Satan's Little Helper – Synapse Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 2004
Director: Jeff Lieberman
Writer: Jeff Lieberman
Cast: Alexander Brickel, Katheryn Winnick, Stephen Graham, Amanda Plummer, Wass Stevens, Dan Ziskie, Melisa McGregor, Joshua Annex, Joyce R. Korbin, Antonio Ardolino, Mary Kay Adams

Release Date: October 25th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 100 Minutes 1 second
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Nine-year-old Douglas Whooly (Alexander Brickel, PALINDROMES) is obsessed with the handheld video game "Satan's Little Helper," and annoyed that the attention of his big sister Jenna (Katheryn Winnick, TV's VIKINGS and BIG SKY) is being distracted by her new boyfriend Alex (Stephen Graham). These two concerns collide on Halloween, when Douglas witnesses a serial killer in a devil mask (Joshua Annex) posing his victims like outdoor All Hallow's Eve displays. Not comprehending how real the carnage is, Douglas becomes this Satan's little helper--and that's very bad news for Alex, for Douglas and Jenna's mom Merrill (Amanda Plummer, PULP FICTION, Netflix's RATCHED), and ultimately for their entire town." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Satan's Little Helper comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 38.3 GB

Feature: 26.9 GB

Shot on 35mm digital, the source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Image clarity is solid, black levels are very good, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English, and included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles. There are no issues with distortion; dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced; and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, a promotional trailer (1 minute 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a vintage Behind-the-Scenes featurette (4 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a tour of the filming locations with director Jeff Lieberman Mister Satan's Neighborhood (22 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a documentary titled The Devil and the Details (32 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and audio commentary with Jeff Lieberman.

Summary:

Satan’s Little Helper was written and directed by Jeff Lieberman, whose other feature films include Squirm, Blue Sunshine, Just Before Dawn, and Remote Control.

Satan’s Little Helper features a devious premise: a psychopath killer who uses Halloween and a devil costume to hide their identity. Also, because it is Halloween, everyone is aware of the dead bodies that start piling up, mistaking them as Halloween decor. And the addition of a sidekick in the form of a little boy who idolizes Satan further enhances the story at hand.

Though Satan’s Little Helper has elements that are synonymous with horror cinema, the result is a satire of horror cinema that finds a good balance of humor and horror. Most of the funniest moments are the scenes where the killer and the little boy interact.

The cast's enthusiastic performances are Satan’s Little Helper’s most durable asset. With the most memorable performance being Joshua Annex’s portrayal of Billy Flarin, aka Satan Man, a recently released mental patient. Though his character never speaks, he is able to convey so much through his mannerisms. Another performance of note is Alexander Brickel in the role of Douglas Whooly, the little boy who becomes Satan’s little helper.

From a production standpoint, Satan’s Little Helper achieves its goals. The premise is superbly realized, a well-executed narrative moves along briskly, and a very satisfying finale perfectly wraps up the events that preceded. Also, when it comes to the kill scenes, there is a sufficient amount of gore, albeit humor-laced moments of carnage. Ultimately, Satan’s Little Helper is a fun film that fans of horror cinema satire should thoroughly enjoy.

Satan's Little Helper gets a first-rate release from Synapse Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer