Review: Satanic Panic
Satanic Panic is the newest horror-comedy from Fangoria, Cinestate and director Chelsea Stardust. It’s a movie about pizza, Satan, and a first day on the job gone wrong. The film stars Rebecca Romijn, Hayley Griffith, Ruby Modine, Arden Myrin and a slew of other great genre performers filling out the supporting cast. Also, Baphomet. Lots of Baphomet.
Our main character Sam is a pizza delivery girl with a kind and somewhat naive air about her. On the night of her first day at Home Run Pizza, she takes a delivery in an ultra-rich neighborhood known as Mill Basin. What she doesn’t know is that it’s filled with murderous Satan worshipers and she’s walked in on their ceremonial night of sacrifice. It’s a bad scene.
The film plays out with Sam trying to avoid one mishap after another while trying to maintain a positive attitude until she can’t anymore. She’s helped by a couple of characters involved in the satanic coven as the night goes on, but in the end it’s all up to her to get out of there alive. Despite the group’s best efforts and a fun array of demons and monsters, Sam puts up one hell of a fight.
Our hero, Sam.
Satanic Panic is a lot of fun. The story by Grady Hendrix (Paperbacks from Hell) and Ted Geoghegan (We Are Still Here, Mohawk) is filled to the brim with wonderful references to demonology and satanic lore that flesh out the monsters in the film. The practical effects are excellent especially during scenes when Rebecca Romijn’s coven leader Danika gets her hands dirty. And on top of that, the film plays great to a crowded theater of horror fans and will definitely be a fun one to put on at a party.
This is a film that really pokes fun at the idea of rich and powerful yuppies who worship Satan to try and maintain their wealth. The coven is played so dumb and bumbling that it almost turns to slapstick. My favorite pair in the film is definitely Jordan Ladd and Jeff Daniel Phillips whose daughters wind up dead after twisted scene that really owes itself to Tetsuo: The Iron Man. That’s another great thing about this movie, there's even references to Fulci that should make anyone happy!
Rebecca Romijn hosting the Baphomet party in style.
When Satanic Panic had its west coast premiere at the Portland Horror Film Festival earlier this year, the audience loved it. Folks cheered and reeled at the gore and excess, and laughed heartily at the ridiculous humor and absurdity. The film is a crowd-pleaser that certainly has its heart in the right place and wants to entertain more than anything. It’s out now in theaters and on demand. Order a pizza and check it out.
Out today 9/6/19 in theaters and VOD
