FILM · 1975 · MEXICO
The Devil's Rain
24 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (24)
- #001
Ernest Borgnine revealed at a convention panel in 2010 that the film was financed with mob money and that he was never paid for his work on it.
- #002
The shoot was plagued by eerie events and accidents. As a result, Ernest Borgnine swore he would never work on a project related to this subject again.
- #003
Anton LaVey, the actual founder of the Church of Satan, plays a High Priest in the film.
- #004
It was John Travolta's first feature film.
- #005
In his DVD commentary, director Robert Fuest recounts how surprised he was to read in Cinefantastique magazine that he had suffered a nervous breakdown while making The Devil's Rain. He then denies having had one and jokes, "It missed me."
- #006
William Shatner had to leave the production for three days to attend a Star Trek convention in New York City.
- #007
The film's disastrous reception likely ended director Robert Fuest's career. Fuest had previously directed The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972) and The Final Program (1973). The Devil's Rain took such a critical beating that Fuest was immediately forced to retreat to television, directing many ordinary TV movies and series episodes over the years. He made only one more theatrical film: Aphrodite (1982), a softcore sex romp shot in Greece.
- #008
Reportedly, in January 1975, during the filming of this movie, John Travolta obtained a copy of Dianetics from Joan Prather in Durango, Mexico. This was ultimately what led Travolta to the Church of Scientology.
- #009
William Shatner was 44, while Ida Lupino, who played his mother, was 57.
- #010
The film appears on film critic Roger Ebert's "Most Hated" list.
- #011
Claims that the "Captain Kirk" or "Michael Myers" mask was based on a life cast taken during the production of this film appear to be false. Shatner stated that the Kirk masks came out the same year as this film, but that an earlier life cast was used to produce the now-iconic mask that was later reused for Halloween (1978).
- #012
Robert Fuest was told he would have a total of eight weeks to shoot this film. The schedule was later cut by fourteen days.
- #013
Christopher Plummer was asked to play William Shatner's role.
- #014
Joseph Cotten and Peter Cushing were on the shortlist for the role of Dr. Richards.
- #015
Diane LaVey, the wife of the Church of Satan's Anton LaVey, appears in the film.
- #016
William Shatner, Tom Skerritt and Joan Prather had all appeared together the previous year in Big Bad Mama (1974).
- #017
Tom Burman's brother, Ellis Burman Jr., also worked on the film (he made the goat-man prosthetic).
- #018
Diane LaVey (Priscilla Corbis) died on July 23, 2022, a week before a Svengoolie broadcast of The Devil's Rain (1975). At the time the film was shot, she was married to Anton LaVey (the High Priest).
- #019
The horror punk band The Misfits named their 2011 album after this film.
- #020
The sheriff's car is a 1971 Dodge Valiant Super Bee. The film was shot in Mexico, which used the A-Body platform; these cars were used by police and some highway patrol units at the time because of their higher-than-stock horsepower ratings.
- #021
The Devil's Rain was also a novel by Maud Willis, a pseudonym of Eileen Lottman.
- #022
During the chaotic shoot of The Devil's Rain, Robert Fuest had no time to talk with any of the actors about their careers.
- #023
Ernest Borgnine and Eddie Albert would share the lead again in Hustle (1975), another film released the same year.
- #024
The Italian censorship visa # 71004 was issued on 27-10-1977.
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