Asylum of Satan

In the 70's there were many films about Satan ("The Exorcist, "The Omen") and many films about insane asylums ("One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest", "The Ninth Configuration"). It's no surprise then that someone would combine them. But it's a testament to the prescient genius of William Girdler--the man, the myth, the legend--that he did so in 1971! Of course, this film is completely inane, but so were all Girdler films, even the ones with big budgets and big stars.

A woman has a nervous breakdown and wakes up in an asylum. She finds it strange (although not nearly as much as she ought to) that all of her fellow patients are dressed in white-hooded robes. Meanwhile, her boyfriend, who looks like "Meathead" from all in the family and is garbed in some of the worst 70's fashions ever witnessed, is trying to rescue her. After being turned away the first time, he comes back with a police detective and discovers that the asylum is abandoned and the doctor he spoke to, Dr. Spector, has been dead 20 years. He's very alarmed, however, when he finds out that the supposedly dead Dr. Spector "was picked up several times for worshiping Satan" (what's the police code on that--a "666"?). Several minor characters are killed for no other reason than to show off some ridiculous-looking special effects (paper bugs, rubber snakes, etc.). As in "Three on a Meathook" there's also a long romantic flashback interlude set to music (because horror fans, of course, are suckers for romantic interludes). Finally though, a guy in a VERY unconvincing Satan mask shows up and we learn that it's not good to offer Satan a non-virgin in a virgin sacrifice (he apparently hates getting beaten to the punch by a guy who looks like "Meathead").

Obviously, this movie is pretty bad, but it almost sneaks into so-bad-it's-good territory. I'd definitely recommend it for fans of satanism, insane asylums, and William Girdler.

When Lucina (Carla Borelli) wakes up at Pleasant Hill Hospital, she has no idea how she got there, or what sort of nightmare awaits her. Kept as a veritable prisoner, Lucina is drugged, and begins to lose her grip on reality.

As the title suggests, ASYLUM OF SATAN is about a mental hospital where satanism is the only true therapy. This is a bare-bones production from Director William Girdler, with most of the budget apparently going toward the frilly shirts worn by the devilish Dr. Specter (Charles Kissinger). Very low on action, calling this movie a "slow-burn" is like calling the Sahara Desert "a bit dry". Still, it has enough charm and delirious dialogue to make it enjoyable.

Best Scenes:

#1- When the female patient is "gassed" in a room by what can only be fire extinguishers shot through a wall vent! She's also covered by -obviously- rubber bugs for good measure!

#2- Lucina being chased by the most ridiculous ghoul in movie history!

#3- The swimming pool snake attack!

#4- The "severed head" with suspiciously lifelike movements under the eyelids!!

Be sure not to miss the satanic ritual and "shock" finale!

The perfect candidate for your next drunken movie night...

Scrubby but watchable occult nonsense, ASYLUM OF SATAN finds an attractive young woman being subdued within a strange private hospital. Waking from sleep in fear and confusion, she is told by staff that she has been placed under the special care of a certain doctor, along with a handful of other patients with various personal afflictions which said doctor insists he can treat. There's one problem, however...his sure-cure is the same for all maldies, and the most common side-effect is rigor-mortis. One-by-one the patients disappear, leaving our young heroin to search for a means of escape. The mystery culminates in a Black Magic ritual which conjurs Satan himself...and he is one scrawny, bedraggled looking Lord of Darkness, I must say.

While this is unquestionably a B minus production, it does manage to entertain, and it more-less succeeds in keeping itself steeped in a creepy, otherworldly atmosphere. As 70s drive-in fodder goes, ASYLUM OF SATAN might be a bug's nose above the yardstick...neith fish nor fowl.

4.5/10

Get this title into your mind right now: ASYLUM OF SATAN. Why? Because the 70s was known for tons of low budget movies about the worst of both worlds: crowded asylums and Satanic possession. Before watching the movie trailer, I saw the full-length feature. What you get is absolute nonsense. This, being made a couple of years before THE EXORCIST, helped bring in numerous offerings about the Devil. Here, it's same old, same old. Cheap special effects are the excuse for a rotten-apple horror chiller, with rubber snakes and toy bugs taking toll on two innocent lives. Now, I've just seen the trailer, and I would have been better off giving a donation of twenty dollars to film preservation. An interesting note: the warning label on United's copy of the film is mistakenly misleading. Movies such as ASYLUM OF SATAN are junk food for your head. Just add a television set.

So William Girdler's screen debut was running a little slow through 1972 but it's not all that bad! Charles Kissinger is a great actor in which he later appeared in almost of all of Girdler's other films. Nick Jolley superfly hero of the 70's appears also wondering why he was'nt in anything else. ASYLUM OF SATAN is a good film about a girl taken hostage to the Asylum were doctor's zombies and critters run wild! Kissinger plays Satan himself. Give ASYLUM OF SATAN a shot if you are a big fan of Girdler's films. Yes the film is very violent with way too much sex, but hey it's still worth watching.