Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		2.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		1.5

Satan's Children Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 13, 2019

Note: This film is available as part of Satanis: The Devil's Mass / Satan's Children.

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.

The back cover of this release describes Satan's Children as "an Afterschool Special from the depths of hell", and that pretty much suffices to sum up this pretty tawdry exploitation film that sees a young runaway named Bobby (Stephen White, granted a big "introducing" credit here, which he may or may not have really wanted), who has to deal with all sorts of bad behaviors by people around him, in a kind of gender bending take on Go Ask Alice. Bobby has to contend with an amorous stepsister (in some scenes that may have inspired a whole subgenre of porn), a bunch of street toughs who sexually abuse him, and then, just for good measure, some frolicsome Satanists he meets in a park. It's all Grade Z level stuff, with a kind of torpid atmosphere that may make sense once you realize everything was shot in Florida.

Satan's Children Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Satan's Children is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of the American Genre Film Archive with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. AGFA touts a "2K preservation from a 35mm theatrical print", and while the format here is larger than with regard to the source element of Satanis: The Devil's Mass, the results are still fairly problematic. While detail levels are at least decent, arguably helped by the larger format source, the palette is pretty badly faded as can probably be made out from the screenshots accompanying this review. There's also rampant damage from the get go in the form of scratches, nicks, dirt and other blemishes, along with an occasional misaligned frame. That all gives the presentation an appropriate "grindhouse" quality, which is probably reinforced by a sometimes heavy but still organically resolving grainfield.

Satan's Children Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Satan's Children features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono mix which adequately supports the film's often ludicrous dialogue, effects and score. There are occasional signs of age related wear and tear, including hiss and some low level pops, but there's nothing too distracting. As with the main feature on the disc, AGFA has provided subtitles to help with any issues hearing what's being said.

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.

Satan's Children Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Satan's Children may reacquaint some jaded sorts with the pejorative "only in Florida" comment that often arises when some odd news item erupts from that state. This is a pretty sleazy entry, and as such may recommend itself to certain "discerning cineastes". Once again technical merits are spotty due to the source element utilized, for those considering a purchase.