Satan's Slave (1976)

User Rating:

3.3/10   

Director:

Norman J. Warren

Writer:

David McGillivray (screenplay)

Release Date:

August 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

A young girl is caught up in a devil cult run by her evil uncle and cousin. She can trust no one and...

Plot Keywords:

Cult | Devil | House | Carnage | Sexual Assault

Cast

Michael Gough	...	Uncle Alexander Yorke
Martin Potter	...	Stephen Yorke
Candace Glendenning	...	Catherine Yorke
Barbara Kellerman	...	Frances
Michael Craze	...	John
Gloria Maley	...	Janice (as Gloria Walker)
James Bree	...	Malcolm Yorke
Celia Hewitt	...	Elizabeth Yorke
David McGillivray	...	Priest

Also Known As:

Evil Heritage (USA)

Runtime:

UK:86 min (cut version) | USA:86 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:-12 | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R | UK:18 (video re-rating) (2004) (uncut) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Pirbright, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Monumental Pictures

Trivia:

Cameo: [David McGillivray]a priest.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Terror (1978/I)

Mildly enjoyable.

19-year-old Catherine (the very fetching Candace Glendenning) travels with her dad and mom to visit a distant relative, Uncle Alexander (Michael Gough). Dad has an accident while driving and the car ends up catching fire. A traumatized Catherine spends the next few days growing attached to Alexanders' son Stephen (Martin Potter) while experiencing odd and disconcerting visions.

The always delightful Gough (rockin' an impressively big and bushy mustache) is actually pretty restrained here. Still, he's one of the best parts of this little bit of British sleaze horror. It's a rather low key movie that plods along and doesn't offer much in the way of horror. The David McGillivray screenplay isn't all that interesting (it clues us in where this is going too early), although it does have its moments. By that I mean it does deliver in the sleaze department. There's appreciable gratuitous nudity and even sexual assault at the outset.

The picture is undeniably crude, has an unsurprising ending, and doesn't add up to much once it's over. But, providing you aren't too demanding, it's possible to derive some amusement out of it. Glendenning is an appealing presence, Potter is good as the unhinged Stephen, and the sexy Barbara Kellerman easy enough to watch as the secretary. Norman J. Warrens' direction here lacks style but is decent enough. And there's some cheap and tacky gore to enjoy. Overall, I wouldn't consider it all that good, but it's watchable enough.

7/10