Satan's Slave (1976)

Interesting facts

Satan's Slave is a 1976 British supernatural horror film directed by Norman J. Warren. It was written by David McGillivray and stars Candace Glendenning, Michael Gough, Martin Potter, and Barbara Kellerman. Its plot follows a young woman who, after surviving a car accident, stays on the country estate of her uncle and cousin, unaware they are both necromancers who intend to sacrifice her to resurrect the spirit of a supernaturally gifted ancestor.

Production

After making Her Private Hell (1968) and Loving Feeling (1968), Norman J. Warren had been in negotiations to direct films for Amicus Productions and American International Pictures (AIP). When these deals fell through, Warren and camera operator Les Young decided to make a film on their own.

Satan's Slave was Warren's horror debut as well as the first film by Monumental Pictures, a production company formed by Warren, Young and his wife Moira, and fellow camera operator Richard Crafter. Knowing that they would be working on a low budget, the group believed that the only genres open to them were horror or erotica. In the end, they decided to make a horror film on the basis that it would enjoy a longer "shelf life".

The plot for the film, originally titled Evil Heritage, was devised by Warren and the Youngs and expanded by screenwriter David McGillivray, whom Warren had first met while editing Her Private Hell. It was adapted from one of Warren's abandoned projects for AIP: The Naked Eye, which had been intended to star Vincent Price. McGillivray completed the script in nine days.

Warren said that Candace Glendenning, whom he had seen in Tower of Evil (1972) and other films, was "always [his] first choice" to play Catherine. The role of Stephen was harder to cast due to the character's complexity; Martin Potter, who had recently played the title role in the TV serial The Legend of Robin Hood, was hired after first-choice actor Michael Gothard withdrew shortly before filming began.

Although the filmmakers could not afford Michael Gough's usual fee, the actor accepted the role of Alexander after reading McGillivray's script and hearing Warren's personal vision for the film. According to Warren, "[Gough] was doing something at the National Theatre in London so I saw him in his dressing room, talked him through Satan's Slave, and he said yes." Gough agreed to participate on the condition that the production would not interrupt…

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