Satanic Panic review: Typically the virgin is safe in horror movies, but now comes Satanic Panic, a film where still having your cherry leads to a very traumatic night.
Image Courtesy of Fantasia Festival
This year’s Fantasia Festival has to have one of the strongest line-up’s in its history, and more importantly, features a refreshing amount of female film-making talent within the programme. One such talent is director Chelsea Stardust who brings the brilliantly titled Satanic Panic to the festival audience. The film continues to embrace its feminine side by having almost all the main cast of characters as women. The story follows newbie pizza delivery person Sam, a twenty-two year old virgin whom has dreams of moving to Australia. Unfortunately, she’s broke and her first night in her new job isn’t bringing in the cash. Hoping to make some big money, Sam takes an order out of the restaurant’s service area, delivering to the rich part of town, hopeful that they’ll shower her with tips. Upon arrival, she accidentally stumbles across a satanic mass, one that is missing its key ingredient – a virgin. Sam subsequently faces an epic battle against magic and monsters as she tries to keep her virginity, and life, in tact.
Based on a story by We Are Still Here and Mohawk director Ted Geoghegan, and written by author Grady Hendrix (whose novel My Best Friend’s Exorcism is well worth a read), Satanic Panic is a super-charged assault to the senses. This is a story that plays for laughs; the dialogue is razor-sharp and full of pop culture references. Tonally, Satanic Panic goes all out bonkers. Prepare to hear phrases like ‘a sweater that smelled like racism’, and ‘H R Giger’s love stick’. It’s not subtle, but does make for entertaining viewing.
Image Courtesy of Fantasia Festival
Satanic Panic relies heavily on the camp, an element that feeds through to the cast, whom all fully embrace the direction. Rebbeca Romijn sashaying her way around her mansion like a cast member from Dynasty plays her part of coven leader Danica beautifully. Best known for playing Mystique in the original X-Men movies, Romijn has never had as much fun as she does with this role. Our heroine Sam, played by Hayley Griffith, is the least over-the-top player, but she is the audience’s eyes to what is happening and the choice makes sense. Happy Death Day‘s Ruby Modine potentially has one of the harder roles as original virginal sacrifice Judi, a character with whom you’re never quite sure which side she’s on. There’s also a little extended cameo from Jerry O’Connell, who almost steals the entire film in his brief time on screen.
Being an independent indie film, Satanic Panic likely won’t have had the biggest production budget but Stardust squeezes quality out of every last cent. Given that the majority of characters are meant to be filthy rich, the locations and costumes need to reflect that, and they do. The homes are lavish, and the costumes sumptuous. Stardust also pumps the budget into creating some stand-out practical effects. Without wanting to spoil too much, the film features a couple of bizarre creations and some gut-wrenching gore that is so life-like it turns the stomach.
Camp, kitsch and colourful, Satanic Panic is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. It’s ferocious, frenetic fun with a razor sharp tongue; a film that will delight fans that like their horror with a side of humour.
Satanic Panic was reviewed at Fantasia 2019. It will next screen at Arrow Video Frighfest in August.
