History Main / SatanicPanic

It can also be understood as a response to the sweeping social and political changes of the 1960s and '70s - namely, the Civil Rights movement, the Black Power movement, Second Wave feminism, and Gay Liberation. With American society becoming increasingly secular and pluralistic, a lot of conservative mostly-white Christian evangelicals began to feel increasingly like the world was changing in ways they didn't like or understand. In their view, a drift away from their definition of Christianity had to be a drift ''toward'' evil, and so, in their view, their opponents [[WithUsOrAgainstUs were not simply people with different worldviews who disagreed with them, but literal agents of the Devil]].

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_dg5e51uvaaaztsf.png]]

* Music/SamSmith and Music/{{Rihanna}} have been targets of this in 2023, a year that is (at time of writing) just under two months old. Smith [[https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/sam-smith-unholy-grammys-satanism-panic-gop-1234674687/ got it]] for their performance at the [[UsefulNotes/GrammyAward Grammys]], and Rihanna for her [[https://www.indy100.com/news/rihanna-super-bowl-satan-devil Superbowl half-time show]]. Music/DemiLovato also brushed up against it, with [[https://www.nme.com/news/music/demi-lovato-holy-fvck-poster-banned-due-to-blasphemy-3378814 the poster for their album Holy Fvck]] being banned by the Advertising Standards Agency in the UK and getting some attendant accusations, though not as prominently as Smith or Rihanna.

* ''VideoGame/FaithTheUnholyTrinity'' is set in 1987 and the director's major inspiration was the Satanic Panic. Whilst in ''Chapter I'', whether or not it suggests that Satanic worshipping cults are real depends on the path that the player takes through the game, both ''Chapter II'' and ''Chapter III''' [[DoingInTheScientist do in the realistic explanation]] and has the player frequently confront ''real'' demons.

* The WebAnimation/FloatingHands short [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM7YhMfN0v4 "The Dungeons and the Dragons"]] {{Parodie|dTrope}}s this with a mother who goes into a fit when she sees her son playing ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' with friends. It's a case of AluminumChristmasTrees -- a group of MoralGuardians in the '80s [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Pulling advocated against]] D&D as a Satanic recruiting tool.

* ''VideoGame/FaithTheUnholyTrinity'' is set in 1986 and the director's major inspiration was the Satanic Panic. Whether or not it suggests that Satanic worshipping cults are real depends on the path that the player takes through the game.

By the TurnOfTheMillennium, it finally died out in mass culture after being largely discredited over the course of TheNineties, though it still features heavily throughout media, especially for a GenreThrowback or RippedFromTheHeadlines storylines. Certain elements of the Panic -- namely, ''literally'' unbelievably widespread child abuse[[note]] -- that children are abused is, sadly, undeniably true; but if children were being abused and murdered on the scale alleged, it would be impossible to conceal[[/note]]; allegations made against celebrities and other prominent public figures; and the notion that a vast shadowy "them" is simultaneously concealing all evidence of these crimes, and also publicly confessing to them via coded messages -- have surfaced again recently in the [=QAnon=] conspiracy theory. It is likely that both are influenced by the far older anti-semitic [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel Blood Libel]] conspiracy theory, and Satanic Panic accusations often resembled historical WitchHunt claims as well. Indeed, some promoters of [=QAnon=] have [[https://www.salon.com/2020/10/26/how-qanon-uses-satanic-rhetoric-to-set-up-a-narrative-of-good-vs-evil_partner/ explicitly described it as being a Satanic conspiracy]], setting it up to be a case of [[HistoryRepeats history repeating]] -- though others have [[ConspiracyKitchenSink a wide variety of alternative explanations]]. And, as with the Panic, people can be drawn in by the reasonable-sounding premise that ''if'' [[ThinkOfTheChildren something bad is happening to children]], we should surely investigate it, a premise that experiences some problems in light of, for example, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMartin_preschool_trial the [=McMartin=] Preschool case]], or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzagate_conspiracy_theory#Criminal_responses Comet Ping Pong shooting incident]].

