Watch Satan's Children

Satan's Children is a low-budget horror film from 1975 that has gained a small cult following over the years. Directed by Joe Wiezycki, the movie follows a group of hitchhikers who are taken in by a seemingly friendly family living in the desert. However, it soon becomes apparent that this family is not what they seem, and the hitchhikers find themselves in a fight for their lives against a group of satanic cultists.

The film opens with a group of teenagers driving through the desert, looking for a good time. They stop at a bar and pick up a hitchhiker named Bobby (Stephen White), who tells them that he knows of a great place to party out in the middle of nowhere. The group eagerly follows Bobby's directions, and soon they find themselves at the doorstep of a secluded house. They are greeted by a woman named Heather (Joyce Molloy), who invites them inside and introduces them to her family - her husband and two children.

At first, the hitchhikers are charmed by the family's hospitality. They are given food and drink, and the kids even perform a creepy but innocent dance routine for their guests. However, things start to get weird when the family's patriarch, Alex (Eldon Mecham), shows up. He is a sinister figure with a penchant for satanic rituals, and it's clear that he has some kind of hold over the rest of the family.

As the night wears on, the hitchhikers become increasingly uneasy. They witness the family engaging in strange rituals and speaking in hushed tones about dark secrets. One of the teenagers, a girl named Sherry (Kathryn Clayton), gets separated from the group and discovers a room filled with disturbing artifacts - including a human skull. When she tries to leave the house, she finds that the doors are all locked, and she is trapped inside with the satanic cultists.

From there, Satan's Children becomes a tense and disturbing game of cat and mouse as the hitchhikers try to escape from the house and the cultists try to capture them, all while engaging in increasingly depraved acts. The film features plenty of shocking moments, including scenes of nudity, violence, and unpleasant gore. There's also a pervading sense of dread that makes even the quieter moments feel unsettling.

One of the most interesting things about Satan's Children is the way it uses the desert environment to heighten the tension. The vast emptiness of the landscape creates a sense of isolation and hopelessness, making it feel like there's nowhere for the hitchhikers to run. The house itself is also incredibly creepy, with its dimly lit rooms and unsettling decor.

Despite its low budget and occasionally rough edges, Satan's Children is effective as a horror film. The performances are solid, with Eldon Mecham in particular standing out as the charismatic but unsettling leader of the cult. The film also benefits from an unsettling score by Robert O. Ragland, which helps to create a sense of unease even in the quietest moments.

It's worth noting that Satan's Children is definitely not for everyone. It's a grim and unpleasant film that revels in its own darkness, and some viewers may find its content too graphic or disturbing. However, for fans of '70s horror films and cult cinema, it's a fascinating relic of a bygone era. It's the kind of movie that sticks with you long after the credits have rolled, leaving you feeling uneasy and disturbed.

In conclusion, Satan's Children is a low-budget horror film that tells a disturbing tale of a group of hitchhikers trapped in a house with a satanic cult. It's not for the faint of heart, but for fans of '70s horror and cult cinema, it's a must-see. With solid performances, effective use of the desert setting, and a genuinely unsettling atmosphere, it's a film that lingers with you long after it's over.

Satan's Children is a 1975 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.4.