"Satanic Panic" is a pleasantly deranged horror comedy, but - in the end - it suffers slightly from the 'not-quite-crazy-enough' syndrome. It's simple, really... If you are going over-the-top, you better do it right. Several isolated moments, like the rotating drill-device used by the babysitters or Jerry O'Connell's brief appearance as wannabe virgin-savior, are gloriously insane but the overall wholesome isn't epic; - or at least not epic enough.
That said, however, should you be looking for a fun and gory new horror flick to relax yourself and grant your brain functions some well-deserved time off, "Satanic Panic" is definitely an apt choice! It's a kind of random and pointless crossover between "Desperate Housewives" and "Rosemary's Baby", with women (men as well but they have nothing to say) from a fancy and upper-class neighborhood indulging in sick and twisted satanic rites to evoke the rebirth of a nasty demon named Baphomet. The coven, led by the furious shrew Danica Ross, needs a virgin to sacrifice (they always do) so when rookie pizza delivery girl Sam comes busting in during the ceremony to claim her tip, she pretty much offers herself on a golden plate.
This a Fangoria production, so you may expect gooey special effects, loads of tongue-in-cheek humor, and some familiar faces in atypical roles. It's undoubtedly Rebecca Romijn's best role in years and, maybe it's because I'm getting older myself, but she looks even more stunning now than when she did Brian De Palma's "Femme Fatale". Unknown lead actress Hayley Griffith is also really great, and so are Ruby Modine (Matthew's daughter), Arden Myrin, and Jordan Ladd.