It follows a young tourist named Lisa (Sommer) who loses her way in Toledo and spends the night at a villa belonging to a mysterious countess and her son.

The film was first released in Spain in November 1974 as El diablo se lleva a los muertos (lit.

[2] Following a lukewarm reception, the film was retooled by producer Alfredo Leone, who sought to exploit the popularity of The Exorcist by adding newly-filmed scenes featuring a priest attempting to exorcise a possessed Lisa.

[1]: 89  Decades after its initial screening, Bava’s original cut was released on home video, where it received a more positive response.

[1]: 89 During a tour of Toledo, Lisa Reiner encounters a fresco that depicts the Devil carrying off the dead.

As night falls, Lisa hitchhikes with a couple, Francis and Sophia Lehar, and their chauffeur George.

She flees into the villa and discovers a bedroom full of dummies, then faints when Carlos suddenly reappears.

Lisa finds the countess examining Sophia’s body and runs to Maximilian, who leads her to the bedroom where he is detaining Elena, now a skeletonized corpse.

Additional cast members for The House of Exorcism Lisa and the Devil was the second film director Mario Bava made with producer Alfredo Leone, who gave Bava complete control to make any kind of film he wanted after working on Baron Blood.

[1]: 89  Lisa and the Devil was submitted to the Italian film censors in November 1973 which had an 86-minute and 25 second running time, a shorter version than the Spanish theatrical release.

[1]: 89  The new version, titled The House of Exorcism, adds a framing story of Father Michael, an exorcist played by Robert Alda.

"[1]: 89 The House of Exorcism was released in Italy as La casa dell'esoercismo on 2 April 1975 where it was distributed by Transeuropa.

[1]: 85  The House of Exorcism was released in the United States on 9 July 1976, where it was distributed by Peppercorn-Wormser Film Enterprises.

[1]: 85 From retrospective reviews, AllMovie commented on Lisa and the Devil noting that "Bava's original cut is confusing at times, but it is far better than the 'possession' theme that was oddly spliced into House.

"[4] Marco Lanzagorta of PopMatters gave the movie eight stars out of ten, stating "By showcasing a dream-like imagery and lyrical storyline, Lisa and the Devil may not be an easy film to watch.

This is a gorgeous film that takes place in a metaphysical hell where logic breaks down in nightmarish ways.