Satanic Horror at it's best!

This audio adaptation of Blood on Satan's Claw is as enjoyable to listen to as the film was to watch. This is a creepy tale that begins in the furrows of a ploughed field and leads to demonic possession of school children in a rural 17th Century English village, with plenty of supernatural happenings along the way. The acting and sound production are top notch and Blood on Satan's Claw is probably best listened to with the lights on, as this is a story dripping with a creepy macabre atmosphere.

This is an audio drama and not a narrated audiobook but the performances from the whole cast are superb and they bring this good old fashioned horror tale to life in this well produced 'Audible Original' dramatisation.

Blood on Satan's Claw is highly recommended for anyone who likes a scary horror story at bedtime.

8 people found this helpful

It was great but

This was a wonderful story. The different characters and sound effects it was perfect. If I had any complaints it would be the bit of confusion I had without the narrative like where they were, at times I wondered who was speaking. Nonetheless I loved it. It was great I just wish it were longer.

11 people found this helpful

Fun little story

The cast really brought this to life. The story was decent, nothing too special, but the performance was what made it really interesting.

2 people found this helpful

Blood on Satan’s Claw Indeed

This was a fantastic audio drama of a classic horror story. The cast was fantastic and the production was outstanding. A first rate effort all around. Filled with music, sound effects but no narration, this eerie story progressed to a shocking climax. I was not familiar with this work before. Mark Gatiss led a stellar cast.

2 people found this helpful

Almost great

The Northern English Accent gives it a great feel.

The quality of production top notch.

There was suspense but could have been really horrifying if the identity of the evil was kept a mystery longer.

2 people found this helpful

A decent production of a puritanical mess

Maybe I was just in the wrong mood for this fundamentalist proto MRA business about lying, sexy, devil-women making false rape accusations against innocent, heroic clergymen. I like horror stuff and demon stuff, but this is so exactly what actual people actually believed during the Satanic Panic, or Qanon as it is known today, that I felt too grossed out by the moralism to enjoy the ritual murder. Remember, kids, Satan is not real and can't hurt you! But the church is real, and it can. The church has a much stronger record of organized abuse than Satan has ever had.

1 person found this helpful

The League of Gentlemen go full horror

I had been a fan of the movie for some years (a great example of the folk horror genre) and knew that it had been an influence on the League of Gentlemen team -- they even did a commentary for the recent Blu-Ray re-release. Having them now partake in a reimagined audio version is a sheer joy! The entire cast is phenomenal (including Linda Hayden from the original film) and deliver excellent performances.

The story itself adheres closely to the original, but places (understandably) more emphasis on the dialogue between characters. As such, there are some great new lines ("Do you like my crown? It's made of things that grow!") and the horror placed in the realm of the imagination, rather than wonky 1970s special effects.

This is highly recommended to fans of the League, or of horror in general. In the wake of a folk horror renaissance, it's nice to have this reminder of its roots.

1 person found this helpful

My review

I think that both the story and the performances were excellent overall. Maybe little too fast-paced at times.

Predictable, but gripping

I enjoyed this, except for the repeated blood-curdling screams. I wouldn’t listen to this one whilst driving.

That said, this was enjoyable. Ostensibly a story of possession, it’s also a study in how corruption- in the moral sense of the word - undermines both people and communities.

The characters are set pieces of English rural stories: The Squire, The Lord, The Minister, The Yeoman, The Dowager, The Virgin, and the The Slattern. This story winds them up and watches them play out their assigned roles. And really, that’s a lot of what makes this story work.

It reminds me of the morality plays of the Middle Ages.

Bloody damn good (pun intended)

There were a couple of times I didn't know who was who so be on the lookout for that and you'll know what I mean. The over all story line and performance more than enough make up for that. I was sucked in transported to a world of the weird satanicisms that folks tend to think of Satan and witchcraft and quite frankly I love it. Give it a go and you won't be disappointed.