Blood on Satan's Claw
This film began life as "The Devil's Touch", then "The Devil's Skin" and so through numerous titles. The idea stemmed from a collection of short stories which I wrote while still at school, entitled "Legends of Torment of Body and Soul". The script was thrown together in three weeks, against a fierce deadline, as the producers, Chilton Films, had a special deal with Pinewood Studios beginning, significantly, on 1st April 1970. The original brief was for three stories, which were eventually grafted into one, with the seams still showing a little. The script also jumped periods before settling into the 17th Century to blend harmoniously with 'Witchfinder General'. The original ending was unremittingly bleak before it was cheered up with a cross. Piers Haggard directed. There was a follow-up script, "The Puppetmaster", set in the 18th Century, which through force of circumstances was never filmed.
DVD
Released on DVD from 'Anchor Bay' in May 2003
CD
A CD of the original musical score is being prepared by the composer, Marc Wilkinson, and will be released soon.
Reviews - [online, current]
Press Reviews - then and now!
1971
"Blood on Satan's Claw is just bearable on the very-wet-Sunday-afternoon-in-Huddersfield level. It's about witchcraft in rural England and prettily photographed with some period feel. A furry fiend, turned up by the plough, with sufficient power to convert half the village children and a few of the senior citizens too into may-bedecked nasties, is exorcised. There is some interest in the fact that this takes at the beginning of the age of reason, and Patrick Wymark's local Justice needs some convincing that something supernatural is abroad. The chief child-witch is quite sexy, and there's a 'Yuk! Can't-not-watch' operation by the local sawbones to remove a bit of befurred 'devil's skin' from another young witch's thigh. In the end, though, it doesn't frighten or convince, and the Mummerset accents do nothing to help." - George Melly
2000
"There is actually very little to criticise in 'Blood on Satan's Claw'. The film's screenplay is thoughtful, intelligent and alarmingly uncompromising. Pier's Haggard's direction is entirely appropriate, and if it lacks the raw power and visual élan of Reeve's 'Witchfinder General', it more than compensates with an intense eroticism never found in Reeve's work. Simon Williams noted that the film is 'somewhat erotic' and he is right, though it is also shocking, perverse and immoral. These traits serve as the basis for Linda Hayden's portrayal of Angel Blake which is, to say the least, inspired. By turns wanton, seductive, innocent and evil, it would be fair to compare Hayden's performance to that of Catherine Deneuve in 'Repulsion', as one of the best by a woman in the genre. The rest of the cast suffer in comparison to Hayden's star turn, but all are excellent, with Patrick Wymark as perfect a casting choice as could be. The supporting cast are equally impressive, and both Tamara Ustinov and Michelle Dotrice are excellent as young women under the demon's influence. The location shooting and art direction are both well above average, giving the proceedings an unworldly, timeless ambience, and the superb, haunting score is another plus. All of those involved seem rightfully proud of the film: "A fascinating film - I loved that movie", recalls Linda Hayden, while Robert Wynne-Simmons praises both the star and the film: "I thought Linda did it extraordinarily well. She brought an incredible energy to it. I still find it quite a disturbing film." Disturbing is an apposite description, and the film is more harrowing than any other British genre film of the seventies." - Jonathan Sothcott 'The Dark Side'
