The Blood on Satan’s Claw Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A farmer finds a furry skull, kids start a Satan club, and a judge gets stabby with a plushie devil.

🍿 The Blood on Satan’s Claw: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Discovery

In 18th-century England, a farmer named Ralph Gower unearths a strange, skull-like object covered in fur while plowing a field. He alerts the local Judge, a man of reason and authority, but when they return, the object has vanished, setting a tone of unease and disbelief. Simultaneously, Peter Edmonton brings his fiancée Rosalind Barton to his aunt’s house, setting the stage for another strand of the unfolding horror. These seemingly disparate events begin to weave together as strange occurrences plague the village.

The Spreading Evil

Strange events escalate as Rosalind Barton is driven to madness, exhibiting bizarre claw-like growths. Peter, attempting to help, is attacked and severs his own hand. This incident highlights the insidious nature of the evil, affecting individuals directly and physically. Meanwhile, a group of children, led by the manipulative Angel Blake, begin to exhibit disturbing behavior. They engage in ritualistic practices, suggesting a descent into devil worship and the corruption of innocence.

Investigation and Confrontation

The Judge, initially skeptical, begins to investigate the strange occurrences, consulting with the local doctor and examining old texts. He starts to recognize the possibility of a supernatural force at play, challenging his rational worldview. As the children’s activities grow more sinister—including violence and sacrifices—the community descends into paranoia and fear. The Judge must confront the evil, leading to a final confrontation at an old church.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• The Judge (Patrick Wymark): A rational, yet flawed investigator who confronts the rising evil in his community, representing order against chaos.
• Angel Blake (Linda Hayden): A seductive and manipulative young woman who becomes the leader of the devil-worshipping coven, embodying the corruption of innocence.
• Ralph Gower (Barry Andrews): The landsman whose initial discovery sets the horrific events in motion, becoming a victim of the spreading evil.
• Cathy Vespers (Wendy Padbury): An innocent villager who becomes a tragic victim of the coven’s brutal rituals, highlighting the loss of innocence.
• Reverend Fallowfield (Anthony Ainley): A clergyman who faces temptation and false accusations, illustrating the vulnerability of faith in the face of evil.
• Margaret (Michele Dotrice): A villager drawn into the coven, later captured and tortured; her torture is a focal point of the moral issues of the film.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• The Judge: “I give you His Catholic Majesty King James III, may God bless him and keep him in exile” – This quote establishes the film’s setting within a specific historical context, referencing the exiled Jacobite claimant to the throne.

💰Box Office

• Budget: £82,000 (estimated)
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 The Blood on Satan’s Claw Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so ‘The Blood on Satan’s Claw’ is seriously creepy. The whole vibe is unsettling, like something’s just not right in this old-timey village. Linda Hayden as Angel is fantastic – she’s like, super innocent-looking but totally evil. The scene where she tries to seduce the reverend? I was cringing! And the way the kids all turn into devil worshippers is just… yikes. The ending’s a bit weird, but honestly, the atmosphere stuck with me for days. Definitely not one to watch alone!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of folk horror films”
  • “Viewers interested in British horror cinema of the 1970s”
  • “Those who appreciate atmospheric and unsettling films with a focus on psychological horror”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depictions of sexual violence, including rape”
  • “Disturbing scenes of mutilation and body horror”
  • “Graphic violence and disturbing imagery”
  • “Nudity”

Professional Reviews

• Slant Magazine: “This folk horror gem is a disquieting exploration of superstition and repressed sexuality in 18th-century England. The film’s strength lies in its unsettling atmosphere and strong performances, particularly from Linda Hayden as the charismatic Angel Blake. While the narrative can be disjointed, it adds to the overall sense of unease.
• Love Horror: “An eerie and disturbing folk horror film that effectively captures the atmosphere of 17th-century rural England. The use of children as agents of evil is particularly unsettling. The film’s slow burn and ambiguous narrative create a palpable sense of dread, making it a must-see for fans of the genre.

Audience Reactions

Linda Hayden’s performance as Angel Blake is captivating and chilling.: Viewers consistently praise the film’s unsettling atmosphere and effective use of British folklore.

The film’s slow-burn approach creates a palpable sense of dread.: Many appreciate the film’s ability to generate a sense of unease and suspense.

Overall Consensus: A cult folk horror film praised for its atmosphere, strong performances, and exploration of dark themes in 18th-century England. However, some find the narrative disjointed and the ending underwhelming.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was originally conceived as three separate stories linked by the unearthed remains of Satan. These stories were later combined into a single narrative during script rewrites.”
• “The opening credits mistakenly list the production company as ‘Tigron’ instead of ‘Tigon’ and misspell James Hayter’s name as ‘James Hoyter’.”
• “For its US release, nudity was censored by darkening the footage, especially in Linda Hayden’s seduction scene, to avoid an X rating.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Blood on Satan’s Claw?

As a cult classic, ‘The Blood on Satan’s Claw’ is not currently available on major streaming services like Netflix or Hulu. However, it is often available for rent or purchase on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check these services for current availability and pricing. Physical copies (DVDs and Blu-rays) can often be found through online retailers like Amazon and other retailers specializing in cult and horror films.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Blood on Satan’s Claw, you might like these similar films:

• Witchfinder General (1968): Shares the same era and themes of superstition and brutal witch hunts in the English countryside, with Patrick Wymark also appearing in a role involving persecution.
• The Wicker Man (1973): Features similar folk horror elements with a remote community following pagan rituals and a protagonist investigating strange occurrences.
• A Field in England (2013): A modern film that captures the unsettling atmosphere of 17th-century England with elements of folk horror and psychological disturbance.

🛒 The Blood on Satan’s Claw Related Products

• The Blood on Satan’s Claw [Blu-ray]: High-definition restoration of the original film with bonus features. A must-have for collectors.
• Witchfinder General [Blu-ray]: High-definition restoration of a classic British folk horror film that is often compared to ‘The Blood on Satan’s Claw’.
• Linda Hayden Signed Photo: A rare autographed photo of Linda Hayden as Angel Blake. Perfect for fans and collectors.
• Blood on Satan’s Claw – The Complete Novelization: Explore the terrifying world of the film in more detail with a digital novelization. A captivating expansion of the original story.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Blood on Satan’s Claw features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Theme” – performed by Marc Wilkinson
• “Angel’s Seduction” – performed by Marc Wilkinson

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

10 Underrated Horror Films from the 70s You’ve Probably Never Seen (But Totally Should)

Ever feel like you’ve seen all the classic horror movies? This video shines a light on some seriously underrated gems from the 70s, including ‘The Blood on Satan’s Claw’. I think you’ll find at least one new favorite in this list!

Top 10 FARMLAND HORROR Movies

Love creepy movies set in the countryside? This video counts down the best farmland horror flicks, and ‘The Blood on Satan’s Claw’ makes the list! It’s interesting to see why it fits into this unusual, but engaging, horror subgenre!

The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 1970s Horror Films

Want to experience peak 70s horror creepiness? This video compiles 25 of the scariest scenes from that decade, and ‘The Blood on Satan’s Claw’ is featured! Prepare for some seriously unsettling imagery.

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