Inspector Morse (TV Series) The Day of the Devil (1993) User Reviews

Terrifying, yes

[bob998 · 8/10 · 5 April 2013]

This episode of Inspector Morse stands out from the usual run of this series. The subject of devil worship is creepy, even in our times, and the actions of Barrie and the people who aid and abet him can disturb us. The chief pleasure in this story is the acting. Michael Culver plays the aloof Willowbank, who feels disdain for Morse and Lewis until his cozy little diabolist world is turned upside down by the murderous Barrie--then he turns into a terrified, helpless victim. Keith Allen, an actor I wasn't familiar with, plays Barrie with wonderful menace.

Katrina Levon's big scene with John Thaw and Harriet Walter is superbly well done. She is barely concealing her anger and frustration with her boss's somewhat paternalistic attitudes (although we are allowed to sympathize with Morse's old-school thinking). Harriet Walter as the psychiatrist with the big secret plays the first hour or so as though she was dosed with Valium, but finishes with more passion than anybody has shown in this series, that I can recall. She's a wonderful actress, and the script gives her some fine lines. "When you find the owner of this ring, tell her what I did. You'll find your answer there."

A TRUE MUST for all fans of Morse

[davyd-02237 · 9/10 · 19 July 2019]

Keith Allen, brilliant best, no waste of talent on display in this episode. Sadly, whilst about the occult, the script is pretty good, the acting standard very high, the plot with various twists and turns would put this one in the top 3 of the best of Morse. He does, as always get there in the end, which may come as a surprise to some watching. Great casting especially Keith Allen

A Lot of Effort by a Psychotic Devil Worshiper

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 8 March 2018]

This is one of those entertaining stories if one doesn't think too much. A man known as the worst of the worst escapes from a high security mental hospital. He then goes about trying to seek revenge on a man he believes got him arrested. He has raped and killed a number of women and has no conscience. Soon the whole Satanic business is brought into this because this man has associated himself with the devil. There are vast webs of conceit and they are hard to follow at times. I liked the story but the sophisticated efforts made are a bit too much to take seriously. There are numerous events that could have gone awry so easily, just by little miscalculation. Morse and Lewis are their usual fine characters.

One of Morse's finest challenges.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 23 April 2017]

This stands out for me as one of the best episodes in the Morse collection. Very much darker and more harrowing then the usual Morse stories, this one contains some very dark and sinister moments, and is without doubt the creepiest episode of Morse. So much subject matter, Domestic violence, Devil Worship, deceit, religion, and plain old good versus evil.

The story itself is wonderfully complex and intricate, as the episode moves along the plot is untangled in a hugely effective way. The principle characters are all fantastically realised, none more so then the lead villain John Peter Barrie, incredibly well performed by Keith Allen.

Some hugely powerful scenes, the emotional one between WPC Curtis and Esther Martin where she discusses her childhood memories of her brothers and the motorbike. The encounter between Barrie and Canon Appleton, the fear Richard Griffiths realistically portrayed was fantastic. The terrifying appearance at the ceremony, and of course the final showdown.

Superb characters, a fabulous story, all you can say is that 'they don't make 'um like this any more.' Brilliance 10/10

Quite terrifying, and a masterful episode to a brilliant detective series!

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 7 July 2009]

My all-time favourite episode has always been Masonic Mysteries, but Day of the Devil is so brilliant, it almost surpasses it in terms of tension, suspense and terror. This time, Morse and Lewis hunt for a psychotic escapist, who challenges them to a cat-and-mouse game that could end in deadly consequences. John Thaw and Kevin Whately are both excellent, but they are out shadowed by an outstanding performance from Keith Allen as John Peter Barrie, a performance that riddles with terror and tension. The scene when he dressed up as the devil was so terrifying, I was beginning to wonder, whether the fright on the supporting characters' faces was actually genuine. The music, script and camera-work are all brilliant. The performances from Harriet Walter, Richard Griffiths, Gilly Coman and James Grout are all impressive, but at the end of the day, it is Allen that walks away with the acting honours. Outstanding! 10/10 Bethany Cox.

Superb episode, one of the best in the series

[grantss · 10/10 · 28 September 2022]

A quite original episode of Morse. Not a set-piece murder investigation but a manhunt for a satan-worshipping rapist. The villain proves to be quite the formidable adversary for Morse, edluding him on several occasions through the use of clever disguises and escape plans.

It all threatened to unravel at the end though. Many of the Morse episode fall short of greatness simply because the writers overegg the pudding and throw in a few twists too many. This makes the plot more complex than it needs to be and reduces the plausibility of it.

