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Characters & Themes

Satanic (2016) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 85 min · English
JustWatch #16,176 10
Directed by
Jeffrey G. Hunt

While revisiting locations associated with the Satanic Panic in Los Angeles, a group of college friends finds themselves entangled in a disturbing situation. Attempting to rescue what they believe is a victim of human sacrifice, they uncover a far more sinister reality. Their intervention reveals a dark and malevolent force embodied by a seemingly benevolent figure, who harbors dangerous secrets and intentions.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Satanic
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Satanic (2016)

Where can you watch Satanic? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on AMC+, Philo and Hoopla: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Satanic Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Satanic (2016), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Elise

    Elise is a curious and adventurous spirit, eager to explore new experiences. However, her decisions lead the group into frightening territories as they confront the supernatural, revealing her vulnerability amidst chaos.

    • 🌼 Curious
    • 😔 Vulnerable
  • Seth

    Seth is Elise's loyal boyfriend, whose protective nature drives him to unravel the mysteries surrounding their eerie encounters. His determination reveals a deeper strength as he faces tragedy alongside his friends.

    • 💪 Protective
    • 🚶‍♂️ Determined
  • Chloe

    Chloe is impulsive and adventurous, often acting on intuition, which leads to their group's exposure to dark forces. Her emotional journey becomes central as she grapples with the horror unfolding around her.

    • 🤔 Impulsive
    • 🌪️ Emotional
  • Alice

    Alice serves as a pivotal character, embodying the tragic intersection of life and death within the cult's practices. Her dark past and connection to the occult cast a haunting shadow over the remaining characters.

    • 🕯️ Mystic
    • 💔 Tragic
  • David

    David is a skeptic trying to maintain control amidst the chaos. His confrontational nature highlights the tension within the group and drives the narrative forward as he seeks answers to the strange occurrences.

    • 🧐 Skeptical
    • 🔥 Intense

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:34

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Setting

Where and When Does Satanic Take Place?

The setting of Satanic (2016): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1972

The film references the year 1972, a pivotal time in the history of Satanism in America, marked by the rise of Anton LaVey's Church of Satan. This era also reflects cultural shifts in spirituality and alternative lifestyles that influenced the characters' encounters.

Location

Los Angeles, Flower Hotel

The movie primarily takes place in downtown Los Angeles, a vibrant city known for its bustling entertainment industry and cultural diversity. The Flower Hotel, where the group stays, has a dark history associated with the Church of Satan, adding an eerie backdrop to their adventure.

  • 🏨 Hotel
  • 🌆 City

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:34

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3 major themes

Satanic Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Satanic (2016) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Occult

    The movie delves into themes of the occult and demonic rituals, exploring the allure and danger that comes with dabbling in forbidden practices. The characters' curiosity leads them down a dark path, highlighting the consequences of their actions in the face of supernatural forces.

  • Death

    Death looms heavily over the characters, particularly with the tragic demise of Alice and the group's descent into chaos. The film examines how grief and loss can manifest in horrifying ways, ultimately affecting the mental state and choices of the surviving characters.

  • Horror

    Satanic serves as a chilling horror story where fear arises from both human actions and supernatural elements. The gradual unraveling of the characters' sanity creates an atmosphere of dread, emphasizing the impact of their encounters with dark forces.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:34

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Character & theme questions

Satanic Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Satanic (2016): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

What is the Flower Hotel's significance in the story?

The Flower Hotel serves as the primary location where the group stays during their trip to Los Angeles. It carries a dark history connected to the Church of Satan, providing an eerie backdrop that amplifies the supernatural dread throughout the film.

  • flower hotel
  • church of satan
  • los angeles
  • location
  • setting
Q2

What time period does the movie take place in?

The film is set in 1972, a pivotal era in American Satanism marked by the rise of Anton LaVey's Church of Satan. This specific time period reflects the cultural shifts in spirituality and alternative lifestyles that influenced the characters' fateful encounters.

  • 1972
  • time period
  • era
  • church of satan
  • history
Q3

What are the main themes explored in the film?

Satanic explores three interconnected themes: the occult and demonic rituals and the dangers of dabbling in forbidden practices; death and grief, particularly through the tragic demise of Alice and how loss manifests in horrifying ways; and horror itself, where fear arises from both human actions and supernatural elements as the characters' sanity unravels.

  • occult
  • death
  • horror
  • themes
  • demonic rituals
  • grief
Q4

Who is Chloe and what is her role in the story?

Chloe is portrayed as an impulsive and adventurous character who often acts on intuition. Her spontaneous nature leads the group to become exposed to dark forces, making her emotional journey central to the narrative as she grapples with the unfolding horror.

