The Blood on Satan’s Claw

The Blood on Satan’s Claw

Year: 1971

Runtime: 97 mins

Language: English

Director: Piers Haggard

HorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsIntense violence and sexual transgressionTerrifying haunted and supernatural horrorGothic and eerie haunting horror

When a farmer's son uncovers a buried satanic altar in a 17th‑century English village, the unearthed relics awaken a malevolent force. The village children become increasingly drawn into a dark cult, their innocence eroding as they perform terrifying rituals and succumb to demonic influence.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971)

Trace every key event in The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Ralph Gower discovers strange skull

In the early 18th-century English village, farmer Ralph Gower uncovers a deformed skull with one intact eye and strange fur. He insists that the local judge examines it, but the skull mysteriously vanishes before it can be properly analyzed. The incident sets the tone for the lingering suspicion of supernatural evil in the village.

Rural village, England
2

Introduction of Peter and Rosalind's visit

Peter Edmonton arrives with his fiancée, Rosalind Barton, to meet his aunt, Mistress Banham, who is staying with the judge. The meeting is troubled as Mistress Banham and the judge disapprove of their relationship, planning to isolate Rosalind by assigning her to a disused attic room.

Judge’s residence
3

Rosalind's night scream and injury

Rosalind starts screaming during her first night in the attic, and when she investigates, she injures Mistress Banham. Rosalind then falls mysteriously ill, fueling suspicions of supernatural presence and evil influence within the house.

Judge’s residence, attic room
4

Rosalind is committed and her monstrous claw revealed

Despite Peter’s protests, Rosalind is committed to an institution. As she is taken away, Peter glimpses a monstrous claw replacing her hand, suggesting her possession or transformation due to supernatural forces.

Judge’s residence, in front of the house
5

Children find deformed body’s claw

Three children, playing near a field, discover a claw from the deformed body linked to the mysterious skull. This finds ties the earlier strange events to the sinister creature lurking in the village.

Village field
6

Mistress Banham disappears

That evening, Mistress Banham mysteriously vanishes, intensifying the belief that evil forces are at work within the house and the village. The disappearance heightens the villagers' fears of the supernatural presence.

House
7

Peter’s night attack and bleeding hand

Peter sneaks into the attic at night to investigate and is attacked by a creature with a furred claw. During the struggle, he attempts to defend himself with a knife, severing his own hand, which suggests the creature's terrifying strength.

Attic room
8

Judgement and study of witchcraft

The judge, skeptical of superstition, borrows a book on witchcraft to understand the strange events. He departs for London, leaving Squire Middleton in charge, but promises to return and investigate further.

Village and judge’s residence
9

Children’s ritualistic game and Mark’s death

Children, led by Angel Blake, play truant from scripture classes and conduct a ritual in a ruined church. Mark, one of the children, is tricked into a deadly game of blind man's buff and is later found dead, symbolizing the cult’s sinister activities.

Ruined church
10

Cathy’s horror and the Black Mass

Cathy, Mark’s sister, is lured into the cult’s secret rituals and is seen with patches of fur on her back. The children perform a Black Mass to the demon Behemoth, who appears as a furred beast, revealing the cult’s intent to restore the demon’s body.

Ruined church
11

Ralph rescues Margaret and confronts the cult

Ralph rescues Margaret from those attempting to drown her, discovering fur on her leg and uncovering her as a servant of the devil. The judge returns and learns that the cult plans to complete their demonic ritual at the church.

Village and church
12

Cult’s final meeting and Ralph’s awakening

Ralph, with fur on his leg, infiltrates the cult’s meeting at the church and is caught in a trance-like state, trying to remove the fur. The mob attacks, culminating in Angel Blake’s death and the final confrontation with the demon.

Abandoned church
13

Demon’s destruction and cure

The judge kills the demon with a sword, ending the curse, and Ralph’s fur-covered body returns to normal. The supernatural threat is eradicated, restoring peace to the village and lifting the dark influence that had plagued it.

Abandoned church

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:13

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Blood on Satan’s Claw

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