A decade after his acclaimed short film Buffalo Juggalos, Scott Cummings makes his feature debut with Realm of Satan, an experimental documentary that dives into the enigmatic world of the Church of Satan. Far from sensationalizing or promoting the occult, Cummings set out to craft an unceremonious and introspective portrait of this controversial subculture, while attempting to capture its distinctive aesthetic and ritualistic practices with a hint of irreverence.

Realm of Satan explores the daily lives of contemporary Satanists by focusing, primarily, on three main subjects – Peter Gilmore, Blanche Barton and Peggy Nadramia. In doing so, it juxtaposes mundane activities with distinct practices – from everyday chores to occult ceremonies – as a series of tableaux that balance their representation of both the routine and the ritualistic aspects of Satanic life. The movie makes no commentary on the value of the Church’s beliefs, but rather seeks to crawl over the personal facade that has so often veiled its public image.

Structured as a collection of disconnected scenes, the film features static, carefully composed shots that emphasize the Church of Satan’s preoccupation with aesthetics. This approach allows Cummings to explore the visual and symbolic aspects of the Church. The result is a study that invites viewers to engage with the Church’s elaborate showmanship and, in the process, question their perceptions of this curious subculture and the beliefs underpinning their motives. This approach leaves Cummings with less space to delve into the personal convictions or motivations of its members, which are, at best, hinted at, rather than expounded on.

Premiering at Sundance and recently showcased at the Munich Film Festival, Realm of Satan offers a rare, stylishly executed glimpse into a subculture defined by its embrace of individualism, image and carnality.

The movie is currently on the festival circuit and is distributed by Visit Films.