[Once
again I'm going to attempt to do a horror(ish) movie review a day for
the entire month of October. I've done this the last few years on The
Cleveland Movie Blog. Most of the time I succeeded. Other times I didn't. We'll see if I can
pull it off this year.]
Review by Bob Ignizio
The basic premise of SATANIC PANIC is that the rich are
amoral devil worshipers willing to sacrifice anything, even their own
children, to hold on to wealth and power. So not a whole lot of suspension of
disbelief required. But before we meet the moneyed monsters, we are introduced
to our protagonist, the considerably less well-off Sam (Hayley Griffith), a
teenage singer/songwriter who just started her first ever job delivering
pizzas.
At the end of a tipless shift, Sam agrees to take a delivery
out of the pizza shop’s zone in the wealthy Mill Basin section of town. This
turns out to be a very bad idea, and not just because the mansion she delivers
to doesn’t tip her, either. When Sam gets mad and goes in to demand a tip, she
finds herself in the midst of a Satanic ritual. The problem is, the coven’s
virgin isn’t one anymore. Sam, however, is, and coven leader Danica (Rebecca
Romjin) figures the pizza girl will do in a pinch.
The rest of the film is a blackly comic low budget gorefest
as Sam, with the help of Danica’s daughter and original intended sacrifice Judi
(Ruby Modine), tries to escape the deranged cultists bent on using her womb as
the birthplace for high ranking demon Baphomet.
Although set in our present day, the film has the feel of a
late eighties/early nineties low budget horror flick. The special effects
appear to be mostly of the old-school practical variety, which is always a plus
for this reviewer. The special effects team (Tate Steinsiek and Chris A. Wilks)
really go for the gusto, with a couple of scenes in which characters puke up
things that should never be puked up (fans of Lucio Fulci will see the maestro’s
influence here), and a flying “soul souffle” made out of enchanted and baked
organs.
The story by MOHAWK writers Ted Geohagen and Grady
Hendrix (with Hendirx handling the finished script) is a bit ragged and tonally
inconsistent at times. Fortunately director Chelsea Stardust’s energetic
direction keeps things entertaining enough that the rough spots aren’t too grating.
It also helps that the film boasts a solid cast. Romjin in
particular makes a fist rate villain. In the lead role, Griffith makes for a likeable
and relatable protagonist who manages to be both an unlikely horror hero ala THE
EVIL DEAD’s Ash, and a more vulnerable, human character the audience can empathize with as we learn exactly
why she’s still a virgin. No weak spots in the supporting cast, either. I
particularly enjoyed Jeff Daniel Phillips delightfully deadpan cultist.
SATANIC PANIC isn’t a great film, but it’s still a
lot of fun and knows how to deliver over the top horror comedy without going so
far that it becomes unpleasant. It also has something to say and manages to do
it without being to preachy or in your face. Far too many low budget horror
movies go the easy route and try to be “so bad they’re good”, usually only
succeeding on the “so bad” part. SATANIC PANIC tries to be the best
movie it can with the resources it has, and for the most part succeeds.
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