Fantasy Cult Classic

Six thrill-seekers face supernatural horrors and a devilish host in a labyrinthine Italian castle.

CHALLENGE THE DEVIL

1963 · 01:15:00 · NR · Fantasy / Horror · IMDB TMDB

A group of dropouts find an old man in a castle. The old man subsequently turns into the Devil and seizes them.

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Quick Answer

What is Challenge the Devil about?

Challenge the Devil is a 1963 Italian fantasy horror film directed by Giuseppe Veggezzi about six kids who break into a castle, only to discover its owner is the Devil in disguise and encounter supernatural terrors.

The SassyFlix Take

Christopher Lee channels his sinister best as the Mephistoles-like master of a castle crawling with ghosts, spiders, and a glass labyrinth. Challenge the Devil is a feverish slice of Italian psychotronic horror, where every hallway could lead to a new nightmare—or the Devil himself.

From the Vault

Because sometimes the Devil wears a white wig and owns real estate.

Why Cult

Christopher Lee as Mephistoles

See Lee in a rare Italian role as the castle's enigmatic owner, whose true identity has a diabolical twist.

Castle of Nightmares

The film's haunted castle is packed with spiders, ghosts, and a labyrinth of mirrors—pure Gothic oddity.

Italian Psychotronic Horror

A wild artifact of 1960s Italian genre cinema, blending fantasy and horror with a supernatural punch.

Synopsis

Six unruly kids break into a remote castle looking for kicks. The castle’s owner, an odd white-haired man, asks them to find a missing girl hiding in the castle. Little do they know that Lee is actually a Mephistoles-like character in disguise. At this point the six set out on a search that takes them through the nightmarish corridors and staircases of the castle. They encounter massive spiders, ghosts, and a bizarre room containing a labyrinth of sheet glass and mirrors.

Details & Specs

Director: Giuseppe Veggezzi
Writer: Giuseppe Veggezzi
Release: 1963
Runtime: 1h 15m
Country: Italy
Language: Italian
Genres: Fantasy, Horror
Also Known As: Sfida al diavolo, Desafío al diablo, Original title: Katarsis

Themes & Keywords

Drunkenness Castle Ghost Devil Drunk Girl Psychotronic Film Supernatural Power

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Challenge the Devil about? +

Challenge the Devil follows six kids who break into a remote castle and are confronted by its owner, a Mephistoles-like figure who is actually the Devil, leading them through a nightmarish maze of supernatural threats.

Who directed Challenge the Devil? +

Challenge the Devil was directed by Giuseppe Veggezzi.

How long is Challenge the Devil? +

Challenge the Devil has a runtime of 75 minutes.

What genre is Challenge the Devil? +

Challenge the Devil is a fantasy horror film.

When was Challenge the Devil released? +

Challenge the Devil was released in 1963.