"When the forces of Evil demand retribution there can only be one outcome - the sacrifice of the Moonchild" Young Sarah (Judith Holding) starts a new job as a live-in secretary at the rural home of occult expert Dr Lucan (Patrick Oliver) but what she doesn't know is that she has been chosen as the Moonchild! Made on a micro budget by Michael J Murphy this occult horror has elements of The Wicker Man (though in this case a woman) and other Satanic/pagan movies such as The Omen. Lucan explains that so far there have been two Anti-Christs - Napoleon and Hitler - and that the third, who will be arriving very soon, will be named Alus (well that didn't happen!). Quite frankly this part of the plot is rather silly, and it's not the only thing. A young Jack the Lad type character called Steve takes Sarah out on a date and he has a fight with two guys that tower over him. He wins but it is hilariously choreographed, it makes the 1960's TV "Batman" fight scenes look realistic by comparison! I am really enjoying my discovery of Murphy's micro budget movies and this is no exception. I am getting used to seeing the same faces in different films of his but overall the acting quality is fine. There is plenty of gore here which includes a graphic throat slash, worm infested wounds and a corpse with its heart ripped out. The Black Magic rituals featuring near naked celebrants covered in body paint and blood are a joy to behold. And Steve might have been totally obnoxious but the 1980 Masza Rx-7 that he was driving looked very cool. I bought Indicator's Murphy Blu-ray box-set which contains 26 of his films, so far I have watched about a quarter of these and given the tiny budgets I have been impressed.
