Program Note
The discovery of a strange, deformed skull in a remote village causes the town’s adolescents to behave strangely, believing the skull is from the devil. They call for its reincarnation by carrying out demonic rituals on one another. Their parents begin locking them up upon witnessing gruesome incidents. Still, as more villagers are affected by the demonic presence, the village elders gather everyone to find a solution, which turns downright sinister. A superb entry of the “Unholy Trilogy” that shaped the “folk horror” genre, Pierce Haggard’s The Blood on Satan’s Claw is a gripping tale about the familial influence of religion on a community. The eerie music score and slick camerawork heighten the sense of impending doom, and the young actors truly bring terror to the audience. This is a spell film half a century ahead of its time. (Jongsuk Thomas NAM)