‘At last! The truth about demons!’
The Demon Lover is a 1976 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Jerry Younkins and Donald G. Jackson (Hell Comes to Frogtown, The Devil’s Pet). It has also been released as The Devil Master; Master of Evil and Coven.
Shot in Jackson, Michigan, with Gunnar Hansen as guest star (‘Leatherface’ from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and later in Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers and Mosquito), the film might have remained completely obscure except for an on-set documentary by Joel DeMott entitled Demon Lover Diary (1980) that shows the production apparently unravelling as it is being filmed. It has since been alleged that much of the incompetence and animosity shown by the filmmakers was staged to make the documentary more dramatic.
Cast:
Chris Robbins, Val Mayerik (creator of comic character Howard the Duck), Gunnar Hansen, Tom Hutton, David J. Howard, Susan Bullen, Phil Foreman, Linda Conrad, Ron Hively.
The Devil Master, owner of a secluded castle in the woods becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Using his psychic powers he attacks and gruesomely murders members of his cult…
Reviews:
“Production values are low, acting is amateurish, and characters are sketchy, but the film is a labor of love. It feels like it was a bunch of young people who love horror films and earnestly want to make their own. In this respect it resembles Equinox or Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things.” David Ellroy Goldweber, Claws and Saucers
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“Luridly compelling, if thoroughly tasteless.” John Stanley, Creature Features
“The lack of budget shows in places although there is plenty of violence and bloodletting.” Phil Hardy (editor), The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror
Offline reading:
Regional Horror Films, 1958 – 1990 by Brian Albright, McFarland
Some image credits: Critical Condition and Raleigh Bronkowski
