The Touch of Satan

The Touch of Satan

Year: 1971

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Don Henderson

HorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsTerrifying haunted and supernatural horrorTwisted dark psychological thrillerGothic and eerie haunting horror

A murderous, decrepit old woman lives on a California walnut farm with her family. When traveler Jodie stops by on a whim, he meets Melissa, the farmer’s daughter, and falls for her. As their romance deepens, Melissa discloses the family’s grim, dark history, hinting that loving her may bring a curse.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Touch of Satan (1971)

Trace every key event in The Touch of Satan (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

Murder at the farmer's barn

An elderly woman with a burned face murders a farmer. She stabs him and accidentally sets the barn on fire, forcing her to stumble back toward her family. The act hints at a hidden history of violence that haunts the family.

Farmer's barn
2

Family confrontation over the aftermath

The older couple and their young daughter argue about what to do with the murderer in their midst. They exchange uneasy references to past killings, suggesting the elderly woman has harmed others before. The family feuds reveal a fragile, tense dynamic in the wake of the crime.

Family home
3

Jodie's road trip to self-discovery

The scene shifts to Jodie, a young man traveling aimlessly across America in search of purpose. He contemplates whether to follow in his father's footsteps as a lawyer or chart his own path. The journey frames the film as a coming-of-age exploration.

Open road across America
4

Lunch by the pond and an invitation

Jodie stops at a small pond for lunch and meets Melissa, the teen from the previous scene. Their banter is flirty and light, and Melissa persuades him to come visit her family on their walnut farm. This invitation unsettles her parents but sparks a new connection.

Small pond
5

Growing closeness despite parental distress

Jodie and Melissa grow closer as days pass on the walnut farm. Melissa's parents react with worry, sensing something eerie beneath the surface. The couple's bond intensifies even as unsettling clues begin to surface.

Melissa's walnut farm
6

Clues of Melissa's true nature

Hints emerge that Melissa is a 127-year-old witch and the birth sister of the elderly woman. Jodie wrestles with disbelief as strange powers and eerie omens appear around them. The revelation reframes the idyll at the farm as something uncanny.

Walnut farm
7

The deputy's murder before Jodie

The elderly woman murders a deputy policeman right in front of Jodie. The act validates Melissa's warnings about danger lurking in the family. Jodie's sense of safety collapses as fear takes hold.

Near the walnut farm
8

Melissa's confession

Melissa confesses she is a cursed witch possessed by Satan. She explains the centuries of burden carried by her and her family name. Jodie struggles to reconcile the revelation with his feelings for her.

Walnut farm
9

The dream of the 19th century burnings

In a dream sequence, Melissa reveals her sister was burned as a witch by a mob in the 19th century. The memory reveals the roots of the curse and the power she sought to save her sister. The scene roots the supernatural conflict in historical violence.

19th century Dream sequence
10

Satan's bargain for the sister

Melissa explains that her distress drove her to offer her soul to Satan to gain power to save her sister. Satan accepts the bargain and grants eternal life and youth to Melissa, but the price is a terrible curse. The origin of the curse now explains the present danger.

19th century Dream sequence / past
11

Confrontation and the sister's death

The old woman tries to kill Jodie, but Melissa uses her powers to stop the attack. The elder sister dies in a fire she started, sealing a tragic turn of events. The moment intensifies the fight between love, power, and fate.

Walnut farm
12

Sex, release, and aging

Jodie and Melissa have sex, a symbolic attempt to release Melissa from Satan. Immediately after, Melissa ages suddenly to her 'actual' age, shocking Jodie and resetting the balance of their relationship. The moment reveals the cost of breaking the curse's hold.

Walnut farm
13

The soul bargain to save her

To restore Melissa's youth and save her life, Jodie chooses to sell his soul to Satan. The contract binds him to a new, dark fate and ties their destinies together. The moment reframes their romance as a pact with malevolent forces.

Walnut farm
14

Ending: both bound to Satan

The film closes with the grim realization that Melissa and Jodie are both bound to Satan. Melissa's attempt to escape her curse has dragged Jodie into the same evil contract. The final note leaves their future shrouded in ongoing darkness.

Walnut farm

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:50

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The Touch of Satan Summary

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The Touch of Satan Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Touch of Satan

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