What Is The Devil’s Eye About?
The premise of The Devil’s Eye in 247 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a quiet village where faith and folklore coexist, an otherworldly irritation plagues the devil: a stye that, according to his own reasoning, stems from the purity of a single mortal. Determined to cure himself, he devises a plan that drifts from the divine into the mischievous, sending a classic tempter to the earthly realm. The atmosphere is laced with dark humor and a touch of mythic absurdity, turning everyday piety into a stage for celestial meddling.
Britt‑Marie is a twenty‑year‑old on the cusp of marriage, a modest and earnest daughter of a kindly vicar whose life has been shaped by community expectations and a steadfast belief in love. Across the infernal divide, Don Juan arrives as the devil’s appointed emissary—an elegant, charismatic figure whose reputation for seduction is legendary, yet whose purpose here is a prescribed mission rather than personal desire. Their contrasting natures set the scene for a delicate clash of innocence and temptation.
The premise hinges on a simple yet provocative question: what happens when a demonic envoy is tasked with stripping a young woman of both virginity and faith, only to find those very qualities resistant to his charms? The film balances a satirical tone with genuine curiosity about desire, virtue, and the thin line between devotion and doubt. As the village’s warm familiarity meets the cold calculus of the underworld, the story invites viewers to watch a dance of wits and wills unfold, hinting at unexpected outcomes without revealing the steps themselves.
What Happens in The Devil’s Eye?
The complete story of The Devil’s Eye, from the first scene to the last, in 521 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 7 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Britt-Marie, Bibi Andersson is a twenty-year-old virgin and the daughter of a kindly vicar. She is set to marry Jonas, Axel Düberg, but a much darker plan unfolds when Satan, nursing a peculiar ailment in his eye, concludes that the pain is caused by a virgin on Earth. To avert Britt-Marie from becoming a cautionary example to her friends, Satan dispatches Don Juan, Jarl Kulle—not as a lover, but as a tempted subject in a cruel game. Don Juan endures a dull punishment: every time a woman approaches him with desire, a demon interrupts and proclaims that the “show is over.” > “show is over”
Accompanied by his devoted servant Pablo, Sture Lagerwall, Don Juan travels to Earth, and a relentless demon trails them, determined that Pablo will not enjoy any sexual pleasure while there. They are welcomed into the home of a cheerful, trusting vicar, Nils Poppe. Inside, Pablo is quickly drawn to Renata, Gertrud Fridh, the vicar’s wife, setting off a tangled web of longing and jealousy. Don Juan himself encounters Britt-Marie and tests her fidelity, probing whether her engagement to Jonas is real or merely a social arrangement. Britt-Marie agrees to share a kiss, though she remains resolute about her devotion to Jonas. The demon fans the flames of trouble by sparking quarrels between Britt-Marie and Jonas, and soon Jonas leaves the house in frustration.
That night, Pablo’s infatuation with Renata intensifies, while the demon presses the vicar with temptations and misperceptions. The Ear Demon, Allan Edwall, appears to the vicar and places Renata’s bedroom key in his grasp. Instead of using the chance for mischief, the vicar uses the key to trap the demon in a cupboard, a strange moment of restraint in an otherwise chaotic scheme. The next morning, the demon reports to the vicar that he dreamed Renata slept with one guest and Britt-Marie’s daughter slept with the other, a dream that amplifies the sense of doubt and suspicion in the house.
Concerned about Britt-Marie, the vicar hurries to her bedroom and finds her alone; Don Juan, meanwhile, has fallen genuinely in love with Britt-Marie and finds he cannot seduce her as he once did. Satan, watching from his celestial seat, experiences a rare defeat: he has not secured Britt-Marie’s chastity, and he laments his momentary loss. After Don Juan returns to hell, Britt-Marie and Jonas marry, and Satan seizes upon a final, personal moment—he claims Britt-Marie’s virginity on their wedding night. Yet Britt-Marie lies to Jonas, insisting she never kissed another man; that lie, in a cruel twist, heals Satan’s eye and grants him a minor, if hollow, victory.
With the illusion of triumph waning, Satan resolves to confine Don Juan to sleep, intending him to dream of love as a punishment yet again, while the celestial intrigue among the vicar, his wife Renata, and the seduction-obsessed Don Juan continues to echo the old, perilous dance between desire, faith, and fate. The story blends dark humor with mythic consequences, tracing how a single vow and a single lie can ripple through a small community and invite consequences that reach far beyond a single bedroom door.
