sedative and kisses her, illustrating the entanglement of power, ritual, and threat.

Night Mausoleum near Bellenac
8

Bedroom nightmare and escape attempt

Catherine awakens locked in her bedroom after a nightmare and breaks open the window shutter to signal Estelle. She then navigates through danger with the help of her maid, setting in motion a tense chase through the chateau corridors. The escape underscores the household's escalating peril.

Night Chateau bedroom
9

Les Treize Jours festival begins

The doctor reveals that Catherine has been given belladonna, a hallucinogenic substance. Pere Dominic conducts a Black Mass while Philippe kneels to the crowd, culminating in his public kiss of Jacques that shocks the congregation.

During festival Church / festival grounds
10

Alain's revelation of the living god

Estelle reveals that Alain, Philippe's father, is alive in the tower and explains that the thirteen days are the twelve apostles dancing around Christ, a living god for blood sacrifice. Pere Dominic conducts the Black Mass, signaling the deeper pagan undercurrent behind the rites.

During festival Tower above Bellenac
11

Philippe's doomed ride with the ritualists

Philippe rides away with the ritually robed group and Christian, accepting that his fate cannot be stopped and that no one will believe Catherine's testimony. The ritual intensifies as the community appears complicit in the coming tragedy.

Evening Vineyards / forest edge
12

Philippe dies and Jacques witnesses

In the forest, Christian strikes down Philippe, and his body is carried back through the vineyards to the heart of Bellenac while Jacques watches in horror. The death seals the ritual's power over the estate.

Evening Forest near Bellenac / vineyards
13

News of the accident and the watch

A torrential rain falls as Jean-Claude reads a newspaper account of Philippe's death and the family prepares to flee. Jacques insists on retrieving his watch, hinting at the ritual's hold on him.

After death Chateau grounds / road
14

Jacques touches the amulet

In the car, a priest waits with the amulet for Jacques. He kisses the amulet and returns to the vehicle, surrendering to the ominous fate that surrounds him.

Final Car
15

Odile's enigmatic smile

The final shot shows Odile outside in a windstorm, smiling knowingly as the car drives away. Her expression suggests the darkness of Bellenac will persist.

Final shot Chateau outskirts

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:23

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Eye of the Devil Summary

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Eye of the Devil Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Eye of the Devil

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