Mark of the Devil

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Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält
Directed by	Michael Armstrong
Produced by	Adrian Hoven
Written by	based up Michael Armstrong's script
Starring	Herbert Lom, Udo Kier
Music by	Michael Holm
Cinematography	Ernst W. Kalinke
Editing by	Sigrun Jaeger
Release date(s)	1970
Running time	96 min.
Country	West Germany
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Mark of the Devil, or in original German Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält is a German horror film released in 1970 and is most remembered for its marketing: slogans included "Positively the most horrifying film ever made" and "Rated V for Violence", while sick bags were given free to the audience upon admission.

Mark of the Devil is based upon Michael Armstrong's 1969 script. The original plans were led by producer Adrian Hoven, who intended to produce, direct and star in the film. Hoven's version was a completely different film rumoured to have been called The Witch Hunter - Dr. Dracula. The film was made to cash in on the success of the Michael Reeves's 1968 classic Witchfinder General.

"Mark of the Devil" was filmed during the summer of 1970 in Austria. From day one, production was a nightmare. There was at least half a dozen languages spoken on set, causing endless problems for the cast and crew. Producer Adrian Hoven and director Michael Armstrong disliked each other intensely and often argued over the slightest of things. Hoven made sure a small number of the scripts were kept on set and even cut some of Armstrong's footage, so his own ideas could be inserted in the film. Because cinematographer Ernst W. Kalinke was a friend of Hoven's, they would both film scenes without Armstrong's permission. It has been debated how much of Mark of the Devil was filmed by Armstrong and what by Hoven.

Mark of the Devil was more successful at the box office than Witchfinder General and this success is often attributed to the aforementioned advertising campaign.

Although the film has been criticized by many reviewers for being too violent to contain any message and far too exploitative whilst dealing with a serious historical subject, others say it is a realistic and harrowing look at an infamous time in human history. Other reviews praise the film for its filming locations, comprising of the mountainous Austrian countryside and stately castles.

To give the film some historical accuracy, it was filmed in an Austrian castle where actual witchfinding interrogations took place. This castle also served as a museum with authentic torture tools that were used in the film.