The Blood on Satan's Claw 4K 1971 Ultra HD 2160p

Story Movie

"The Blood on Satan's Claw" is a chilling horror film released in 1971, directed by Piers Haggard. Set in a rural English village in the 17th century, the movie follows the sinister events that unfold after a mysterious claw is unearthed by a farmer while plowing his field.

As the claw begins to exert its malevolent influence, the village is plunged into a nightmarish descent into darkness and depravity. Young people in the village start exhibiting disturbing behavior, leading to suspicion and fear among the villagers.

When the local judge, played by Patrick Wymark, tries to uncover the truth behind the sinister occurrences, he finds himself pitted against forces beyond his comprehension. With the help of a local clergyman, played by Anthony Ainley, and a skeptical doctor, played by Barry Andrews, the judge must confront the evil that threatens to consume the entire village.

Filled with eerie atmosphere, gruesome imagery, and a sense of creeping dread, "The Blood on Satan's Claw" is a classic of British horror cinema. Its exploration of themes such as superstition, paranoia, and the corrupting influence of evil continues to captivate audiences to this day.

Review 4K Movie

See this for Linda Hayden's sexually charged performance as Satan-loving teener Angel Blake, one of British Cinema's more memorable portrayals of pure evil in a petticoat.

Possessing a WITCHFINDER GENERAL-type atmosphere, helped immeasurably by Mark Wilkinson's truly beautiful score, this tale of superstition and a Satanic contagion that exhibits itself as an ugly, hairy patch on the skin (motivating alternate title SATAN'S SKIN) is evidence of solid horror-making afoot.

Patrick Wymark as the pseudo-Witchfinder anchors a mostly youthful cast who become victim to the spreading "disease".

The climax is a ballsy one for director Piers Haggard (who also helmed the taut VENOM) as he dares to portray Satan himself. It's always a risk serving up a visual absolute of a universal concept, but it works surprisingly well here because Haggard knows just how much to show.

As noted earlier, Linda Hayden is dynamite as the sexually provocative Angel and makes it easy to understand how many a fool would follow her to the depths of hell just for a taste of her own brand of heaven.

BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW, an evocative title if ever there was one, accomplishes everything it sets out to do.

It comes close to being delightfully lurid at times, and that's what gives it an edge.

Also worthy of applause is Dick Bush's striking, atmospheric cinematography.