The Horror Show
My Master Satan:
3 Tales of Drug Fueled Violence
by Dakota Bailey
A little while back I reviewed the fun and offbeat Dakota Bailey film American Scumbags. I quite liked this film and found myself fully entertained throughout, so I was happy when I got the opportunity to check out another of the writer/director's films. Not only that but it turned out to be an anthology of sorts, which makes things extra awesome.
My Master Satan: 3 Tales of Drug-Fueled Violence is not your typical anthology film. While it is segmented into different things going on, all the happenings involve a specific handful of characters. Dakota Bailey has a flair for memorable and fun characters, so I found this to be a good choice. One consistent member is Alister (played by Dakota Bailey himself), a drug addict with a violent personality who is looking to kill some time. He does this by interacting with his friends, including fellow murderers, dealers, and Satan-lovers.
To break it down into a standard first segment, second segment explanation is certainly possible, but it's better just to say that it's all rolled together into one crazy trip. The movie starts off with a subplot involving a friend of Alister's enlisting some help with digging up a dead body and from there we follow our characters through their various stories and routines. At one point early on, Alister and a friend take acid which allows them to briefly see Satan. This is an interest of the friends, so they are sure to do some more later on to try and meet the dark lord again. Thrown into the mix are fellow killers, revenge, mutilation, and general nastiness.
Like with American Scumbags, My Master Satan is just a straight up bag of depraved merriment that doesn't take itself too seriously and sends the message that the folks involved are having a blast themselves. The Shot-on-VHS look adds to the retro feel that I found quite refreshing. At times things switched gears a little erratically, but I can't complain about that all too much considering the spur of the moment chaotic feel of the film is one of my favorite things about it. It never stays in one place long enough to grow dull and has a lots of spirit and energy throughout.
MMS plays the varying elements of itself well. One second there will be someone giving a sort of semi-monologue that's interesting in its own right, then it moves to a conflict where you know someone's about to bite the dust. The milder scenes of characters just hanging out with one another provide some stability, as scenes of shootings, bludgeoning, and chainsaw murders provide the more visceral thrill.
All in all, My Master Satan is exactly what I was hoping for from the director of American Scumbags. It's a fun film that has a great time doing what it does and has no fear in putting itself out there. I'm looking forward to seeing more and confident as ever that I will be just as entertained with whatever I see next.
P.J. Griffin, HMS
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