The new horror movie Prey for the Devil, as its title suggests, is about demonic possession and the dangers of the devil. Of course, this isn’t the first time that the devil in his various guises has made an appearance in the movies.
In fact, the Prince of Darkness has been an object of perennial fascination for Hollywood, on both the big and the small screen. This being represents all that humanity finds most troubling about itself. Fortunately, the s of Reddit have identified a number of the most compelling of such representations, in the process showing just how enduringly popular the Devil remains.
The Witch (2015)
Stream On HBO Max
The Witch is widely regarded as one of the best horror movies of the 2010s. Focusing on a family in colonial New England who encounter the sinister forces at work in the forest, it also features the being known as Black Phillip who, though seemingly a regular goat, is in fact the Devil in disguise.
TJ_Mcweaksauce is particularly praising of this figure, writing: “Not only is the Black Phillip scene a wonderful depiction of the Devil, but that one line might be the best Devil line I've ever heard.” Indeed, there is something both sinister and beautiful about this iteration of the Prince of Darkness, and it’s easy to see why Thomasin falls under his spell.
Legend (1985)
Stream On YouTube
There are many great Tim Curry roles, and Legend would have to be seen as one of those. In the movie, he plays the villain, the Lord of Darkness.
Dannylandulf has this to say: “Only Tim Curry could be in that getup and somehow still seem seductive.” Indeed, it is to Curry’s credit that he manages to make this character into something other than a mere caricature. As he always does, he makes even the most nefarious of villains into someone that the audience cannot help but find alluring.
The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
Stream On Tubi
Of all of the many great Al Pacino roles, his appearance as John Milton/Satan is arguably one of his best. In part, this is because he is obviously having such a good time as the character, gleefully devouring the scenery and everything around him.
This is what makes the performance appealing to Hogwarts_Earth2, who writes that they “loved watching al Pacino chew the scenery in the devil's advocate.” Indeed, given how smarmy and charming Pacino’s Devil manages to be, it’s hard for the audience not to feel the pull of his profound charisma.
Futurama (1999-Present)
Stream On Hulu
Futurama is rightly regarded as one of the best adult animated series. In all of its various iterations, it has managed to have a sense of humor that is uniquely its own. Of all of its fascinating characters, one of the most hilarious is the Robot Devil, who makes a number of appearances.
Rbrabbit2 identifies this particular character as one of the best on-screen representations of the Devil. As with all of the best characters in this series, he manages to be outrageously funny and utterly compelling, repeatedly appearing to trouble Bender and the others.
Supernatural (2005-2020)
Stream On Netflix
Supernatural is arguably one of the best series on the CW. In of longevity alone, it has managed to outlast many others, and in part this comes from its fascinating introduction of new story elements, including the Devil himself.
Cyanora writes: “Definitely one of my favorites as well. Though I enjoy him earlier in the series, he’s more sympathetic and less comic relief.” Indeed, what makes this particular character so fascinating is just how complex he is, for the series eschews the typical moral binary in favor of something more endlessly rich and compelling.
The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
Stream On Philo
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a strange and unusual movie, but this is precisely what makes it so compelling for many viewers. It is rich and complex and surprisingly philosophical, and it also features a stunning performance from Tom Waits as Mr. Nick, this movie’s iteration of the Devil.
FuturistMoon has this to say: “I just love the conception of The Devil as being unable to accept a wager. Hilarious.” With his rich, deep voice, Waits manages to imbue his character with a sinister and eerie sort of grace, perfectly in tune with someone who is supposed to be the embodiment of evil.
The Simpsons (1989-Present)
Stream On Disney+
There are many great characters in The Simpsons, and there’s no doubt that Flanders is one of these. His extraordinary devoutness is what makes him the perfect choice to appear as the Devil in one of the series’ most beloved Halloween episodes.
ShotMyTatorTots humorously states: “Unironically, no troll, Ned Flanders as the Devil.” There is, indeed, something hilarious about watching Ned Flanders’ Prince of Darkness attempt to bring Homer over to the dark side and to claim his soul, and so it’s easy to see why this particular iteration would be one of the favorites of Redditors.
The Prophecy (1995)
Stream On The Roku Channel
Viggo Mortensen has been in many great movie roles, most notably Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings. However, he also makes a notable appearance in the movie The Prophecy, in which he plays the character of Lucifer himself.
RumTitsBurgers says that they chose this as their favorite, “if only for the wrath he was able to portray in an equally short amount of time.” It is true that Mortensen manages to make the most out of his limited time on screen, demonstrating once again why he deserves to be seen as a truly great actor.
Oh God, You Devil (1984)
Stream On YouTube
Though the Devil makes many appearances in horror movies, he is also known to show up in comedies. One of the most notable examples of this phenomenon is Oh God, You Devil, in which he is played by the comedic great George Burns.
Choice-Valuable313 marks this as one of their favorite on-screen appearances of the devil, and it’s easy to see why. As he did in so many of his film appearances, Burns manages to make it clear just how much fun he is having in front of the camera, and he frequently invites the viewer in on the joke.
Bedazzled (2000)
Stream On Tubi
Brendan Fraser is one of those actors who has appeared in all kinds of movies, and he is incredibly charming in Bedazzled. However, he is matched in charisma by Elizabeth Hurley, who plays this movie’s iteration of the Devil.
Pandacatapus identifies this as one of their favorite iterations of the Prince of Darkness, and it’s easy to see why this would be the case. Hurley is clearly having a great time in the role, with a delicious archness to her delivery that manages to cast a spell over both the characters and the audience alike.