  • chloe
  • character
  • role
  • impulsive
  • adventurous
Q5

Who is Elise and what motivates her?

Elise is depicted as a curious and adventurous spirit eager to explore new experiences. However, her decisions ultimately lead the group into frightening territories as they confront the supernatural, revealing her vulnerability amidst the chaos.

  • elise
  • character
  • motivation
  • curious
  • adventurous
Q6

Who is Alice and why is she important?

Alice serves as a pivotal character whose connection to the occult casts a haunting shadow over the remaining characters. Her dark past and role in the cult's practices represent the tragic intersection of life and death within the story.

  • alice
  • character
  • cult
  • occult
  • death
  • pivotal
Q7

What role does David play in the group?

David functions as the skeptic within the group, trying to maintain control amidst the chaos. His confrontational nature highlights internal tension and drives the narrative forward as he seeks answers to the strange occurrences they encounter.

  • david
  • skeptic
  • character
  • role
  • confrontation
Q8

Who is Seth and what drives his actions?

Seth is Elise's loyal boyfriend whose protective nature compels him to unravel the mysteries surrounding their eerie encounters. His determination reveals a deeper strength as he faces tragedy alongside his friends.

  • seth
  • elise
  • boyfriend
  • protective
  • loyal
  • character
Q9

Why is Los Angeles the setting for this horror story?

The movie takes place in downtown Los Angeles, a city known for its entertainment industry and cultural diversity. This setting provides a stark contrast between the glamorous city and the dark occult underground that the characters inadvertently discover.

  • los angeles
  • setting
  • downtown
  • city
  • location
Q10

How does the film connect to the real-world Satanic Panic?

The film references the Satanic Panic phenomenon that emerged in the 1980s but sets its story in 1972, when Anton LaVey's Church of Satan was gaining prominence. This connection grounds the fictional horror in real historical context about fears surrounding occult practices.

  • satanic panic
  • church of satan
  • anton lavey
  • occult
  • history
Q11

What does the movie say about the dangers of the occult?

The film explores how curiosity about the occult leads characters down a dark path with deadly consequences. It emphasizes that dabbling in forbidden practices carries real danger, highlighting the consequences characters face when they encounter supernatural forces.

  • occult
  • danger
  • supernatural
  • curiosity
  • consequences
  • rituals
Q12

What type of horror experience does the film deliver?

Satanic delivers a dark horror experience where fear stems from both human actions and supernatural elements. The atmosphere builds through mounting paranoia and helplessness as characters face an unstoppable occult threat, resulting in a bleak and tragic outcome.

  • horror
  • atmosphere
  • dread
  • supernatural
  • bleak
  • tension

Movie threads

More Movies Like Satanic, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Satanic tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about occult descent like Satanic

Stories where curiosity about the supernatural leads to a hopeless trap. If you liked the premise of Satanic, you'll find similar movies here. Discover films where characters explore cults, curses, or urban legends, only to find themselves targeted by a sinister supernatural adversary with no chance of escape. These stories share a feeling of impending doom and psychological torment.

  • hopeless
  • sinister
  • suspenseful
  • disturbing
  • paranoid
  • claustrophobic
  • Tone: dark, bleak, hopeless
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a linear, cause-and-effect structure: characters discover an occult element, attempt to intervene or understand it, and inadvertently become the target of a powerful, vengeful force. The journey is one of escalating dread and helplessness, moving from unease to terror as the characters realize their fate is sealed.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a proactive-but-doomed confrontation with the occult. They create a coherent experience through high-intensity scares, a consistently dark tone, and a plot that methodically strips away hope, leaving the audience with a profound sense of bleakness.

Urban legend horror movies similar to Satanic

Modern horror where city folklore turns out to be terrifyingly real. Fans of Satanic's use of the 'Satanic Panic' as a backdrop will enjoy these movies. This collection features horror stories where modern urban legends, historical rumors, or local folklore are revealed to be真实, trapping ordinary people in a nightmare scenario that feels disturbingly plausible.

  • sinister
  • paranoid
  • disturbing
  • anxious
  • suspenseful
  • urban horror
  • Tone: dark, sinister, disturbing
  • Pacing: steady, building tension
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives often begin with a group of friends or investigators exploring a local myth for fun or curiosity. The plot unfolds as they discover the legend is真实, forcing them to confront a tangible evil in a familiar, urban environment. The journey emphasizes psychological torment, paranoia, and the collapse of safety in everyday life.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific subgenre vibe: the translation of folklore into a modern, urban context. They are connected by a steady pacing that builds from realism to supernatural terror, a straightforward plot focused on discovery, and a heavy emotional weight driven by themes of helplessness against a hidden evil.

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Movies Like Satanic

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Every angle

Satanic (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Satanic in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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