Review: The Brotherhood of Satan
Blu-ray: The Brotherhood of Satan (1971)
Beginning with a scene in which a group of children watch a toy tank destroy a car and all inside it…really! We are then shown recently widowed Ben (Charles Bateman), his daughter K.T. (Geri Reischl) and his girlfriend Nicky (Ahna Capri) on a road trip across South West America, who then inadvertently come across the squashed remains of the car and its inhabitants.
Heading to the closest town to report it to the law, they are met with an angry response from the local townspeople and they decide to flee…only to have their car break down and have to return there on foot.
Once back in the town they discover that there has been a series of deaths and that children have also begun disappearing.
How all these events are linked you’ll have to watch to find out.
The Brotherhood of Satan is a movie that passed me by back in the day and would have been one which I’d have definitely rented on VHS should I have come across it. Thankfully Arrow Films are releasing it on blu-ray, complete with an interesting commentary track by writers Kim Newman and Sean Hogan, plus other special features.
Low on budget but high on enjoyment, the twisting narrative keeps you guessing as to what is actually happening, all while unfolding a selection of surreal scenes and characters before your eyes.
Director Bernard McEveety keeps proceedings eerie using the most unlikely of props…dolls have never evoked so many goosebumps! While also using a dream sequence to further the viewers uncomfortable feelings…and also making you wonder what the hell is going to happen next.
Creepy and surreal in equal measure, The Brotherhood of Satan will make sure that you have your roadside assistance renewed every year.
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Original uncompressed mono audio
- Optional English subtitles
- Brand new audio commentary by writers Kim Newman and Sean Hogan
- Satanic Panic: How the 1970s Conjured the Brotherhood of Satan, a brand new visual essay by David Flint
- The Children of Satan, exclusive new interview with actors Jonathan Erickson Eisley and Alyson Moore
- Original Trailers and TV and Radio Spots
- Image Gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Richard Wells
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated booklet featuring new writing by Johnny Mains and Brad Stevens.
The Brotherhood of Satan is released 30th August 2021.
Review by Dave from a disc kindly supplied by Arrow Films.
