Review: Satanic Panic

Director: Chelsea Stardust

Screenplay: Ted Geoghegan and Grady Hendrix

Year: 2019

Virgins are the preferred sacrifice for demons, according to the countless horror movies that deal with this topic. It seems like the fascination with their innocence contrasted with the absolute evil demons represent is something that turns them on, and they seem to have a particular liking for females. Only goats have tried to occupy this distinction, but virgins are still ahead.

In “Satanic Panic” the virgin of the story is Sam, a young woman who makes a living delivering pizza. One night she has to make a delivery to a luxurious mansion, in which he doesn’t get a tip. Full of rage by this act of selfishness, Sam decides to take justice in her own hands and break into the house to demand her tip. Once in, she meets a group of people about to perform a satanic ritual and for her bad luck, she is a great candidate to be the sacrifice they need to summon the demon Baphomet.

Although it may sound like the plot for a dark movie, “Satanic Panic” is a horror-comedy that does a great job of balancing both genres. In its first minutes it makes a statement of hoy it will dwell on campy areas and that comedy will be an important part. Luckily, the comedy is well done from the jokes to the visuals that support them.

Once the first violent scene takes place, actually, in a funny turn of events, it also makes the statement that gore is equally well done and that it will not shy away from being explicitly presented. The gore is used in a creatively and uncomfortable way and leads to scenes where wounds are rummaged in search of a soul or intestines are read (this makes more sense when you are seeing the movie).

The cast is surprisingly good for a movie of this kind. Hayley Griffith (“Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll”) gives life to Sam, a character that is impossible not get behind. The mix of her innocence and awkwardness gives way to some moments of intense gore and comedy. Once she meets the spoiled brat Judi, (Ruby Modine; “Happy Death Day 2U”), they both share a great chemistry that allows them to carry a good part of the movie in their shoulders without it losing its charm. Conversely, the group of Satanists looking for Sam is led by a strong and beautiful Danica (Rebecca Romijn; “X-Men”) accompanied by the funny and expressive Gypsy (Arden Myrin; “Shameless”), whose interactions in their fight for the leadership of the coven are very entertaining. 

If there is something this movie can brag about is its creativity, particularly in the gore. Director Chelsea Stardust, who knows her way around a horror film from her participation in genre films such as “Paranormal Activity 3”, “The Purge”, and “Insidious: The Last Key” takes the creative and fun story by Ted Geoghegan (“We Are Still Here”) and Grady Hendrix (“Mohawk”) and presents it on screen with a tightness uncommon for a first full-length feature of a director (second if her episode in the movie series “Into The Dark” is considered). As a result, the movie is always fun and intense, with plenty of help from a cast that clearly enjoys what they are doing in it.

“Satanic Panic” is a bloody and fun adventure created for horror movie fans. While in parts some jokes struggle to land, it is fun from beginning to end. Its flaws are easily ignored because of its creativity and attitude to be fun. Expect plenty of gore used in creative an uncomfortable ways, references to magic, voodoo, demons and popular culture, and lots of dark humor.