This is a prime example of the shortlived subgenre of folk horror. The only let downs aside from the semitedious opening is the rather annoying overuse of inappropriate music and the alltoodramatic slow motion ending. Next to witchfinder general, blood on satans claw 1971 is their best film and is an example of some of the strongest satanic horror from that, or any, period. The blood on satans claw, starring reece shearsmith and mark gatiss, is now available on audible seventeenthcentury england, and a plough uncovers a grisly skull in the furrows of a farmers field. My first experience with haggards nowfavorite british horror film was as a kid staying up late at night to watch elvira, mistress of the dark best way, really, for a growing boy to learn the classics while a. Blood on satan s claw is a solid film from 1970 s britain. Blood on satan s claw is presented in its original, befitting 1. Blood on satans claw 70s films escape to the seventies. Best horror soundtrack the blood on satans claw 1971. Set in the 17th century, a farmer discovered a strange artifact in the filed and the teenagers in the town began to grow furs and become. Feb 12, 2015 here is the trailer to tigon s excellent british horror film blood on satan s claw. Blood on satans claw is presented in its original, befitting 1. The blood on satans claw, also released as satans skin, is a 1971 british horror film made by tigon british film productions and directed by piers haggard.
If the blood on satan s claw is a fundamentally conservative. In a concerted effort to provide audiences with a film along the same lines a screenplay by robert wynnesimmons was commissioned, piers haggard was brought on board to direct, and the blood on satans claw took root. The film itself is a cult british horror movie from 1971. Blood on satans claw nude scenes 7 images and 1 video including appearances from wendy padbury linda hayden. A blend of horror, exploitation, satanic cults, killer kids, religious repression, and gothic moodiness, blood on satans claw deserves far more recognition than its gotten.
Jonathan sissons 2001 film the institute is now online on vimeo and can be. Unfortunately, blood on satans claw is likely to maintain its cult status for a while. While it has patrick wymark and is set in a similar era, i wouldnt consider blood on satans claw a ripoff of witchfinder general. I think it stands on its own pretty well, and the film made a very vivid impression on me when i first saw it in the seventiesthe opening where the woman comes out of the attic insane was, for me, effectively chilling. Shot under slate gray skies there is a sense of hopelessness established through the photography from which the film never relents. The blood on satan s claw was also released as satan s claw and satan s skin.
According to screenwriter robert wynnesimmons, the previous success of witchfinder general 1968 caused the studio to pressure the writers to replicated elements of that film for blood on satans claw. The blood on satans claw 1971 the movie database tmdb. Following on the heels of michael reeves s witchfinder general aka the conqueror worm in 1968, the blood on satan s claw 1970 is a lesser known tale of rural violence similarly set in the 17th century when witch hunts and the persecution of people accused of devil worship was at its height in england and scotland. Wynnesimmons said that the scenes where the judge studies the book on witches, and the scene where the villagers witchduck margaret, were. Mar 28, 2011 classic british horror from 1971 aka as satans skin. Following on the heels of michael reevess witchfinder general aka the conqueror worm in 1968, the blood on satans claw 1970 is a lesser known tale of rural violence similarly set in the 17th century when witch hunts and the persecution of people accused of devil worship was at. The various plot strands dont quite come together, mainly as a result of early drafts taking the form of an anthology film in which three separate stories would branch out from the initial discovery of the remains and combine for the climax, and while were on the. The level of detail is fine, blacks are deep, and fleshtones are natural. Well its quite a title the film has got, the sort that conjures up many a blood curdling image. Dec 10, 2017 the blood on satans claw 1971 piers haggard, patrick wymark, linda hayden, barry andrews, horror december 10, 2017 when a mysterious corpse is accidentally dug up by a boy in a small town, a group of local teens starts acting very strangely. The accidental unearthing of satans earthly remains causes the children of a 17thcentury english village to slowly convert into a coven of devil worshipers.
Its a shame because itd be a perfect addition to the studios midnite movies line. I would recommend this movie for connoisseurs of classic horror pictures where the characters dont act like total fools when confronted with evil. Lifes pretty good in a filthy seventeenthcentury english village in blood on satans claw 1970until, that is, a local comes across a spare demon part caught up in his plow. The introduction from one of the finest british horror films of the 1970s. Anthony ainley and linda hayden in the blood on satan s claw 1971. Movies like the blood on satans claw if you like the blood on satans claw you are looking for scary, atmospheric and offbeat movies about with murder, village, rape, devil, witchcraft, occult and satanism themes of horror genre shot in uk.
Still, alien intelligence or not this latest album to be unleashed from trunk s evil clutches is quite a marvel the original soundtrack to blood n boobs classic blood on satan s claw composed by marc wilkinson. Some of the other examples more examined would be witchfinder general or the classic staple the wicker man. I think i should probably enroll as a blade runner come to think of it, im good at spotting these types. Horror thriller set in 17th century england about the children of a village slowly converting into a coven of devil worshipers. Graveyard poets rating of the film blood on satans claw graveyard poet although the british landscapes and witchcraft qualify this as folk horror, this film is, unfortunately, most memorable for its demonic, diabolical, disturbing rape scene involving a satanic beast and a sacrificial ritual in the pagan ruins with linda hayden as the cult. Like that film, its a portrait of a community enveloped in satanic hysteria. The blood on satans claw is a 1971 english folk horrorreligious horror movie released by tigon british film productions. Best movies like the blood on satans claw bestsimilar. Feb 02, 2016 a creepy horror film, set in 17thcentury england. The overall sense of atmosphere that helps carry the blood on satan s claw can be attributed, in large part, to cinematographer dick bush who sets an ominous tone from the start. The blood on satan s claw, also released as satan s skin, is a 1971 british horror film made by tigon british film productions and directed by piers haggard.
