A human skull is unearthed in a small, isolated 18th century English village. When the town judge is informed, the skull is long gone by the time he arrives, and the judge, realizing the seriousness of the case, travels to London to find a solution. And the children of the village form themselves into a secret, murderous coven.

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)