6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 1.5 | |
Overall | 1.5 |
Runaway teen Bobby is given shelter by a cult of Satanists, but his presence and questionable sexuality leads to conflicts within Satan's Children.
Starring: Stephen White (I), Eldon Mecham, Joyce Molloy, Kathleen Marie Archer, Rosemary OrlandoHorror | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 1.5 |
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.
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 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.
Per typical AGFA tradition, everything is on one disc, and supplements are not really directly tied to the main feature(s):
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.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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