Released by: Glass Eye Pix
Released on: January 27, 2025
Director: James Felix McKenney
Cast: Don Wood, Christine Spencer, Angus Scrimm, Reggie Bannister, Michael Berryman, Debbie Rochon, Larry Fessenden
Year: 2010
… The themes of sin and salvation are ripe for satire and ridicule, and McKenney’s script plays it pretty dang straight, but it is still chock full of Christian cannon-fodder, managing to be both a both a parody and somewhat straight-faced send-up of Christian horror flicks. But it’s also not too far removed from an actual Christian morality tales. It has that semi-campy edge to it, and it’s quite bloody as well. Particularly splatter-riffic is Wendy’s nightmarish back alley abortion scene, clearly a send-up of pro-life propaganda as the “doctor” cackles maniacally while painfully extricating the unborn fetus in pieces from her womb. With a geyser of blood spraying onto his face, this scene feels very much like a Troma-esque display of bad taste.
Satan Hates You (2010), produced by Glass Eye Pix and directed by James Felix McKenney (Automatons), is a gleefully twisted riff on those Christian scare films of the 60s and 70s. In it we have a pair of lost souls in need of some serious salvation. First we have promiscuous Wendy (Christine Spencer, Automatons) who lives a wild party girl lifestyle of wanton casual sex and illicit drugs. Then we have an alcoholic serial killer named Marc (Don Wood, Hypothermia), a man with deeply closeted homosexual tendencies battling his own sexual identity which has driven him to murder. In the background of the story there’s lots of televangelist and and a preacher named Dr. Michael Gabriel (Angus Scrimm, Phantasm) on the TV, all spouting ‘save your mortal soul’ verbiage, encouraging sinners to find Jesus and atone for their evil lifestyles. Wendy seems to get a lot of comfort from this show. Meanwhile there are forces of evil at play by way of devil-imps Glumac (Larry Fessenden, Habit) and Scadlock (Bradford Scobie, Shortbus), demons who look like they just walked off the Squirrel Nut Zippers “Hell” music video set. They pop up throughout the film to invisibly whisper into the ears of both Wendy and Marc to ensure they follow their darker impulses, to ensure their souls are damned for all eternity. Wendy and Marc cross paths early on at a dive bar but do not actually meet until the end of the film. Instead the film follows them individually as we track their individual paths, both careening down the proverbial Highway to Hell, or perhaps salvation, depending on their choices, and willingness to accept Jesus into their hearts.
… It’s a fun riff on those classic Christian propaganda scare films and comic books. As a kid I remember reading the Chick Publications comics. My mom had an annoying friend who would without fail hand them out to us when she visited, and even as a budding-atheist kid, just the simplistic way that accepting Jesus into your heart would absolve you of all sorts of heinous sins and behaviors always rubbed me as wildly disingenuous and sort of gross. With that in mind the finale of this flick just brought a very satisfied shit-eating grin to my face.
… Satan Hates You (2010) makes it’s long overdue Blu-ray debut from Glass Eye Pix, presented in 1080p HD framed in 1.78:1 widescreen. It was shot digitally but made to mimic the vintage feel and retro-aesthetic of the grittier and grainy 70s Christian horror films. It looks terrific in HD, obviously there are no source flaws, the color reproduction look excellent with lots of sickly yellows as was intended. Blacks are solid and depth and clarity are much improved over past DVD editions…
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