"An Angel for Satan" is more good entertainment for fans of Italian Gothics. The queen of the genre, Barbara Steele, is front and center as Harriet Montebruno, an heir to an estate. Anthony Steffen plays Roberto Merigi, a sculptor brought to this lakeside estate to restore a 200 year old statue that was salvaged from the lake. However, the deeply superstitious locals feel that nothing good can come of this, as they totally buy into the local legend and "curse" put into place centuries ago.
Although the double-twist ending is really not that surprising, "An Angel for Satan" gives devotees of this sub genre everything they could want. We have a highly alluring Steele as a young woman whose behavior takes a bizarre turn. "An Angel for Satan" is pretty racy for its time, with Steele disrobing on more than one occasion and seducing male and female characters alike. Roberto is not the only character confused by the strange goings-on; the maid Rita (Ursula Davis) has a suitor (Vassili Karis), the local schoolteacher, who ends up equally dumbfounded as Rita begins giving him the cold shoulder and Harriet comes on to him. There is also a side character named Victor (Aldo Berti), the simple-minded gardener who *seems* harmless at first.
The music by Francesco De Masi is excellent, the black & white photography exquisite, and the story consistently entertaining. The director, Camillo Mastrocinque, handles all of it quite capably. As in all of the best films from this group, the atmosphere is first-rate, with Mastrocinque attempting to give the necessary exposition scenes a bit of flair. Claudio Gora (as the Count), Mario Brega (as swaggering local lug Carlo), Marina Berti (as Ilda the housekeeper), and Betty Delon, as Carlos' wife, round out a very solid cast.
In general, this is a must if you love this type of film, and especially if you love Steele, who's showcased extremely well.
Seven out of 10.
Although the double-twist ending is really not that surprising, "An Angel for Satan" gives devotees of this sub genre everything they could want. We have a highly alluring Steele as a young woman whose behavior takes a bizarre turn. "An Angel for Satan" is pretty racy for its time, with Steele disrobing on more than one occasion and seducing male and female characters alike. Roberto is not the only character confused by the strange goings-on; the maid Rita (Ursula Davis) has a suitor (Vassili Karis), the local schoolteacher, who ends up equally dumbfounded as Rita begins giving him the cold shoulder and Harriet comes on to him. There is also a side character named Victor (Aldo Berti), the simple-minded gardener who *seems* harmless at first.
The music by Francesco De Masi is excellent, the black & white photography exquisite, and the story consistently entertaining. The director, Camillo Mastrocinque, handles all of it quite capably. As in all of the best films from this group, the atmosphere is first-rate, with Mastrocinque attempting to give the necessary exposition scenes a bit of flair. Claudio Gora (as the Count), Mario Brega (as swaggering local lug Carlo), Marina Berti (as Ilda the housekeeper), and Betty Delon, as Carlos' wife, round out a very solid cast.
In general, this is a must if you love this type of film, and especially if you love Steele, who's showcased extremely well.
Seven out of 10.