Satanis: The Devil's Mass / Satan's Children Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		2.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		2.0

Satanis: The Devil's Mass / Satan's Children Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 13, 2019

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is due to officially debut soon as this review is being written, and so once again (for better or worse) the horrifying murders perpetrated by Charles Manson and his followers are most likely going to be the subject of discussion (even if the Tarantino film of course skews events from how they actually happened). There has been much talk and newsprint devoted to Manson’s supposed “Satanic cult”, but he had a little competition in that regard, though initially in the San Francisco region rather than Manson’s stomping grounds in Los Angeles and its environs, in the form of one Anton Szandor Lavey. Lavey is a curiously infamous figure in the annals of American occultism, having founded what he called the Church of Satan and fostering his own weirdly fascinating cult. In this instance, there are no records indicating nefarious murderous activity, but there’s still strangeness galore, as evidenced by the two films the American Genre Film Archive has assembled for this new release.

For reviews of the two films included on this release, please click on the following links:

Satanis: The Devil's Mass Blu-ray review

Satan's Children Blu-ray review

Satanis: The Devil's Mass / Satan's Children Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality of each release is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Satanis: The Devil's Mass / Satan's Children Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality of each release is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Satanis: The Devil's Mass / Satan's Children Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Per typical AGFA tradition, everything is on one disc, and supplements are not really directly tied to the main feature(s):

• Satan in Church (1080p; 8:34) is a completely peculiar animated short about nefarious doin's at a house of worship. This seems to have perhaps been this Bulgarian short, based on the closing credits, which makes it all the more peculiar.


• Boys Beware (1080p; 14:07) is another completely gonzo piece, this one more of a PSA warning young males about interacting with strangers. This was produced by the Pasadena Police Department, which conceivably means your tax dollars paid for it.


• Torrid Trailers (1080p; various) offers an over the top assortment of coming attractions.

Satanis: The Devil's Mass / Satan's Children Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fans of the American Genre Film Archive's often outré offerings will most likely find this another hugely enjoyable release. Technical merits are once again spotty, as befits the source elements, for those considering a purchase.