Satan War Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Satan War Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 15, 2025

Bart La Rue was a working actor during the 1960s and ‘70s, trying to land choice parts like so many of his peers. He had the benefit of a defined speaking voice, but not much luck when it came to professional success, handling small parts on television shows such as “The Brady Bunch,” “Star Trek,” “Bonanza,” and “Mission: Impossible.” La Rue also tried his luck in filmmaking, launching directorial ambitions with 1975’s “The Ark of Noah,” playing into the decade’s interest in documentaries about strange phenomena and legends. His helming career promptly died with 1979’s “Satan War,” and perhaps for good reason. La Rue attempts to follow the Satanic Panic trends of the decade during this take on a haunted house tale, observing a married couple and their minimal efforts to do something about an evil presence that won’t exit their newly purchased home. “Satan War” is a no- budget offering from La Rue, who doesn’t have a story to share with the endeavor, just ideas for haunted moments. It’s a long journey with the characters and their inability to accept obvious doom, and La Rue is in no rush to get anywhere in the picture, making for a painfully dull sit.

Louise (Sally Schermerhorn) and Bill (Jimmy Drankovitch) are a married couple ready to begin domestic bliss after the purchase of a house, receiving a great deal on their dream dwelling. On moving day, the pair find themselves irritated by an unseen force, inspiring arguments as their union is tested by the stress of the day. After settling into their home, Louise starts to recognize that things aren’t right, especially with a brass crucifix placed on the wall for protection, watching as the Christian decoration repeatedly returns to an upside down position. Soon enough, elements of evil start appearing in the kitchen, and Louise is eventually attacked by an unseen force of doom. Bill refuses to leave the house, afraid to give up on their monetary investment, while Louise seeks help from Evelyn, a friend and spiritual medium brought into the home to best understand what’s going on, exposed to a malevolent presence focused on terrorizing Louise and Bill.

The future is bright for Louise and Bill at the start of “Satan War.” They’re a loving couple receiving the opportunity of a lifetime as they manage to buy their dream house, eager to move in and get started on their shared happiness. Narration offers some introductory information on the tale, which is “based on real events,” and a short history of evil is provided, noting how demons love to “harass and torture” their targets. The latest victims of satanic shenanigans are Louise and Bill, who are ready to unpack their belongings and create order to the chaos of moving day. Early agitation is found with tempers, as Bill is bothered by everything, putting his wife on the defense as they try to work out their differences. Louise hopes to calm the energy of the house with careful placement of a brass crucifix on the wall, bringing Christian vibes to a location that doesn’t want it, and an unseen force commences a mission to terrify Bill and Louise.

La Rue isn’t a master craftsman, basically doing very little with “Satan War,” which carries the presence of a movie that was made on a dare. Louise and Bill aren’t richly defined characters, as most of the film is devoted to offerings of harassment, beginning on a coffee pot resting on a kitchen stove that suddenly overflows with a sludgy, putrid substance. Louise is attacked by a chair, and the crucifix won’t stay in place, while Bill is tormented by loud thunder. Later in the picture, the kitchen is home once again to doom, this time in the form of a green, stinky substance that pours out of the cupboards and refrigerator. Naturally, Louise and Bill elect to clean up the substantial mess with their bare hands(!), eventually taking a trip to the beach to assess their situation, deciding to bring in Evelyn for help. La Rue plays gross with goo and messes around with darkness for most of “Satan War,” but he also gets a little ugly, putting Louise through hell as she’s sexually assaulted by an invisible entity. One would think such a horrific event would be enough to get the duo out of the house, but La Rue wouldn’t have a movie if it were that easy, returning to his fondness for real-time domestic duties and ill-defined threats.

“Satan War” is presented in three versions: a 64:35 cut (presented as the main feature on the Blu-ray release), a 77:19 cut (which vaguely elaborates on the evil involved in the plot), and a 92:49 cut (which is the same as the 77:19 edit of “Satan War,” only tacking on a pointless examination of voodoo after the end credits, presumably so La Rue could achieve a sellable run time).

Satan War Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation opens with an information card explaining that "Satan War" was "restored from the only surviving 16mm answer print," and that "the restoration contains a brief jump cut, as well as an abrupt ending – both of which are present in the original elements." The viewing experience is pushed as far as possible here, with delineation struggling throughout, having a bit of trouble preserving frame information in limited lighting. Shadowy events slide into solidification at times, but well-illumined cinematography is acceptable, allowing for a mild appreciation of the living space and the characters, who retain a softer sense of detail. Color is passable, finding skin tones running a bit too red, but evil events, such as mint green gunk, appear to register as intended. Costuming and interior decoration add some varied hues, and a golden crucifix is defined. Source is in decent shape, with a few hairs and points of damage.

Satan War Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD sound mix offers a basic sense of dialogue exchanges, with dubbed performances sometimes struggling with clarity due to age issues and technical limitations. Sibilance issues carry throughout the listening event. Scoring is a bit fuzzy but appreciable, with a louder synth presence that repeats ad nauseum during the movie. Sound effects are basic.

Satan War Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (six pages) contains a "Letter from Alecia LaRue" and print inspection report.

• Commentary features Kristin LaRue and AGFA's Joe Ziemba.

• Interview (13:50, HD) is an appreciation piece from film historian Stephen Thrower.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Satan War Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's no war in "Satan War," as that would cost money, and La Rue isn't interested in spending the cash to create actual conflict in the feature. Heck, we don't even meet Louise and Bill's neighbors, who might actually have some information to share on the history of the house. Instead of energy, "Satan War" supplies general sleepiness, as La Rue doesn't have anything to offer in the ways of creepiness. The haunted house aspects of the endeavor never carry with authority, leading to something of a non-ending. And an overall sense of evil isn't prioritized by La Rue, who invests in goop, not gore, creating an uneventful viewing experience.