It isnt long before the villagers start growing demonic appendages on their own bodies. Jan 16, 2018 the new audio drama, written by mark morris and produced by bafflegab productions, is an adaptation of classic 1971 horror film the blood on satans claw. For me, some decades later, piers haggards blood on satans claw is a pure nostalgia trip and falls somewhere in between. Ralph gower is ploughing his fields one day, and stumbles upon the grisly, inhuman remains of what he suspects to be a fiend. Weve been keeping quiet about this for a while, but finally were very pleased to announce that were remaking 70s horror classic blood on satans claw on audio with mark gatiss and reece shearsmith adapted by horror writer mark morris, blood on satans claw also stars the original films angel blake, linda hayden, alongside a stellar cast that. Blood on satans claw is not as fondly remembered as the wicker man and the more successful witchfinder general made by tigon studios, who also made blood on satans claw but it is a compelling, unique and very british offering, that stays with. Barry andrews and wendy padbury in the blood on satan s claw 1971. The film was written by robert wynnesimmons, with additional material by piers haggard, and stars patrick wymark, linda hayden and barry andrews. The blood on satans claw also released as satans skin is a 19702 british horror film made by tigon british film productions and directed by piers haggard. Blood on satans claw satans skin soundtrack cd details and availability. Piers haggards film is, along with the wicker man and witchfinder general, one of the. The blood on satans claw 1971 letterboxd social film. Graveyard poet s rating of the film blood on satan s claw graveyard poet although the british landscapes and witchcraft qualify this as folk horror, this film is, unfortunately, most memorable for its demonic, diabolical, disturbing rape scene involving a satanic beast and a sacrificial ritual in the pagan ruins with linda hayden as the cult.
Mar 11, 2017 whilst all these elements are powerful on their own, the blood on satans claw is slightly less than the sum of its parts. There is indeed claws involved, and definitely old nick i. The blood on satans claw 1971 r 1h 37min horror 16 april 1971 usa horror thriller set in 17th century england about the children of a village slowly converting into a coven of devil worshipers. Important im moving all the soundtracks to a new channel, the horror soundtracks, subscribe here. Chaos strikes a small village after a farmer discovers the remains of a demon that had been buried under the ground. It is set in early 18thcentury england, and tells the story of a village taken over by.
Adapted by horror writer mark morris, blood on satans claw also stars the original films angel blake, linda hayden, alongside a stellar cast that includes alice lowe sightseers, prevenge, john heffernan ripper street, jonathan strange and mr norrell, ralph ineson the witch, the office and philip hillpearson shameless, good cop. According to screenwriter robert wynnesimmons, the previous success of witchfinder general 1968 caused the studio to pressure the writers to replicated elements of that film for blood on satan s claw. Jul 18, 2011 a product of tigon british film productions, the blood on satans claw could almost be a companionpiece to the studios earlier masterpiece, witchfinder general 1968. The skull disappears, but its malefic influence begins to work in insidious ways upon the nearby village of hexbridge. First time on cd for the soundtrack to blood on satans claw aka satans skin in the u. Blood on satans claw blood on satans claw 1971 film. In 1968, the british production company tigon had found a measurable degree of success with the release of michael reeves classic tale of greed and corruption, witchfinder general. This leads to a mysterious figure appearing a rather silly looking bat faced monster and in many youngsters in the village developing furry patches in their skin. Barry andrews and wendy padbury in the blood on satans claw 1971. The lovely linda hayden stars in this british horror film about a group of children who try to resurrect the devil. Blood on satans claw is a solid film from 1970s britain. At the end of february there will no longer be a soundtrack on the. First time on cd for the soundtrack to blood on satan s claw aka satan s skin in the u.
As well as reece shearsmith and mark gatiss, the cast also includes alice lowe, john heffernan, ralph ineson, thomas turgoose, rebecca ryan and philip hillpearson, plus angel blake and. The blood on satans claw 1971 piers haggard, patrick. The blood on satans claw was also released as satans claw and satans skin. A product of tigon british film productions, the blood on satans claw could almost be a companionpiece to the studios earlier masterpiece, witchfinder general 1968. Blood on satans claw is not as fondly remembered as the wicker man and the more successful witchfinder general made by tigon studios, who also made blood on satans claw but it is a compelling, unique and very british offering, that stays with you long after viewing, and surely deserves a wider audience.
Blood on satans claw page 3 classic horror film board. Anthony ainley and linda hayden in the blood on satans claw 1971. Mar, 2011 the lovely linda hayden stars in this british horror film about a group of children who try to resurrect the devil. A wicked little film starring a largely unknown cast.
Here is the trailer to tigons excellent british horror film blood on satans claw. Whilst all these elements are powerful on their own, the blood on satans claw is slightly less than the sum of its parts. Musical ingredients include the ondes martenot the earliest electronic instrument and the cimbalom, which add to the overall spookiness of this recording. Blood on satan s claw practises the black arts in seventeenth century england with rather more blood curdling relish than i enjoy.
Mgm owns the home video rights in region 1, and with the company in disarray at the moment, theres a good chance the film wont find its way to dvd anytime soon. Feb 10, 2016 the blood on satan s claw 1971 aka satan s skin a more apt title a farmer finds a mutated, deformed corpse while plowing his field. With patrick wymark, linda hayden, barry andrews, michele dotrice. Classic british horror from 1971 aka as satans skin.
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