It finally died out in mass culture after being largely discredited by the TurnOfTheMillennium, though it still features heavily throughout media, especially for a GenreThrowback or RippedFromTheHeadlines storylines. Certain elements of the Panic -- namely, ''literally'' unbelievably widespread child abuse[[note]] -- that children are abused is, sadly, undeniably true; but if children were being abused and murdered on the scale alleged, it would be impossible to conceal[[/note]]; allegations made against celebrities and other prominent public figures; and the notion that a vast shadowy "them" is simultaneously concealing all evidence of these crimes, and also publicly confessing to them via coded messages -- have surfaced again recently in the [=QAnon=] conspiracy theory. It is likely that both are influenced by the far older anti-semitic [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel Blood Libel]] conspiracy theory, and Satanic Panic accusations often resembled historical WitchHunt claims as well. Indeed, some promoters of [=QAnon=] have [[https://www.salon.com/2020/10/26/how-qanon-uses-satanic-rhetoric-to-set-up-a-narrative-of-good-vs-evil_partner/ explicitly described it as being a Satanic conspiracy]], setting it up to be a case of [[HistoryRepeats history repeating]] -- though others have [[ConspiracyKitchenSink a wide variety of alternative explanations]]. And, as with the Panic, people can be drawn in by the reasonable-sounding premise that ''if'' [[ThinkOfTheChildren something bad is happening to children]], we should surely investigate it, a premise that experiences some problems in light of, for example, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMartin_preschool_trial the [=McMartin=] Preschool case]], or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzagate_conspiracy_theory#Criminal_responses Comet Ping Pong shooting incident]].

It was also believed to be inspired in part by the turn towards TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse paranoia in media of TheSixties and TheSeventies. The popular success of ''Film/RosemarysBaby'', ''Film/TheOmen'', and ''Literature/TheExorcist'' and its following [[Film/TheExorcist adaptation]], and [[FollowTheLeader the many, many Satan-themed paperback horror novels that followed in their wake]], are believed to have inspired it. ''Rosemary's Baby'' is the TropeCodifier as it depicts a Satanic cult in a New York City of the BigApplesauce variety; Creator/IraLevin even went on record to say that he felt partially responsible for the ensuing Satanic Panic as he felt he had played some role in mainstreaming it. Real-life cult activity throughout the late '60s and '70s -- most notoriously, those led by UsefulNotes/CharlesManson and UsefulNotes/JimJones -- and occult-adjacent serial killers -- like the Zodiac Killer, or David Berkowitz, aka "The Son of Sam", the latter of whom genuinely did claim to have been part of a Satanic cult -- gave the whole thing a patina of "but it really happened" plausibility.

It can also be understood as a response to the sweeping social and political changes of the 1960s and '70s - namely, the Civil Rights movement, the Black Power movement, Second Wave feminism, and Gay Liberation. With American society becoming increasingly secular and pluralistic, a lot of conservative mostly-white Christian evangelicals began to feel increasingly like the world was changing in ways they didn't like or understand. In their view, a drift away from Christianity had to be a drift ''toward'' evil, and so, in their view, their opponents [[WithUsOrAgainstUs were not simply people with different worldviews who disagreed with them, but literal agents of the Devil]].

** ''Literature/MyBestFriendsExorcism'' is set in the 1980s and features a great deal of Satanic Panic related leaflets, television specials, and other media. [[spoiler:Ironically, Gretchen, the "best friend" in question, ''is'' possessed, but the panic is absolutely useless in telling Abby how to deal with it.]]
** ''Literature/PaperbacksFromHell'' discusses the Satanic Panic multiple times, and covers ''Michelle Remembers'' (a notorious book where a woman claimed she had been ritually abused by her mother and given birth multiple times, had a devil's tail sewn onto her, and the Virgin Mary had come down to rescue her). Hendrix has a pretty low opinion of the book, and the Panic in general, although he can't help but enjoy some of the weirder novels that resulted from it.
** ''Literature/WeSoldOurSouls'' is about the heavy metal component of the Satanic Panic, as lead singer Terry sold his soul to Black Mountain (and continues to give it the souls of his fans to feed upon), as mobs of angry people, fans, and Devil worshippers try to kill his old band member Kris while she tries to stop him.

* Invoked in ''Film/TheLastExorcism''. Cotton is a firm believer that any so-called possessions are evidence of this, and that Ashley is acting out because she has been [[RapeLeadsToInsanity raped]], potentially by her [[VillainousIncest father or brother]], and the supposed supernatural activity is simply her doing. [[spoiler:But it's ultimately a straight example, as there really is a Satanic cult around which impregnated Ashley, and it really does include Ashley's own brother.]]
* ''Film/LordsOfChaos'' is about the Norwegian history of heavy metal and (purported) black magic during the 1990s.

