My quick rating - 4.1/10. This flick draws inspiration from the golden age of religious cinema, tackling themes of morality, sin, and redemption with a heavy dose of horror. While the concept of intertwining horror with overt religious messaging has potential, this independent film struggles to balance its ambitions with its limited execution. The story focuses on a brother and sister's descent into sin and their eventual confrontation with Lucifer himself. While the premise has promise, the story often feels weighed down by heavy-handed religious overtones. The portrayal of sin and excess lacks the energy or creativity to engage an audience, often coming across as preachy rather than provocative or entertaining. The lack of humor or extremity in these depictions makes them feel stagnant and uninspired. On the technical side, the acting is unfortunately a low point. Both Marc (Don Wood) and Wendy (Christine Spencer) gave performances that lack depth and conviction, making it difficult to connect with or invest in their characters. Costume design, while understandably constrained by the film's budget, appears amateurish and distracts from the film's darker tones. The devilish costumes in particular seem more suited to a Halloween clearance sale than a depiction of the ultimate evil. However, there are some positives. For an independent production, the film does show heart. It's clear that James Felix McKenney and the rest of the crew were passionate about their message, even if the delivery fell short. The commitment to a religious-horror hybrid, while not fully realized here, is a unique niche worth exploring. While Satan Hates You doesn't reach its potential, it's not entirely without merit. There are far more expensive Hollywood productions with even less substance. Still, judged on its own, the film fails to rise above mediocrity and leaves little lasting impact.
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