This week’s retro trailer takes us back to 1971 with the British folk horror film The Blood of Satan’s Claw. The movie is set in rural 17th-century England and the story begins when a farmer named Ralph Gower uncovers a strange, disfigured skull while plowing his fields.
After the local judge dismisses his concerns, a series of eerie events begin to unfold. Mysterious patches of fur start appearing on the bodies of young villagers, who soon fall under the influence of a malevolent force.
The young adults form a satanic cult, performing dark rituals and human sacrifices in worship of a demonic entity, which gradually reveals its evil presence within their community.
As the sinister influence spreads, the townspeople, led by the judge, must confront this growing terror. The gradual descent of the village’s youth into madness and the disturbing imagery and unsettling tone, make The Blood on Satan’s Claw a great example of folk horror, alongside other classics like The Wicker Man and Witchfinder General.
The movie was directed by Piers Haggard, and its bleak atmosphere and slow-burning tension create an wild exploration of dark forces lurking beneath the surface of a seemingly peaceful countryside.
