Allan C
If SUSPIRIA was a Nancy Drew Mystery
Satan's School for Girls (1973) ****
Pamela Franklin (LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE) investigates the mysterious death of her sister at a private girls’ school, only to discover the staff are part of a Satanic Cult! I’d always heard about this infamous 70s TV movie, but had never seen it until I spotted it streaming free on Prime Video. It was a terrible print of the film, which was clearly a VHS recording transferred to digital, complete with visible tracking errors, but the cast and over-the-top story made the film simply irresistible! From the film’s opening sequence of a woman tear-assing down a country road in a big ol’ 70s muscle car, I was hooked! Produced by legendary TV producer Aaron Spelling (THE MOD SQUAD, THE LOVE BOAT, DYNASTY, BEVERLY HILLS 90210, CHARMED, etc.), he brings his flair for lightweight compulsively watchable entertainment to this horror tale of secret societies and girls-in-danger. Also greatly adding to the fun is that two future CHARLIE’S ANGELS appear in the film, Kate Jackson and Cheryl Ladd (billed as Cheryl Stoppelmoor), which was another classic series produced by Spelling. There’s also veteran character actor Lloyd Bochner (POINT BLANK, DYNASTY) playing a mean professor, who is one of those actors who appeared in tons of shows and movies, starting in the 60s all the way through the 90s, who you’ll immediately recognize, but won’t know his name. There’s also a nod to WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? and STRAIT-JACKET-style of Biddy Horror with Jo Van Fleet (EAST OF EDEN, THE ROSE TATTOO) playing the school’s headmistress. Watching this film, I can’t help but wonder if this is where Dario Argento took inspiration for his 1977 classic horror film SUSPIRIA, about a coven of witches at a girls' school? Reading about this film, it sounded pretty ubiquitous at the time, so I’m sure Argento was aware of it. This film even starts out similarly, with a young woman on the run from an unseen pursuer. While Argento’s film is a visual masterpiece, SATAN’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS is shot like an episode of ROOM 222 and plays out more like a Nancy Drew mystery than it does ROSEMARY’S BABY. While that may sound like a knock on the film, it’s kind of it’s major charm. The ridiculousness of Charlie’s Angels blowing the lid off of a coven of witches is kind of the most rad thing ever! Overall, SATAN’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS is not even close to great filmmaking, but it is highly entertaining and should be essential viewing for anyone who finds 70s television shows a delicious comfort food.Â
AI CAPSUL REVIEW:
In Satan’s School for Girls (1973), Pamela Franklin investigates her sister’s death at an eerie private school, only to uncover a Satanic cult among the staff. Produced by Aaron Spelling and featuring future Charlie’s Angels Kate Jackson and Cheryl Ladd, this campy 70s TV movie plays less like Rosemary’s Baby and more like a supernatural Nancy Drew case—cheaply made but irresistibly fun.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
11/03/25
Full Review
nick s
It didn't end as well as I would have hoped but typical for this era. I enjoyed the acting though. And the director managed to create an air of mystery.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
09/19/25
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J M
In my journey to find movies made in my year of birth, I came across this irresistibly titled horror/suspense movie that has one and only one point of interest - and it is a biggie! This motion picture features a pre-CHARLIE'S ANGELS pairing of Kate Jackson and Cheryl Stoppelmoor, who would of course go on to become Cheryl Ladd. Seeing them together in a devilish movie before turning into angels is just too perfect. Sadly, the film itself isn't - far from it. It's actually quite a bore, especially considering the subject matter. There is an actor here named Lloyd Bochner - you may not know the name, but you may recognize the face. He is the KING of over-actors, and he retains his title here. Everyone here ranges from below average to pretty bad. And I also have a complaint about the title - why in the world would you make a movie that seemingly wants to be a mystery and then include the big reveal in your title? It makes no sense to me whatsoever. So, in that regard, it fits in pretty well with everything else here. If you do end up watching, you will be treated to the worst scream-right-before-you-die in the last century of movies. - Jeff Marshall, Movie Blogger (Facebook)
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
02/18/24
Full Review
bill t
A fun and ridiculous movie about a lady who is desperate about finding out more details about her sister's death. So she enrolls in the school she was in to get more info. The name of the school, the Salem school for girls, should be a tip off! Fun to see Kate Jackson in an early role, and this has lots of ridiculous cheese all the way through.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
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Audience Member
I tried to watch this twice and fell asleep both times - thankfully at different times, so I can safely say: this movie sucks.
It's boring, nothing even remotely entertaining happens . . . ever.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
01/27/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Sister of a girl who committed suicide goes to her school, the Salem Academy, to investigate why and uncovers a satanic professor who has a hold on a group of students. TV movie with Aaron Spelling casting both Kate Jackson and Cheryl Ladd who would later become Charlie's Angels. Title suggests a grindhouse picture but TV limitations ensure that is not what the viewer gets.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
02/13/23
Full Review
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