I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

An absurd story about the return of witchcraft after its heyday in the 17th century, when everyone thought it was extirpated, involving weird rituals and disturbing turns of events, but very well made with a seducing beauty and charm over it all, greatly enhanced by Marc Wilkinson's music, which almost makes the film. Linda Hayden as the leading witch and Patrick Wymark as the so called authority of justice lead the atrocities, which get worse all the way. He is abominable in his usual ways, which almost makes the poor bewitched children appear innocent in comparison. It's a speculative almost experimental wandering into the occult very much in the vein of "The Wicker Man" from the same period, but this is all 18th century perfectly revived, a kind of post-puritan horror story of fascinating ingenuity, almost architectural in its composition, and part of its very suggestive strength lies in its character of almost an impressionistic improvisation, which adds to its totally absurd but still convincing reality. The chief backbone of the film making it well worth seeing to anyone remains though the perfect music.

THE BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW is one of the most finely crafted Fright Films to play outside an Art House; the cinematography is absolutely beautiful, the direction topnotch, and the music very creepy, indeed. My biggest complaint is that the FOCUS of the movie should've been on the Coven youths themselves and their REAL "spiritual leader" (who we don't even get to see fully until the final moments of the movie, when most of the males in the audience are being distracted by the voluptuous young woman offering up her VERY ample endowments). And the hero rebounds pretty quickly after chopping off his own hand (not to mention the sudden-onset madness of his fiancé, who's dragged away after growing a Monstrous CLAW)... Other than the sometimes meandering story, THE BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW has a lot to offer the discriminating viewer.

Blood on Satan's Claw, while obviously suffering from a few narrative lapses and abrupt transitions (probably due to editing) is a fine little movie. Like it's Tigon-backed predecessor Witchfinder General, this succeeds in capturing the medieval period splendidly, and the diabolic goings on are cleverly contrasted with the pastoral setting.The film also manages to be original in a way few of its contemporaries manage. It handles its shock moments very well and remains a disturbing entry in the British horror field. I should mention that some viewers might find what amounts to a rape scene a little too distressing. The shocks and gore moments are mainly done by implication or quick cuts away, so it's the suggestion as much as what you see that makes it work.The plot at times is a little hazy for the first time viewer; but essentially the demon Behemoth (pronounced BEY-AH-MOTH) is churned up by a plough and spreads some sort of infection amongst the rural community, driving a girl mad on her wedding eve (never explained) and growing various parts of itself on the younger members of the community. These are gradually used to make a composite of the demon.As silly as this may sound committed performances from the actors - Linda Hayden and Michelle Dotrice especially - and some narrative obscurity actually makes it work. With an excellent music score and a brilliant realised medieval rural England Blood On Satan's Claw has retained its position as a Cult favourite. Memorable and atmospheric and well worth seeing.

Out of Tigon Productions comes Blood On Satan's Claw. Directed by Piers Haggard (who co-writes with Robert Wynne-Simmons) it stars Patrick Wymark, Linda Hayden, Barry Andrews, Michele Dotrice & Wendy Padbury. Story is set in rural 17th century England and sees a village fall under demonic possession after a living one eyed skull is unearthed by the local ploughman.Well it's quite a title the film has got, the sort that conjures up many a blood curdling image. Yet it's some what misleading, but in a good way. There is indeed claws involved, and definitely "Old Nick" is part of the equation, but Haggard's film is more moody and quirky than the title suggests. It has definite links to Tigon's flag bearer, Witchfinder General, though not nearly as clever or as brilliantly cruel as Michael Reeves' film. We are in the company of Wiccan ceremonies and satanically influenced children, throw in some sexually charged dalliances and we are good to go. Hell there's even some smarts in the writing about class distinction and snobbery.However, the first half of the piece is more rewarding than the last half. The atmosphere and eerie thematics give way to standardised jolts and gore, with a finale that just comes off as slow-mo silliness that doesn't befit the earlier build ups in the script. The music (Marc Wilkinson), photography (Dick Bush), costumes (Dulcie Midwinter) and the acting (particularly petticoat terror Hayden) are of a very high standard. It's such a pity that the director loses sight of the tone marker set and fails to see it through to a satisfying conclusion. Still, it's definitely one of the better British horrors from the 70s; with eye catching period detail and a haunting poetic feel for the most part, Blood On Satan's Claw is a safe recommend to those that like a bit of Witchcraft and Satanism in their horror diets. 7/10