While out for the day, expectant couple Andres (José María Guillen) and Ana (Mariana Kerr) are flagged over by a couple who seemingly know them. Bruno (Angel Aranda) claims to have gone to school with Andres, and he and his wife, Berta (Sandra Alberti) insist that the pair follow them to their home to catch up. They are welcomed to Bruno and Berta’s house, but things seem a little ‘off’, particularly as they are manipulated into staying there for the weekend. Not only do they discover the pair are into witchcraft and some seedy sexual goings-on, but they are also increasingly in danger.
An often overlooked Spanish entry to the Satanism/witchcraft subgenre, Satan’s Blood delivers a solid, if sordid, story and makes the most of the then-current interest in witchcraft amongst the middle class. Full of gratuitous nudity, it’s a sleazy but entertaining pulp tale that grips from the start (well, once we get past the tacked-on sensationalist Satanic ceremony), featuring some stand-out sequences, including one with a very creepy doll. With a fairly limited cast of characters, and the action mainly taking place at Bruno’s opulent home, it could almost pass as a seedy Spanish chamber piece. The film’s twist may not be groundbreaking or surprising, but it’s a satisfying tale that unfolds at a rapid pace.
Treasured Films’ release presents the movie looking fantastic, and it’s backed up by a host of interesting extras, with very little crossover from previous releases. Features exclusive to this disc include the inimitable Kim Newman waxing lyrical on producer Juan Piquer Simón and esteemed writer Stephen Thrower showing his appreciation of the movie. More general themed pieces are also worthy of note, including Darrell Buxton’s video essay on ‘70s Satanic cinema and a talking head piece on Spanish horror.
