ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (August 2019): This is the 'UK' premiere of "Satan's Slaves" on Blu-ray, as part of Indicator's Region 'Free' Blu-ray boxset of the director's films, "Bloody Terror: The Shocking Cinema of Norman J Warren, 1976-1987". Satan's Slaves is billed as a "2K restoration, newly supervised and approved by director Norman J Warren." Indicator present two versions of the film, either the 'Export Version'(89 min) or the 'director's cut' (90 min) version. A title card before the feature explains the two versions of the film offered here, "Both versions of 'Satan's Slave' are presented here fully uncut. However, the Export Version features a more explicit version of the scene which begins at approximately 6 mins 45 secs. The less explicit version of the same scene, as included in the original UK 'X' release, was preferred by Warren, but that release suffered a number of BBFC-imposed cuts to other scenes. By reinstating all previously censored material to the UK 'X' version, this Director's Cut represents Warren's original vision." Now that's out of the way, let us discuss the image quality. The film is located on a dual-layered Blu-ray disc with a very high bitrate (almost maxed out). There is a thick and rather heavy grain to the picture, not unlike a theatrical presentation. Colors seem to certainly lean on the green-side of things, with certain forest scenes showing an almost unreal-level of forest-greens. That being said, there is a fair amount of clarity on display here, with many scenes showing a much greater amount of detail when compared to previous DVD releases. The image is also less squeezed, with a more faithful framing to the original release. Probably not the best looking of the bunch in this set, but it is a real treat to have this included.

Offered up as the audio for this Blu-ray release is a 1.0 DTS-HD mono track. This track is in 24-bit DTS, and for the most part sounds very true to what I can imagine the original theatrical presentation must have sounded like. John Scott (A Study in Terror, 1920 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as well as Ted Kotcheff's classic Wake in Fright, Billy Two Hats, plus Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, Cop-Out, Symptoms, and Cult Camp Classics like 1970's Trog with Joan Crawford) once again scores this picture from Warren, decorating many scenes with undertones of uneasiness and tension. There are all new and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing on this Region 'Free' Blu-ray release from Indicator.

First up for bonus features is the 2004 commentary with Warren and screenwriter David McGillivray. Following this is an all new 2019 commentary with Warren and composer John Scott. "Before the Blood" is a half-hour interview with Warren recalling his earliest experiences in the film industry and speaking on his career. "All You Need Is Blood" is a 14-minute vintage ‘making of’ documentary, presented in High Definition for the first time. As if that wasn't enough, "All You Need Is Blood Outtakes" is a 33-minute collection of outtakes from said documentary, frequently underscored by music from the film. "Creating Satan" is a 3-minute archival documentary featuring interviews with Warren, McGillivray, actor Martin Potter, as well as others. "Devilish Music" is a 13-minute archival interview with composer, John Scott. The two deleted scenes that previously appeared on DVD reappear here, with commentary from the director. One of the most fascinating extras is the 16-minute "Censoring 'Satan's Slave". A title card states that, "When Satan's Slave was submitted to the British Board of Film Censors, several changes were requested before an 'X' certificate was granted on 8 November, 1976." Both the original (with added scenes of salacious material) and 'X'-rated (the version passed by the ratings board) versions play out, sometimes in split-screen. They are broken up into 8 sections; 1. The Bedroom Scene 2. Janice's Murder 3. Branding and Whipping 4. John's Death 5. The Satanic Ritual 6. Stephen's first murder 7. Francis' death 8. Stephen's Death (featuring an elaborate effects shot that was heavily censored in the 'X' certificate version. Following this piece is a collection of trailers, as well as an image gallery. The Blu-ray boxset includes a limited edition exclusive 120-page book with a new essay by Adrian Smith, archival interviews, articles and on-set reports, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits and more.

Satan's Slave was perhaps director Warren's most talked-about picture, usually discussed with regards to censorship and scenes depicting violence against women. Indicator have a very loaded Blu-ray here with this new 2K restoration, the extras help to give context to the film, and its numerous controversial aspects. This Blu-ray boxset is truly something to treasure, especially for fans of such offbeat and interesting material.

 - Colin Zavitz

***

ON THE DVDs: Scorpion's progressive, dual-layer anamorphic transfer features more information on the sides of the frame and consistently superior colors (lacking the slight greenish tinge of the UK transfer). Although the cover touts it as being uncut, it is uncut in that it is the film's export version featuring a more explicit version of the bedroom scene early in the film (Warren disliked this version which was present in his surviving source print, so he elected to replace it with his preferred softer version [the export scene was intended as an extra in the UK set, but the BBFC objected]). As such, the Anchor Bay transfer (which is longer and more explicit than the British cinema "X" certificate theatrical cut) is still of value for being the director's preferred version (even though viewers will no doubt prefer the export version).

SATAN'S SLAVE was never released on legitimate VHS in the states, but Crown obviously prepared a 1" master for sale since a cropped uncut version showed up on DVD from Rhino as part of their HORRIBLE HORRORS set (which featured all pre-remastered prints of Crown titles). BCI released a widescreen DVD (paired with Warren's TERROR, which they already paired with LAND OF THE MINOTAUR on another disc [Scorpion has since released a superior double billing as THE DEVIL'S MEN/TERROR), but BCI's new anamorphic transfer was incomplete (reportedly reflecting the heavily-scissored British cinema cut).

Scorpion's extras have been largely ported over from the Anchor Bay set, including the deleted scenes (in b&w workprint film [the magnetic tracks had disintegrated so they are silent]) with commentary from Warren, the vintage "All You Need is Blood" behind the scenes shoot, the contemporary "Creating Satan" documentary (which features input from Warren, actor Martin Potter, producer/cinematographer Les Young, producer Moira Young, art director Hayden Pearce, and screenwriter David McGilivray), and an interview with composer John Scott. Besides the ported UK trailer, Scorpion has added a US trailer (it features the UK Brent-Walker distributor subtitle under the title card but it is followed by an MPAA R-rating card). Warren's short film FRAGMENT (which features Michael Craze from this film and TERROR and Simon Brent from Warren's LOVING FEELING) is also included as an extra. The short was also ported from the Anchor Bay set (BFI has since remastered the short in 1080P for inclusion in their Blu/DVD combo release of Warren's rare film HER PRIVATE HELL).

Missing from the Scorpion release is the audio commentary with Warren and McGillivray, which could not be included because it would not have synched up with the export version (this was also the case with Scorpion's longer transfer of TERROR). It may also have been produced by Anchor Bay while the other extras were produced by Warren himself. It is an entertaining and informative listen, but it is only available on the OOP Anchor Bay set (which also contains Warren's TERROR, PREY, and INSEMINOID); however, the three documentaries ported over to the Scorpion set are fairly comprehensive.

 - Eric Cotenas