Sister Maria (Cecilia Pezet), a kind, pious, animal loving nun, is out picking flowers in the woods one day when she is greeted by a naked man (Enrique Rocha). Shocked, she runs away only to meet him again, this time he offers her an allegorical apple. Back at the convent, she dons a belt of thorns and flogs herself as atonement for the sinful temptation that was before her. She’s visited by another nun who confesses her love for her and sets about seducing the vestal Maria. As she yields to the bestial advances, the other nun transforms into the mysterious man from the woods who introduces himself as Lucifer and leaves Maria to reflect on her diabolical encounter. Now thoroughly wicked, she cannot resist temptation and runs amok, leaving a trail of blood, death and a traumatised young shepherd boy.

Satanico Pandemonium is a Mexican entry into the nunsploitation genre, and a fine contribution it is too. Made by Gilberto Martínez Solares in 1975, it has all the components that make these films so appealing; naked psycho nuns, blood, sex, lesbianism, blasphemy... Cecilia Pezet is quite lovely, and she’s perfect as Sister Maria, whose sweet and vulnerable looks make her fall from grace at the hands of a very Suave, debonair Lucifer, all the more entertaining. Although not as explicit, blasphemous or bizarre as many other nunsploitation films, it does have its moments. The attempted seduction of a young shepherd boy is quite shocking and the ensuing blood bath is not spoiled by one of the most obvious fake knives in movie history. The obligatory torture at the hands of the inquisition has some nice touches; creative torment such as pouring molten lead down the throat and eye gouging is always welcome. Beautifully filmed with some stunning locations, Satanico Pandemonium is a splendid film that deserves it’s exalted rank (alongside fellow Mexican nun opus Alucarda) as a nunsploitation classic.

Satanico Pandemonium. 1975

Directed by Gilberto Martínez Solares

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