The lovely and appealing Belinda Montgomery (who may be best known for playing Doogie Howser's mom on TV) stars here as Diane Shaw, whose long unseen mother Alice (Diane Ladd) has just met a bad end. The naive and trusting Diane then meets other people who knew her mom, like the solicitous Lilith Malone (Shelley Winters) and her mute chauffeur / butler Mr. Howard (Jonathan Frid of 'Dark Shadows' fame, stuck in a thankless role). Diane soon learns that these people are part of a Satan worshipping cult who insist that Diane is none other than the spawn of Alice and Old Scratch.
For the most part, this is just a little too patently predictable. It reminded this viewer of the later theatrical production "Race with the Devil", where one begins to wonder if most of the characters in this sordid tale are not to be trusted. Also, if one has seen enough 70s movies, both theatrical and made for television, they come to expect a not so happy ending, and 'The Devil's Daughter' (scripted by Colin Higgins, "Nine to Five", "Harold and Maude") doesn't deviate from the formula. It's all given adequate if not inspired treatment by director Jeannot Szwarc ("Bug", "Jaws 2", "Somewhere in Time"). Some horror fans may come away somewhat disappointed as there really aren't that many moments that qualify as scary stuff.
The production did cast a number of great faces for roles large and small. Winters is allowed to chew the scenery, as she so often did. Among the co-stars who put on their best poker faces for the material: Robert Foxworth as a boyfriend, Martha Scott as his mother, Joseph Cotten as a judge, Lucille Benson and Thelma Carpenter as the Poole sisters, Abe Vigoda as Alikhine, and Ian Wolfe and Robert Cornthwaite as priests.
Worth sitting through for the big finale, which has a surprise in store but a minimum of cheese.
Six out of 10.
For the most part, this is just a little too patently predictable. It reminded this viewer of the later theatrical production "Race with the Devil", where one begins to wonder if most of the characters in this sordid tale are not to be trusted. Also, if one has seen enough 70s movies, both theatrical and made for television, they come to expect a not so happy ending, and 'The Devil's Daughter' (scripted by Colin Higgins, "Nine to Five", "Harold and Maude") doesn't deviate from the formula. It's all given adequate if not inspired treatment by director Jeannot Szwarc ("Bug", "Jaws 2", "Somewhere in Time"). Some horror fans may come away somewhat disappointed as there really aren't that many moments that qualify as scary stuff.
The production did cast a number of great faces for roles large and small. Winters is allowed to chew the scenery, as she so often did. Among the co-stars who put on their best poker faces for the material: Robert Foxworth as a boyfriend, Martha Scott as his mother, Joseph Cotten as a judge, Lucille Benson and Thelma Carpenter as the Poole sisters, Abe Vigoda as Alikhine, and Ian Wolfe and Robert Cornthwaite as priests.
Worth sitting through for the big finale, which has a surprise in store but a minimum of cheese.
Six out of 10.