This episode comes close to that, but doesn't quite undo all the good work. In the end, while complex, it's quite plausible and understandable. Very ingenious, even poetic, in fact.

As fine a detective show episode as you may ever see

[TheDudeReviewsStuff · 10/10 · 20 June 2023]

A truly engrossing, edge-of-the-seat, unnerving detective episode as you may ever see. The acting by Morse, Lewis, Barrie, and Dr. Martin, is excellent, especially the latent violence in Barrie. The music adds a nice touch to the anticipation of upcoming events.

Keith Allen as Barrie shines as a psychopath who is out for his own form of revenge. Harriet Walker as Dr. Martin clearly has more to her than she lets on. John Thaw and Kevin Whately excel as Morse and Lewis with ever increasing pace of worry as things progress. Add in the excellent acting of Richard Graham and Richard Griffiths as PC Cobbs and Canon Appleton, and the all-star cast delivers in every scene.

One of the best Morse episodes produced with its nail-biting tension and excellent acting. Be sure to use the loo first as you will not want to miss a second.

The Devil Is In The Details.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 2 March 2011]

I'm again going to skip the details of the plot because they're available on the title page. I didn't have an especially difficult time following the plot, though. It was the details that wrapped me in their tentacles or pentacles or -- well, or something.

All right. Since I've checked the "contains spoiler" box I can reveal that Morse and Lewis are convinced that the sex-crazed Satanist they're chasing, Keith Allen, is getting help from local Occultists. But they're barking up the wrong pillar of fire. True, the maniac is running around loose, wearing different disguises, and he has a reluctant ex-partner helping him financially and otherwise, but the chief engine behind the plot is the Satanist's psychiatrist, Harriet Walter, the woman who was treating him before he escaped from the slams.

Walter was Allen's first victim, years ago, and he no longer recognizes her. She explains her skulduggery at the end, an elaborate plan to get the two rapists to distrust and betray one another. It really has practically nothing to do with the occult. If they'd been just ordinary garden-variety sex offenders, the plot could have carried on by itself.

I managed to get the gist of it all but some details remain mysteries. In the climactic action scene, Walter and Allen are trapped inside a house surrounded by the police and Morse is calling for them to come out and surrender. Walter gives Allen a pistol. Allen walks outside, asks to speak to Morse, and when the inspector appears, Allen pulls the gun on him and pulls the trigger, only to have it click on an empty chamber. Allen is shot dead. Walter rushes out of the house, runs to Morse, and exclaims breathlessly, "You were right about the bullets, Morse." And she empties a handful of cartridges from her palm into his. A minute later we learn that the police arrived at the house when they did adventitiously, without her connivance. In that case, what the hell is this business about her taking the bullets out of the pistol? And how about this: Seven grown men are too frightened to run through a ring of petrol fire while another saunters through it, dressed like the devil, and manages to burn one of the others to death. Were the seven men frozen in tonic immobility? Was the visitor wearing asbestos underpants? There are some things man was never meant to know.

This series now seems to be getting a bit bogged down if you ask me. Not only is there no mention of Morse's drinking anymore. And not only DOESN'T he drink in this episode. He TURNS DOWN a drink! Nothing is made of it. No one remarks that Morse has quit drinking or anything like that. The individuating trait is just dumped from the character. And he doesn't rag Lewis at all. AND he's beginning to shout in people's faces again, even that of his boss.

Where is the laid back Morse of yesteryear? The "policeman who drinks"? The slouching, squinting, phlegmatic Morse who kicks the unconscious Lewis around like a football.

Terrifying Twists - but all too real!

[SunnyDaise · 6/10 · 27 February 2024]

Buckle up! This well-paced episode held my attention from the start but I'm very glad I didn't watch this alone! There are so many clever twists and turns although ultimately it's all too harrowing, worse still because it is so realistic. I'm not sure how they could have done it, but I really needed a happier ending after this torrent of psychological trauma - however, the conclusion does work well in the context. The biggest lesson here: if you are a toxic situation, get out of it before you turn mad - sadly something I've seen all to often. Oh, and don't watch this if you suffer from anxiety - the only upside is, you'll know you're not alone!

good for a few laughs

[Editor B · 3/10 · 15 August 2014]

This episode concerns an escapee from a mental hospital who is violent criminal and also a "Satanic fundamentalist." Gee whillikers! The plot has some interesting twists and turns, to be sure, building toward a dramatic resolution which is satisfying on some level. But the content is pure Satanic-panic stuff, very characteristic of its time and highly suspect. (There's much talk here of Lammas Day, when "the devil is paid homage," but in fact Lammas is an old harvest festival. In medieval Britain this was the "Loaf Mass" when people would bring a loaf of bread to church. Not very Satanic, I'm afraid.) The climactic Black Mass ritual in the woods is simply laughable. In the end, it's enjoyable in the way that cheesy low-budget horror films can be enjoyed. Pursue this case at your own risk. For my money, the most interesting scene is a discussion between Morse and a female cop which gets into the value of feminism. A subtle moment but intriguing. Watch for it.

