Documentary Cult Classic

Anton LaVey opens the doors to San Francisco’s Church of Satan for a raw, ritual-filled exposé.

SATANIS: THE DEVIL'S MASS

The cameras entered the church. Everyone saw a different devil.

1970 · 1h 26m · X · Documentary · IMDB TMDB

Anton LaVey opens the doors of San Francisco’s Church of Satan, allowing cameras inside its rituals while members, neighbors, and religious critics explain what they believe is really happening.

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Quick Answer

What is Satanis: The Devil's Mass about?

Satanis: The Devil's Mass is a 1970 American documentary directed by Ray Laurent about Anton LaVey, the Church of Satan, and the provocative rituals and interviews that unveil the world of modern Satanism.

Programmer's Pick

Where else can you find a church service featuring lion tamers, nude altars, and a pet tiger named Togare? Satanis: The Devil’s Mass is pure, unfiltered 1970s Bay Area weirdness—equal parts religious documentary and midnight movie spectacle.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Satanis: The Devil’s Mass takes audiences inside Anton LaVey’s infamous black-walled home, offering unprecedented access to the ceremonies and spectacles of the Church of Satan in 1970s San Francisco. Through a blend of candid interviews and ritual footage, the film documents both the theatricality and conviction behind the church’s provocative practices—blasphemy, nudity, and human altars included. LaVey, his followers, local residents, and Christian critics all weigh in, painting a portrait of Satanism as both an emerging countercultural religion and a deliberate spectacle. The documentary’s tone is pulpy and irreverent, capturing a unique moment in American cult history where rebellion, sexuality, and spirituality collide.

Details & Specs

Director: Ray Laurent
Release: 1970
Runtime: 1h 26m
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Genres: Documentary
Also Known As: Succubus

Why This Matters

This documentary offers a rare glimpse into Anton LaVey's Church of Satan through ritual footage and interviews with both adherents and critics, providing firsthand perspectives on a controversial subculture in 1970s San Francisco.

— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Ray Laurent

Isaac Bonewits Himself

Anton LaVey Himself DL Diane LaVey Herself T Togare

Explore More

Exploitation Psychotronic Film Cult Film religion and spirituality documentary Independent Film Female Nudity Female Rear Nudity Female Full Frontal Nudity Female Frontal Nudity Father Daughter Relationship Mother Son Relationship Cleavage Priest Whipping Occult Woman Undresses Sword Braless Candle Clothed Male Naked Female Scene

Why Cult

Inside the Church of Satan

The film offers rare access to Anton LaVey’s rituals, giving a front-row seat to real-life black masses and the inner workings of America’s most notorious cult.

Ritual Spectacle & Nudity

Expect theatrical blasphemy, nude ceremonies, and ritual pageantry—this documentary doesn’t shy away from the provocative details.

Firsthand Interviews

Hear directly from LaVey, his congregation, disapproving neighbors, and Christian critics—capturing every side of the controversy.

Countercultural Time Capsule

A wild glimpse at 1970s San Francisco’s underground, where sexuality, rebellion, and spirituality mix in a brew only LaVey could stir.