
Satanic Panic
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Flat horror-comedy has tons of mature content.

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Satanic Panic
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What's the Story?
In SATANIC PANIC, Sam Craft (Hayley Griffith) is working her first day as a pizza delivery person, and it's not going well. Customers refuse to tip her, and she can't even afford gas. After delivering five pies to a huge mansion, Sam's bike won't start, so she marches back in to demand her tip. She stumbles upon a pack of Satan worshippers, led by Danica (Rebecca Romijn), preparing for some dark ritual. But they need a virgin to complete it, and it turns out that Sam fits the bill. She escapes and runs into Danica's daughter, Judi (Ruby Modine), who knows a little something about what's going on and helps Sam hide. But the Satanists find them, and the ritual to summon a demon begins. No one is prepared when an even more powerful demon intervenes.
Is It Any Good?
This horror-comedy might have had the potential to provide shocking delights and ghoulish laughs, but it ends up unappealing and flat, with overly broad attempts at humor and not much horror. That said, Satanic Panic -- written by Grady Hendrix and directed by Chelsea Stardust -- is definitely enthusiastic. But the tones just don't match up or make sense. The movie is brightly colored yet oddly unattractive. In the lead role, Griffith is likable enough but also a little flat; her reactions to the wild things happening around her never inspire tingles -- or laughter.
Romijn tries out an interestingly detached approach to her Satanist character that also doesn't quite click. And her red-robed cohorts feel like something out of a slapsticky sitcom. Slightly better is Modine (from the Happy Death Day movies, which got the humorous/horror tone just right), affecting a snappy patter for her character that at least keeps things moving. But it's Jerry O'Connell who gets the biggest laughs in a brief, doomed role as Danica's not-too-bright layabout husband (he's also Romijn's real-life husband). His "I don't care" attitude is the only thing that breaks through Satanic Panic's overall blandness.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Satanic Panic's violence. Does the fact that it's supposed to be funny make any of it seem less intense or gory? Why or why not?
The movie has lots of sex-related talk. How is sex viewed in the movie? What values are imparted?
How are drinking and drugs portrayed? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
Is the movie scary? What's the appeal of horror movies? How can a horror movie be both funny and scary?
Are rich people all evil, as the movie suggests? Does money corrupt? Is it possible to be rich and still be a good person?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 6, 2019
- On DVD or streaming: October 22, 2019
- Cast: Hayley Griffith , Rebecca Romijn , Ruby Modine
- Director: Chelsea Stardust
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: RLJE Films
- Genre: Horror
- Topics: Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 89 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: August 30, 2023
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