VOD Verdict: Satranic Panic (2023)

“Satranic Panic” sidesteps its flaws and microbudget limitations by delivering plenty of wild fun, humor, heart, and unbridled passion.

When Max is brutally murdered at the hands of a cult, two friends must pull together and discover the truth, no matter who or what is involved.

Satranic Panic is the very definition of a no-budget film, and yet for its obvious limitations, writer-director Alice Maio Mackay manages to deliver a fun story that utilizes every penny of that budget to maximum effect.

For the most part, it’s a super compressed road movie that tries to dial in both comedy and horror whilst showing that there are real horrors that the LGBTQ+ face on a daily basis.

The plot is one that has been used many times and, in all honesty, doesn’t really hold many surprises as it unfolds. Yet, if you imagine that budget use is at a premium, you are going to go with something that can be depicted effectively whilst expending as little money as possible.

We are introduced to the main characters, Aria and Jay, in a dingy nightclub while Aria is performing. Max was Jay’s boyfriend and Aria’s brother. Unfortunately, Max’s murder is not taken seriously by the authorities. Now, it’s up to this dynamic duo to make their way through rural Australia to avenge Max’s death and slay the demons behind it.

From the off, Cassie Hamilton as Aria makes the character real, a very tangible force of nature that takes absolutely no shit from anyone. Jay (Zarif), as the grieving lover, is stunning.

Exposition is handled quickly, as is our first interaction with the Demon horde. At this point, Aria experiences their first ‘enemy nearby’ sensation, which provides a handy early warning system for when Demons are close. This is explained later in the final act, so let’s leave that for now.

I’ll be upfront and say the special effects are as good as you might expect for a film with a budget as small as this, but they do the trick and deliver what is required to serve the narrative.

The pair embark on their date with destiny, and this is where the film shines.

I loved the scenes between Aria and Jay, where the two bounce off one another like any close family member would. Their relationship feels authentic, which is a testament to how well they make the most of the material and fully embody their characters.

Nell’s (Lisa Fanto) entrance adds spice to proceedings and sets up another story thread that will be pulled into place by the end of the film.

As you might guess, Nell is not completely who they say they are, and some of you will no doubt work this out within 30 seconds of that character hitting the screen. Though a more subtle hand would have benefited this reveal, keeping the story flowing with limited resources is necessary.

Once we do get into the final act, the villain of the piece is revealed. Yes, it’s a bit hokey, and the performance here feels amateur in its theatrics.

Still, this stumble doesn’t detract from the film’s important core message.

That message is delivered in a way that perfectly keeps with the tone of the film: in the form of a song. And it works, too. The basic tenet is that everyone deserves to live their life without living in fear of others. Just because an LGTBQ+ person has chosen a way of life that is comfortable to them, they shouldn’t have to hide that way of life because it doesn’t fit in with how other people think they should live.

Hate stems from fear, and the attempted suppression of a person’s happiness stems from personal resentment. People who hate often do so because they are unhappy themselves and envy seeing others living their best lives. They do so because they lack the courage and conviction to live their own authentic lives and begrudge those who aren’t afraid to be who they really are and love who they want to love.

Satranic Panic harkens back to a time when filmmakers just went for it, making up for budgetary constraints by sheer force of will.