An Angel for Satan is a 1966 Gothic supernatural horror film in which an old statue is recovered from a lake. A series of strange deaths soon begin causing the superstitious local villagers to believe that the statue carries an ancient malediction…
Directed by Camillo Mastrocinque (Terror in the Crypt) from a screenplay co-written with Giuseppe Mangione based on a story by Luigi Emmanuele. Produced by Lilian Biancini.
The soundtrack score was composed by Francesco De Masi (Formula for a Murder; Escape from the Bronx; The New York Ripper; Weapons of Death; Orgy of the Living Dead).
The Discobolo Film production stars Barbara Steele, Anthony Steffen, Claudio Gora, Mario Brega, Marina Berti, Ursula Davis, Vassili Karis, Aldo Berti, Betty Delon, Antonio Corevi, Antonio Acqua, Livia Rossetti, Halina Zalewska and Giovanna Lenzi.
Plot:
The Count of Montebruno (Claudio Gora), preparing his luxurious mansion for the arrival of his niece Harriet (Barbara Steele), discovers a mysterious old statue. After Harriet arrives, strange events begin to happen, including deaths.
It soon becomes clear that the newly found statue somehow influences the mental state of the Count’s young niece. It turns out that Harriet Montebruno, one of the ancestors of the Count of Montebruno, was turned into a statue many years ago…
Reviews:
“Mastrocinque’s stylish adaptation of Luigi Emmanuele’s story and Steele’s performance are excellent, enhancing the dreamily melancholic atmosphere of the house and its grounds, dominated by the mysterious late. Although the picture has its share of violence […] the overall impression is one of a poetic, somehow slow-moving rhythm animating the unfolding of a crepuscular image.” The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror
book
“Though the Harriet-Belinda role is hardly an enlightened one, Steele is at her most smoulderingly powerful here, looking splendidly crazed when she daubs on heavy make-up (very 1960s-looking make-up, it must be said) during her first transformation. Mastrocinque introduces several other suggestive touches, among them a Magdalena statue that, though pretty obviously a mannequin, looks unpleasantly creepy when festooned with seaweed.” Jonathan Rigby, Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema book
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“Even though the script does not fully explore its potential and the pacing drags a little bit, there are a number of strong moments, such as Brega’s seduction as well as the dramatic ending, which also vaguely recalled La Venus d’Ille. The regional Italian setting […] is also noteworthy, with its mixture of superstition, morbidity and ignorance. For a director who approached genre out of necessity, Mastrocinque’s direction is surprisingly effective at times…” Roberto Curti, Italian Gothic Horror Films, 1957 – 1969 book
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Contemporary reviews:
“As far as we’re concerned Barbara represents evil and that’s all there is to it. Having said that, all we need add is that Un angelo per Satana is merely funny, an effect opposite to what the director presumably intended.” Film Mese, September 1967
” …a slow-moving attempt at the horrific but not only does it not achieve anything in the way of thrills, it tends to confuse throughout the whole of a long-drawn-out affair.” Kine Weekly
Choice dialogue:
Harriet Montebruno [Barbara Steele]:
“You were delirious. You don’t remember.”
“I adore violence. I adore it.”
“I want all men to worship me.”
Theatrical release:
An Angel for Satan was released in Italy on 4 May 1966 where it was distributed by Discobolo Film. It grossed 87 million Italian lire on its release.
Gala Film Distributors released the film in the UK in 1968 with a BBFC ‘X’ certificate.
Italian trailer:
Full film free online on YouTube [1080p HD]:
Country of origin:
Italy
Filming locations:
Villa Miani, Rome, Italy (house location)
Incir De Paolis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy (studio)
Technical specs:
1 hour 32 minutes
Black and white
Audio: Mono
Aspect ratio: 1.85: 1
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