Satanik (film)

Lore & Background

The film was produced in 1967, shortly after Vivarelli's film Avenger X was released. The script is credited to Eduardo Manzanos Brochero. Despite being based on the Satanik comics, the film ignores most of the original stories and characters, retaining only Marny Bannister's transformation from an old woman to a slim young woman. The cast includes Magda Konopka as Marny Bannister, Julio Peña as Inspector Trent, and Umberto Raho as George Van Donan, among others.

Reader's Guide

Satanik is a minor entry in the Italian fumetti neri film cycle, but it is significant for its connection to the broader comic-to-film trend of the 1960s. Retrospective reviews, such as those by film historian Roberto Curti, deem it 'perhaps the most disappointing of the flicks based on the fumetti neri phenomenon,' citing poor scripting, pacing, and Konopka's weak acting. Future director Pupi Avati, who served as assistant director for the Italian scenes, later remarked that watching Vivarelli taught him how not to direct a film. The film was released on DVD by Retromedia and as part of Image Entertainment's 'Euro Fiends from Beyond the Grave' compilation, with a Blu-ray release planned for 2024 by Terror Vision Records and Videos.

Did You Know?

• The film was shot in 1967, shortly after Piero Vivarelli's film Avenger X was released.
• Future film director Pupi Avati was an assistant director on the film for its scenes shot in Italy.
• The film ignores most of the original Satanik comic stories, keeping only the transformation of Marny Bannister.
• It will receive a Blu-ray release in 2024 by Terror Vision Records and Videos.