The worst Inspector Morse episode.

[Starscoffeecats · 1/10 · 29 November 2018]

This is the worst episode of Inspector Morse, if not one the worst television episodes I'v ever seen. The whole episode is full of stereotypes of satanists, with all the ridiculous fodder you'd expect in tv episode featuring satanic cults. All of the characters were despicable, the only person I felt any sympathy for was the poor cat. The plot was incredibly far fetched, and the pacing of the episode was so slow it was painful. Basically a dangerous perverted sexual predator escapes from prison and nothing of consequence happens for the first hour. As if the plot wasn't already unbelievable, the escaped convict them goes around wearing ridiculous disguises. I actually laughed really hard at the scene where he attacked the stannic coven while wearing a baphomet costume. Then we are supposed to believe the coven members really believed he was the devil. Apparently this episode wasn't offensive enough yet so they had him dress drag for when he gets shot, twice. Avoid this episode at all costs, unless you need a laugh.

Yawn.

[smartU2 · 5/10 · 10 April 2021]

I sincerely nonplussed as to how and why anyone would give this particular episode 10/10 stars and prattle on about how this is one of the best episodes in the entire series. This particular episode is tedious-as-heck, at best. I find myself fast forwarding over some of the more obnoxious parts. As a whole, I like the series and Morse even though his condescending personality is annoying at times. At times, this plot becomes very predictable and cliche. While I am on the subject of annoyance, how is it that soooo many women who are soooo much younger than him are soooo romantically interested in him? Although he is a likable guy, James Bond, he is not. The entire plot of this episode moves along so slowly and the dialogue is so uninteresting. On another note, is it just me or do others find the character Strange irksome?

A load of old tosh

[ewaf58 · 2/10 · 8 June 2020]

Ok so the episode is nearly 30 years old so I can only assume audiences of that era were still hungry for more psychopaths after the release of Silence of the Lambs.

Well we had devil worship - abduction - cross dressing - manic screaming and a worryingly unhinged female officer who supplied the Coup de grace at the end.

I think the writers must have been desperate for ideas and I'm surprised they didn't have Christopher Lee and Patrick Mower around to round up the Devil worshippers.

Still if you want a good laugh you could do worse than to watch this rubbish - after all it contained a screaming sequence to match any 50s shlock horror film.

The Laughingstock of Lucifer

[frukuk · 1/10 · 28 March 2023]

What a farce!

I guess you know you're going to get something lacking in seriousness when Keith Allen is cast as a Satanic supplicant.

Hell's bell(e)s of St Trinian's!

Harriet Walter cast as Dr. Esther Martin and Richard Griffiths as Canon "Big Cannon" Humphrey Appleton? Was the casting agent going through a bad spell.

Babbling Beelzebub!

There really seems to be nothing substantial here. So all the grimoire nonsense is just grim decoration, designed to disguise the absence of story. It's clear that Hell is not so much other people as it is having to watch episodes like this, endlessly on repeat.

Spare us.

[ablbodyed-2 · 2/10 · 18 October 2021]

This is a terribleTerribleTERRIBLE episode. It wasn't the slightest bit frightening as some reviewers have said. It was just stupid, made no sense. The acting was below the usual level, the motivations, unconvincing, the resolution, unbelievable.

But there is a larger problem with Morse for modern-day viewers. That is that they are tooTooTOO long, too slowly paced. It isn't really the fault of the show but the familiarity with present-day story-telling. When Morse was made, producers didn't believe that audiences could follow more than one story line at a time, hence that linear, unexciting unfolding of the story. The Inspector Lewis shows were able to go a short way into multiple threads, but were burdened by the fact that most of the murderers were played by terribly overacting middle-aged women who inevitable were screaming at he end of the episodes. The Endeavors, however, are brilliant, respect the audience's ability to be able to keep track of more than one storyline at a time.

I watch Morse, more as a duty to the three series' reputations but don't enjoy them, and anxiously check the time elapsed to see how long I have to endure these endlessly dull shows. Sorry Morse lovers, but these are too dated to be anything but yawn-producers.