The Satanic Screen: An Illustrated Guide to the Devil in Cinema

Nikolas Schreck

Creation Books 2001

(Distributed by Tower Books in Australia)

Throughout the history of ideas Satan has always been a popular figure, he always seems so much more interesting that images of the righteous. Whether it be Milton or Blake, Satan comes across as a far more engaging religious figure. Satan has always been on the side of humanity with our weakness and flesh accepted if not admired.

It is much the same in film. Satan was present at the very birth of cinema assuming a leading role in George Melies' La Manoir du Diable (1896) which many credit as the very first film. He has been personified by many great actors from classic horror veterans as Vincent Price to Robert De Niro and Jack Nicholson. He has been admired in mass market releases and portrayed in B grade disasters. In this fascinating volume, occultist, author and film buff Nikolas Schreck takes us a journey through the dark heart of cinema.

From the mainstream to the alternative, from the earliest releases through to major films such as Rosemary’s Baby and the Exorcist he offers an informative guide with succinct yet comprehensive coverage of the plot of each film. He covers a lot of ground from sci-fi and fantasy through mondo documentaries and porn to horror, blaxploitation, comedy and beyond. Schreck also explores the influence of real magic and occultism on film examining directors, producers and actors with satanic or esoteric orientations and considering how figures such as Aliester Crowley have been used as the basis for many characters in films, even if not clearly acknowledged.

This is an unusual volume, written by an avowed occultist and Satanist and written from the perspective of someone who has more than sympathy for the image of Lucifer. While many have claimed this biases the text, in reality it makes it more interesting as it is clearly an “insiders” view of Satan in cinema, written by someone who understands the occultism he is writing about. My only misgiving is about the way in which Shreck uses this volume to air his personal issues with Anton Lavey, founder of the Church of Satan. He is married to Zeena LaVey, Anton LaVey’s daughter and seems to spend quite some time airing his personal issues where it is really unnecessary. This is a volume about Satan in film, not a volume about family squabbles within the satanic empire and this slip in professionalism does nothing for the book or the authors credibility.

Superbly illustrated with lots of rare and unusual images this is an indispensable guide to the image of the Devil in Film and cinema.