Satanis, the Devil's Mass DVD Review

Anton LaVey. Now he was quite a character. The enigmatic founder of the Church of Satan, author of that popular little paperback; the Satanic Bible and star of Satanis, the Devil's Mass. The film starts with some very odd Californians, neighbours of LaVey, offering opinions on the curious Satanic suburbanite. Then we go straight into the ritual where an unusual looking fellow with a handlebar moustache and a theatrically deep voice starts the proceedings. It's not long before our man Anton takes command, resplendent in his devil costume and plastic horns. The whole affair is actually quite comical, the participants are the strangest looking bunch you have ever seen gathered in one room, and as for the obligatory naked ladies, well the less said about them the better.

In between the ritual scenes we get to hear LaVey talking about his, and his Congregation’s views on, well just about everything. There are long scenes of LaVey talking at his followers, it becomes irritating watching all the fawning sycophants hanging on his every word, LaVey obviously thrived on the attention. Still, he was an intelligent, charming, charismatic man; the zeitgeist of San Francisco '69.

Back to the ritual, and things take a surreal turn. The naked freak-woman on the altar looks positively insane, strange goings on with coffins and arse kissing, it's very odd, and quite silly really, but entertaining to a degree. I kept reminding myself that this was back in 1969 in California at a time of massive change, but looking at it objectively it was all just quasi-religious nonsense for bored middle class Americans. Still, I've always had a certain respect for LaVey, although I can't say the same for many of his followers. Although often unintentionally humorous, and sometimes tedious viewing, it's still a fascinating film and well worth a look. S.J.T.

Satanis. 1970

directed by Ray Laurent