The Devil’s Eye Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
10 key events in the order they happen, from “Satan assigns Don Juan to seduce Britt-Marie” to “Satan decrees Don Juan to dream of love”. 10 events name a place, across 6 locations.
- 1
Satan assigns Don Juan to seduce Britt-Marie
From his realm in Hell, Satan links his eye pain to a virgin on Earth and identifies Britt-Marie, the daughter of a vicar, as the likely cause. He promises Don Juan a dreamless sleep if he succeeds, framing the mission as a cruel bargain. The demon accompanies them to supervise the seduction and ensure Pablo cannot enjoy any sexual pleasure on Earth.
Where:Hell
- 2
Don Juan accepts the challenge and travels with Pablo and the demon
Don Juan agrees to the assignment and takes his faithful servant, Pablo, along for the journey. The demon follows to oversee the operation and prevent Pablo from experiencing any sexual pleasure on Earth. They head toward the vicarage to begin the plan.
Where:On the way to Earth
- 3
They meet the happy vicar who invites them to his house
The trio encounters the cheerful, gullible vicar, whose warmth and trust set the stage for the seduction plot. He welcomes them into his home with hospitality. The visit promises domestic ease that the supernatural plan can exploit.
Where:Vicar's house
- 4
Pablo falls for Renata; Don Juan tests Britt-Marie; Jonas leaves
Inside the vicar's house, Pablo becomes enamored with Renata, the vicar's wife. Don Juan meets Britt-Marie and makes an initial attempt to seduce her, which she accepts by kissing him. The demon sows jealousy, triggering conflict that drives Jonas to leave.
When:Night Where:Vicar's house
- 5
Pablo seduces Renata; demon manipulates the vicar
During the night, Pablo seduces Renata, providing the demon with material for manipulation. The demon appears to the vicar, accusing Renata of adultery and handing him a key to Renata's bedroom. The vicar, unsettled, uses the key to lock the demon away in a cupboard.
When:Night Where:Vicar's house
- 6
The vicar learns of a dream and grows wary
The next morning, the demon tells the vicar that he dreamed Renata slept with one guest and Britt-Marie slept with the other. The vicar becomes unsettled by the omen and questions the true loyalties within his home. He starts watching the guests more closely.
When:Morning Where:Vicar's house
- 7
The vicar confronts Britt-Marie's room; Don Juan's love blinds him
Concerned, the vicar hurries to Britt-Marie's bedroom and finds her alone. Don Juan has fallen in love with Britt-Marie and cannot seduce her as he normally would. Satan laments his failed scheme that depended on Britt-Marie's chastity.
When:Morning Where:Britt-Marie's bedroom, within the vicar's house
- 8
Don Juan returns to Hell; Britt-Marie marries Jonas; Satan takes her virginity
Don Juan returns to Hell, defeated by his inability to woo Britt-Marie. Meanwhile, Britt-Marie marries Jonas, and on their wedding night Satan claims her virginity. The act does not cure Satan’s eye, but it marks a new turn in the cosmic game.
When:Wedding night Where:Earth (wedding night) and Hell (Don Juan's return)
- 9
Britt-Marie lies about kissing another man; Satan gains a minor victory
Britt-Marie tells Jonas she has never kissed another man, a deception that heals Satan's eye slightly. The lie confirms the control of the celestial players over the couple's fate. The cosmic game continues with a shifted balance of power.
When:After wedding Where:Earth
- 10
Satan decrees Don Juan to dream of love
With the partial victory secured by Britt-Marie's lie, Satan decides to silence Don Juan with a dream-filled sleep. He decrees that Don Juan will dream of love, a cruel punishment that robs him of real conquest. The timeline ends with Don Juan succumbing to the dream-world while Britt-Marie's fate remains sealed.
Where:Hell
Who Are the Main Characters in The Devil’s Eye?
8 characters, among them Britt-Marie (Bibi Andersson), Don Juan (Jarl Kulle) and The Ear Demon (Allan Edwall): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Britt-Marie (Bibi Andersson)
Played by Bibi Andersson
Daughter of a vicar, twenty and a virgin whose chastity is central to the plot. She becomes the target of Don Juan's seduction, tested by supernatural forces. Her choices, steadfastness, and eventual marriage to Jonas shape the story's moral arc.
