Satan’s Slave is a 1976 British horror film directed by Norman J. Warren (Prey; Terror; Inseminoid) from a screenplay by David McGillivray (House of Whipcord; Schizo; House of Mortal Sin).
The film’s distinctive soundtrack was composed by jazz musician John Scott. Despite its low budget, Satan’s Slave was shot in Techniscope.
The movie stars Michael Gough (Konga; Horrors of the Black Museum; The Corpse), Martin Potter (Goodbye Gemini), Candace Glendenning (Tower of Evil), Barbara Kellerman, Michael Craze, Gloria Walker, James Bree and Celia Hewitt.
Plot:
A young woman, Catherine Yorke (Candace Glendenning), shares a ride with her parents to visit her uncle Alexander (Michael Gough), whom no one had met before. But the drive ends in tragedy when, during an accident, the parents of Catherine die charred.
Catherine is then hosted by the mysterious Alexander, who lives in a beautiful house with his son Stephen (Martin Potter) and the faithful Frances (Barbara Kellerman). Catherine tastes life and notices that Stephen is far from being insensitive to her charms. However, Catherine is soon the victim of terrible hallucinations.
As time passes on, Frances then informs her of what her uncle and cousin are planning to do to her. She tells them they plan to sacrifice her to avenge an ancient ancestor of hers named Camilla York (because the only way to resurrect the dead is through the body of a decedent), who was said to possess evil powers, she tells her that they plan to use Camilla’s powers for Alexander’s own evil…
Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Censorship:
Having been heavily censored by the BBFC to a version that ran just 82 minutes 49 seconds (the full “international” version runs 89 minutes 43 seconds), Satan’s Slave was initially released in the UK by Brent Walker distributors on a double-bill with Thriller: A Cruel Picture, a Swedish revenge exploiter, and then later with Ruby and Squirm.
In the US, the film was picked up by Crown International, although the print they distributed was the censored British version. In 2004, Anchor Bay released a longer widescreen version on DVD.
In October 2019, US company Vinegar Syndrome released a Blu-ray + DVD combo. Order via Amazon.com
Soundtrack score:
In 2016, specialist label Moscovitch Music released John Scott’s soundtrack score on both gorgeously packaged 12-inch vinyl and CD.
Trailer:
Cast and characters:
Michael Gough … Uncle Alexander Yorke
Martin Potter … Stephen Yorke
Candace Glendenning … Catherine Yorke
Barbara Kellerman … Frances
Michael Craze … John
Gloria Maley … Janice (as Gloria Walker)
James Bree … Malcolm Yorke
Celia Hewitt … Elizabeth Yorke
David McGillivray David McGillivray … Priest
Robert Conway … Puritan with Whip
Richard Crafter … Mad Monk 2
Nick Maley … Mad Monk 1
Paula Patterson … Woman Disembowelled by Stephen
Monika Ringwald … Camilla York
Moira Young … Alexander’s Wife in Prologue
Filming locations:
Admiral’s Walk, Mill Lane, Pirbright, Surrey, England (also featured in Virgin Witch, 1970)
