Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell

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(s) English
Production
Executive producer(s) Hal Landers
Jerome M. Zeitman
Producer(s) Lou Morheim
Cinematography Gerald Perry Finnerman
Editor(s) Margo Anderson
Ronald J. Fagan
Running time 95 minutes
Production company(s) Wizan Productions
Distributor CBS
Release
Original network CBS
Original 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 sell 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 himself being 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 there were several more puppies the vendor was selling, suggesting there are more satanic dogs and that it is not over yet.

Cast

Home Video Release

Shriek Show Entertainment released the film on DVD in 2005 and Blu-ray in 2011.

External links

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