** Implied at the end of Season 3, where the epilogue has a television special that suggests a Satanic cult may be responsible for the strange occurrences at Starcourt Mall. Naturally, this statement is accompanied by B-roll footage of rolling [=D20s=].

The Satanic Panic is a moral panic and phenomenon that took root in TheEighties and TheNineties, mostly in America, though examples have been found worldwide. The phenomenon features MoralGuardians who become obsessed with Devil worship and, specifically, HollywoodSatanism. Usually, it extends to panic on behalf of the CulturePolice including HeavyMetal music, ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and other fantasy games, and any other youth-centric interests, fueled by hypnosis and a new interest in psychiatric care.

It was also believed to be inspired in part by the turn towards TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse paranoia in media of TheSixties and TheSeventies. The popular success of ''Film/RosemarysBaby'', ''Film/TheOmen'', and ''Literature/TheExorcist'' and its following [[Film/TheExorcist adaptation]], are believed to have inspired it. ''Rosemary's Baby'' is the TropeCodifier as it depicts a Satanic cult in New York City of the BigApplesauce variety; Creator/IraLevin even went on record to say that he felt partially responsible for the ensuing Satanic Panic as he felt he had played some role in mainstreaming it. Real-life cult activity throughout the late '60s and '70s -- most notoriously, those led by UsefulNotes/CharlesManson and UsefulNotes/JimJones -- and occult-adjacent serial killers -- like the Zodiac Killer, or David Berkowitz, aka "The Son of Sam", the latter of whom genuinely did claim to have been part of a Satanic cult -- gave the whole thing a patina of "but it really happened" plausibility.

As a result, it is a subtrope of WitchHunt. Other common features include HorrorHippies, RockMeAsmodeus, DrugsAreBad, and LonersAreFreaks, due to the general fear of the "other" and youth culture that fuelled it. It will usually involve EveryoneIsSatanInHell being invoked in-universe.

It finally died out in mass culture after being largely discredited by the TurnOfTheMillennium, though it still features heavily throughout media, especially for a GenreThrowback or RippedFromTheHeadlines storylines. Certain elements of the Panic -- namely, ''literally'' unbelievably widespread child abuse[[note]] -- that children are abused is, sadly, undeniably true; but if children were being abused and murdered on the scale alleged, it would be impossible to conceal[[/note]]; allegations made against celebrities and other prominent public figures; and the notion that a vast shadowy "them" is simultaneously concealing all evidence of these crimes, and also publicly confessing to them via coded messages -- have surfaced again recently in the [=QAnon=] conspiracy theory. It is likely that both are influenced by the far older anti-semitic [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel Blood Libel]], and Satanic Panic accusations often resembled historical WitchHunt claims as well. Indeed, some promoters of [=QAnon=] have [[https://www.salon.com/2020/10/26/how-qanon-uses-satanic-rhetoric-to-set-up-a-narrative-of-good-vs-evil_partner/ explicitly described it as being a Satanic conspiracy]], setting it up to be a case of [[HistoryRepeats history repeating]] -- though others have [[ConspiracyKitchenSink a wide variety of alternative explanations]]. And, as with the Panic, people can be drawn in by the reasonable-sounding premise that ''if'' [[ThinkOfTheChildren something bad is happening to children]], we should surely investigate it, a premise that experiences some problems in light of, for example, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMartin_preschool_trial the [=McMartin=] Preschool case]], or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzagate_conspiracy_theory#Criminal_responses Comet Ping Pong shooting incident]].

* The Dead Alewives' famous ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' sketch is presented as some kind of damning and lurid expose into "Satan's game" and the corrupting influence it has on children, but it instead gives us a pretty mundane conversation between four teenaged nerds, arguing over the rules, making juvenile jokes, and trying to hit on female [=NPCs=].

** ''Literature/PaperbacksFromHell'' discusses the Satanic Panic multiple times, and covers ''Michelle Remembers'' (a notorious book where a woman claimed she had been ritually abused by her mother and given birth multiple times, had a devil's tail sewn onto her, and the Virgin Mary had come down to rescue her).