- 🎭 Female lead
- 🌟 Virtue
- 🕊️ Innocence
-
Don Juan (Jarl Kulle)
Played by Jarl Kulle
A legendary seducer who travels to Earth to win Britt-Marie, constrained by Satan's punishment. He experiences genuine emotion, ultimately falling in love and failing to seduce her. His arc shifts from conquest to reluctant surrender and departure back to Hell.
- 🎭 Romantic lead
- 🗡️ Trickster
- TE
The Ear Demon (Allan Edwall)
Played by Allan Edwall
A demon who follows Don Juan and Pablo, stoking jealousy and mischief while preventing others from freely enjoying themselves. He embodies the scheme that tests relationships and highlights the fragility of mortal virtue.
- 👹 Trickster
- 🌀 Manipulator
- P(
Pablo (Sture Lagerwall)
Played by Sture Lagerwall
Don Juan's servant who becomes enamoured with Renata, drawn into the demon's schemes. His affections reveal how desire can complicate loyalty and family bonds.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Complicated desire
- 💘 Infatuation
-
Renata (Gertrud Fridh)
Played by Gertrud Fridh
Wife of the vicar who becomes entangled with Pablo due to the demon's manipulation. Her actions trigger misunderstandings that reverberate through the vicar's household.
- 💑 Infidelity
- 🕊️ Temptation
-
The Vicar (Nils Poppe)
Played by Nils Poppe
A happy, gullible man who hosts Don Juan, Pablo, and Britt-Marie. He tries to manage the turmoil with practical measures—like using a key to discipline the demon—and he worries about his daughter's chastity.
- 👨👧 Family
- 🏡 Domestic life
- J(
Jonas (Axel Düberg)
Played by Axel Düberg
Britt-Marie's fiancé; His relationship with Britt-Marie becomes strained as jealousy and manipulation enter the story, culminating in his leaving and the couple's future uncertain.
- 💑 Engagement
- 🔥 Tension
- S(
Satan (Stig Järrel)
Played by Stig Järrel
The cosmic catalyst behind the wager on Britt-Marie's chastity. He experiences both frustration and eventual mercy as the human lie alters the outcome of the eye's punishment.
- 😈 Cosmic antagonist
- 🌀 Fate
Where and When Is The Devil’s Eye Set?
The Devil’s Eye is set in Earth and Vicar's House. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Earth, Vicar's House
Earth serves as the backdrop for a story that blends sacred life with fantastical meddling. The vicar's house becomes the central stage where piety, domestic life, and supernatural schemes collide. The setting grounds the mythic wager in a recognizable rural atmosphere, highlighting the tension between faith and desire.
- 🌍 Earth
- 🏠 Vicar's House
What Are the Themes of The Devil’s Eye?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Seduction, Secrets and deception and Punishment and mercy.
-
01
Seduction
Don Juan's mission to seduce Britt-Marie sets up a clash between desire and virtue. Britt-Marie's virginity is treated as a moral stake that even a legendary seducer cannot win. The demon and Satan manipulate circumstances to provoke desire, exposing human vulnerability. When Don Juan genuinely falls in love, the usual conquest fantasy is rewritten by authentic emotion rather than victory.
-
02
Secrets and deception
Deceptions ripple through the vicar's household as the demon stirs rumors and manipulates events. The vicar's key becomes a symbol of control, used to lock the demon away in the cupboard. Renata's actions, stirred by deception, ignite misunderstandings that test Britt-Marie and Jonas. Britt-Marie's later denial of a past kiss becomes a pivotal move in the plot's shifting balance of truth.
-
03
Punishment and mercy
Satan's eye pain frames the wager as a cosmic test of virtue against temptation. The seduction plot carries the threat of a dreamless sleep and poetic justice imposed by the demon. Britt-Marie's final lie—claims of never kissing another man—heals Satan's eye, granting a mercy that reframes punishment as something mercy can soften. The ending suggests love and truth can redeem even a supernatural scheme.
What Kind of Film Is The Devil’s Eye?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A darkly comedic and ironic fantasy where a celestial plot of seduction unfolds with a steady, fateful pace, blending mythic stakes with a bittersweet and surprisingly tender emotional core.
- darkly comedic
- fantastical
- bittersweet
- ironic
- satirical
- fateful
- seduction
- faith vs temptation
- deal with the devil
- falling in love
Content notes: psychological manipulation, supernatural coercion, sexual themes.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Devil’s Eye? Test yourself on the story.
