A pair of newlyweds retires to the countryside to get away from it all. The man, a writer who has just recovered from a nervous breakdown, is excited to begin his healing process, alone with the woman he loves. First thing they do is make love and we get to see just how hairy this man’s torso is, and just how large his wife’s boobs are. This goes on for a while, over a soft jazz score. The next day, they almost run over an attractive woman who is out on the road. Instead of being angry, she invites them into her house and gives the writer a strange old book full of occult rites. Before they know it, the woman has invited herself over and starts performing rituals. Yes, that’s right, the newlyweds are caught up in a rural Satanic web. Can they escape, or will they be consumed as sacrifices to the Lord Infernal?
The Satanist was considered a lost film from Zoltan G. Spencer but it is obviously lost no more, restored by Garagehouse Pictures for this blu ray release. The film is basically nothing more than an old-fashioned nudie pic from 1968, a little behind it’s time, even then. It’s in black and white and features endless scenes of topless, big-jugged females writhing around in bed or dancing “forbidden” dances. There is no dialogue and indeed, no sound, other than a ceaselessly monotone narration by the writer character and a never-ending soft jazz score. Throw in some robed cult members and occult paraphernalia and you have your entire film, all 62 minutes of it.
If you’re into old nudie films, this one is right up your alley. Back then, it was probably pretty titillating, as there is a semi-lesbian scene (although one of the women turns into a man due to, you guessed it, black magic!) and lots and lots of female nudity. And I’m sure that mixing these images with cult members in Satanic robes was pretty out there for the time. But then again, the Church of Satan was starting up, so maybe it wasn’t that risqué. Who knows? By today’s standards, it’s pretty damned tame. I’m not knocking it, I’m just warning you away, unless you have a certain mindset or fetish for this kind of film. It’s certainly fine as a nudie but doesn’t work well as a horror film. If this is your thing, you’ll be delighted with it. If not, this curio from the past will bore you quickly.
Two Stars out of Four