AllMovie

Lurid and silly in equal measure, this 1970s obscurity is more notable for the historical light it sheds on post-Franco Spain than for its inherent cinematic quality. That said, however, Satan's Blood remains queasily watchable, full of contrived situations, unsympathetic characters, and unintentionally hilarious sex, violence, and suspense. "So bad it's good" has long been an aesthetic in its own right, but it's hard to think of another film that's entertainingly awful in precisely this manner. The flick begins with a druidic orgy/blood sacrifice that, though picturesque, bears almost no relation to the rest of the picture. Then it veers into breezy naturalism before slowly unraveling into campy devil-worship, softcore porn, hammy drama, and nonsensical plot twists. If the entire film didn't try so hard to titillate and disturb, it wouldn't be nearly as amusing; the reek of desperation is palpable. By the time we've made our way through full-frontal male nudity, the noisy consumption of raw meat, and the attempted rape of a pregnant woman by a garishly attired intruder, there's not much more the filmmakers can do to shock -- except perhaps have a sullen occultist mock her husband for his failed suicide attempt. Satan's Blood may make approximately zero sense, but its anything-goes approach to taboo-busting sure passes the time.