Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell
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| Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Thriller Horror |
| Written by | Elinor Karpf Steven Karpf |
| Directed by | Curtis Harrington |
| Starring | Richard Crenna Yvette Mimieux Kim Richards Ike Eisenmann |
| Theme music composer | Artie Kane |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Hal Landers Jerome M. Zeitman |
| Producer | Lou Morheim |
| Cinematography | Gerald Perry Finnerman |
| Editors | Margo Anderson Ronald J. Fagan |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Production company | Wizan Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | October 31, 1978 |
Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell is a 1978 American made-for-television horror thriller film directed by Curtis Harrington. The story centers on a suburban family and the harrowing experiences they endure from a possessed dog they innocently adopt. The film stars Richard Crenna as Mike Barry, the father, Yvette Mimieux as Betty, the mother, and Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann as Bonnie and Charlie, their children. The latter two starred in Disney's Witch Mountain series.
Plot summary
The Barry family acquire a German Shepherd puppy after their old one dies in an accident. They buy the puppy from a seemingly friendly fruit vendor who is actually a Satanist who bred the dog during an evil ceremony, causing it to be possessed. They give the dog to wreak havoc in the hope Satan will overcome good once and for all. The dog acts very strangely when they bring it home, leading the father, Mike and the family maid to believe there is something wrong with the dog. Mike believes so after the maid is killed in a fire while she was watching the dog and he is nearly forced to stick his arm into a lawnmower while the dog is present. Mike barely avoids having his arm chopped off, and soon the dog begins to exhibit mental control that allows him to kill, injure, or control many victims. Eventually, the family's souls are possessed by the hound causing them to act strangely, including Mike's son framing a student by stealing a watch and planting it in a classmate's locker, allowing him to win the student election. Mike decides the dog has overstayed his welcome when he finds a secret shrine to Satan in the attic. Mike tries to shoot the demonic beast to put an end to the hardships, but it is unharmed.
Realizing the dog is possessed, Mike finally makes a special trip to Ecuador to determine how to destroy the animal. Unfortunately, there is no way to kill it, but if you hold a holy symbol to its eye, you can imprison it in Hell for 1,000 years. He takes it to a showdown at his work plant, but there the dog turns into a demon and begins to wreak havoc. When he is cornered by the monster, he holds the sign he made on his hand right up to the beast's eye. This causes the beast to be engulfed in fire and be imprisoned, getting his family's souls back. The final scene shows the family loading the family car for a vacation, and one of the children mentioning that there were nine more puppies the vendor was selling, suggesting there are more satanic dogs and that it is not over yet.
Cast
- Richard Crenna as Mike Barry
- Yvette Mimieux as Betty Barry
- Kim Richards as Bonnie Barry
- Ike Eisenmann as Charlie Barry (as Ike Eisenman)
- Tina Menard as Maria
- Victor Jory as Shaman
- Lou Frizzell as George
- Ken Kercheval as Miles Amory
- R. G. Armstrong as Dunworth
- Martine Beswick as Red Haired Lady
- Bob Navarro as Newscaster
- Lois Ursone as Gloria Hadley
- Jerry Fogel as Doctor Norm
- Warren Munson as Superintendent
Home video release
Shriek Show Entertainment released the film on DVD in 2005 and Blu-ray in 2011.
