By Melissa Antoinette Garza
SATAN’S SLAVE (1976) is all sorts of 1970sBritish satanic cult sexiness. I love this horror style. It’s very similar in tone and pace to the lesbian vampire movies of the same ilk. It’s hauntingly erotic, very naughty and contains some genuinely creepy scenes that solidifies it as a must-own of any sexploitation horror collection.
Catherine Yorke (Candance Glendenning) a semi-psychic with strange visions, celebrates her birthday by accepting an invitation to stay with her Uncle Alexander (Michael Gough) and cousin Stephen (Martin Potter). Her parents (James Bree and Celia Hewitt) get into a car wreck when they arrive, and though Catherine escapes fine, the car explodes killing both her folks.
Uncle Alex and Stephen bring in Catherine and give her tranquilizers for the grief. When she awakes she is still disoriented but grateful for the hospitality of her family. Despite their hospitality, she is plagued by visions every night she stays in the house. She sees satanic masses where naked women are held down by other nude women. Knives, swords and snakes are all part of the sacrificial ceremony.
It’s very sexy and brings back memories of Anton Szandor LaVey’s SATANIS: THE DEVIL’S MASS (1970). I love theatrics and I adore Satanic ceremonies in the 70s. Whether in film to evoke fear or in the church celebrating heathenism, it was always represented in delightfully sinful ways.
Catherine gets taken in by Stephen’s charm. When he checks on her after one of her nightmares, they make passionate love. This infuriates, Stephen’s lover/secretary Frances (Barbara Kellerman) who was already jealous of the duo.
Frances tells Catherine that Stephen and her Uncle plan to use her to bring back their shared ancestor Camilla. Uncle Alexander, believer in necromancy, wants to increase his own power by resurrecting the old dame and needs to sacrifice Catherine on her 20th birthday to do it.
Frances warns Catherine to be wary of Stephen and Stephen makes that easy b becoming cold. His demeanor shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to the audience. He’s a Jeckyll and Hyde type of villain. He’s charming, pale, tall, sexy, and knows his way around the bedroom, but he is also introduced to us as a raging would-be rapist and definite murderer. His original victim started off more than willing to have some fun playing around in the bedroom, but diabolical Stephen wanted it rough, insane and soaked in blood. He is a bad guy! No doubt about it! He is not someone you’d want to meet at a party!
That said, he does genuinely care for Catherine. Their relationship is creepy because of the whole incest thing and him being a rapist and all. Still, the actors themselves share fantastic chemistry. They both are just marvelous to look at and watch.
The imagery, score, tone and atmosphere of SATAN’S SLAVE makes for an under-appreciated horror classic. It’s sexy and fearless and terrifying. Those are three of my favorite things!
Michael Gough is wonderful as strange old Uncle Alexander. His laid-back earnest approach but subtle hints towards darkness creates a compelling watch!
Martin Potter is perfect. The sinister and evil elements of Stephen combined with his charisma and charm make for a character close to Alex in A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971) or Adam in THE INTRUDER (1962). He’s the kind of evil bastard that when he’s not murdering is divine to nibble on.
Lastly is our Lady Protagonist Candance Glendenning. She is fabulous! Glendenning doesn’t portray Catherine as a run-of-the-mill damsel-in-distress. She’s strong-willed. She’s fierce. She tries to remain logical and sensible, but also believes she can handle herself if it comes down to it.
Even in the moments when she is at her most frightened and seemingly trapped without escape, she always has a solid, feminine strength that conveys dominance.
SATAN’S SLAVE doesn’t have the fanfare that quite a few of the other 1970s classics get, but it’s one of my personal faves. It’s twisted and bizarre, but excellently executed. The ending is shocking and fits nicely along other underrated movies like THE COMEBACK (1978) and WARLOCK MOON (1973).
Currently, it’s free on YOUTUBE so grab it before the copyright cops take it down.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7.5/10
