by Jeffrey A Fuller

Created on: August 03, 2010

Set in 17th century England, Satan’s claw is a remarkable thriller featuring many of England’s most well known actors of the time. The story begins when Ralph Gower (Berry Andrews) discovers a deformed skull covered in fur while plowing his field. Informing the judge (Patrick Wymark) to initiate an investigation, they return to the field only to discover the skull is gone, so the judge dismisses the case.

About the same time the Judge and Ralph are investigating his strange find Peter (Simon Williams) arrives on horseback with his wife to be, Roseland (Tamara Ustinov). Peter introduces his beloved to his aunt, with whom they will lodge over night. Roseland is assigned to sleep alone in the attic where she encounters an evil presence that possesses her, leading Peter’s family to barricade the door to prevent her escape. Peter later enters the room after Roseland has been removed under a doctor’s care, and is influenced by an illusion to cut off his own hand, thinking it was that of a furry monster.

The next event involves three children, Angel (Linda Hayden), Mark (Robin Davies), and Cathy (Wendy Padbury) playing in the field where Ralph had discovered the skull. They find a claw covered in fur, much like the skull, and keep it as a souvenir. It is unclear, but assumed by the audience that the upturned skull and the claw possessed by the children inspire cult activity preceded by Angel. Soon, children begin showing up dead after skipping school to play in the forest. Others begin to act strangely and grow patches of hair, referred to as “devil’s skin,” on their bodies,

At one point, Angle tries to seduce Reverend Fallowfield. She enters his home late at night and disrobes before him. As Angel approaches the reverend, he nearly succumbs to her devilish temptation. The next day Angel’s intentions are better understood as she accuses the Reverend of raping her and of Mark’s murder. Angel successfully diverts attention toward the Reverend so she can continue unsuspectingly with her cultish activities.

The plot begins to reach its zenith when Ralph is driving a wagon along a road and hears a girl screaming in the woods. He investigates, and hearing more screams he pursues its source into the forest. Following the desperate cries, Ralph stumbles upon young Cathy’s body lying in a bloody heap, just moments after the cult dispersed and he identifies Angle at its heart. Ralph caries Cathy’s violated and

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