It was also believed to be inspired in part by the turn towards TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse paranoia in media of TheSixties and TheSeventies. The popular success of ''Film/RosemarysBaby'', ''Film/TheOmen'', and ''Literature/TheExorcist'' and its following [[Film/TheExorcist adaptation]], are believed to have inspired it. ''Rosemary's Baby'' is the TropeCodifier as it depicts a Satanic cult in New York City of the BigApplesauce variety; Creator/IraLevin even went on record to say that he felt partially responsible for the ensuing Satanic Panic as he felt he had played some role in mainstreaming it. Real-life cult activity throughout the late '60s and '70s - most notoriously, those led by UsefulNotes/CharlesManson and UsefulNotes/JimJones - and occult-adjacent serial killers - like the Zodiac Killer, or David Berkowitz, aka "The Son of Sam", the latter of whom genuinely did claim to have been part of a Satanic cult - gave the whole thing a patina of "but it really happened" plausibility.

It finally died out in mass culture after being largely discredited by the TurnOfTheMillennium, though it still features heavily throughout media, especially for a GenreThrowback or RippedFromTheHeadlines storylines. Certain elements of the Panic -- namely, ''literally'' unbelievably widespread child abuse[[note]]-- that children are abused is, sadly, undeniably true; but if children were being abused and murdered on the scale alleged, it would be impossible to conceal[[/note]]; allegations made against celebrities and other prominent public figures; and the notion that a vast shadowy "them" is simultaneously concealing all evidence of these crimes, and also publicly confessing to them via coded messages -- have surfaced again recently in the [=QAnon=] conspiracy theory. It is likely that both are influenced by the far older anti-semitic [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel Blood Libel]], and Satanic Panic accusations often resembled historical WitchHunt claims as well. Indeed, some promoters of [=QAnon=] have [[https://www.salon.com/2020/10/26/how-qanon-uses-satanic-rhetoric-to-set-up-a-narrative-of-good-vs-evil_partner/ explicitly described it as being a Satanic conspiracy]], setting it up to be a case of [[HistoryRepeats history repeating]] -- though others have [[ConspiracyKitchenSink a wide variety of alternative explanations]]. And, as with the Panic, people can be drawn in by the reasonable-sounding premise that ''if'' [[ThinkOfTheChildren something bad is happening to children]], we should surely investigate it, a premise that experiences some problems in light of, for example, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMartin_preschool_trial the [=McMartin=] Preschool case]], or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzagate_conspiracy_theory#Criminal_responses Comet Ping Pong shooting incident]].

It finally died out in mass culture after being largely discredited by the TurnOfTheMillennium, though it still features heavily throughout media, especially for a GenreThrowback or RippedFromTheHeadlines storylines. Certain elements of the Panic -- namely, ''literally'' unbelievably widespread child abuse[[note]]-- that children are abused is, sadly, undeniably true; but if children were being abused and murdered on the scale alleged, it would be impossible to conceal[[/note]]; allegations made against celebrities and other prominent public figures; and the notion that a vast shadowy "them" is simultaneously concealing all evidence of these crimes, and also publicly confessing to them via coded messages -- have surfaced again recently in the [=QAnon=] conspiracy theory. It is likely that both are influenced by the far older anti-semitic [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel Blood Libel]], and Satanic Panic accusations often resembled historical WitchHunt claims as well. Indeed, some promoters of [=QAnon=] have [[https://www.salon.com/2020/10/26/how-qanon-uses-satanic-rhetoric-to-set-up-a-narrative-of-good-vs-evil_partner/ explicitly described it as being a Satanic conspiracy]], setting it up to be a case of [[HistoryRepeats history repeating]] - though others have [[ConspiracyKitchenSink a wide variety of alternative explanations]]. And, as with the Panic, people can be drawn in by the reasonable-sounding premise that ''if'' [[ThinkOfTheChildren something bad is happening to children]], we should surely investigate it, a premise that experiences some problems in light of, for example, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMartin_preschool_trial the [=McMartin=] Preschool case]], or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzagate_conspiracy_theory#Criminal_responses Comet Ping Pong shooting incident]].

The Satanic Panic is a moral panic and phenomenon that took root in TheEighties and TheNineties, mostly in America, though examples have been found worldwide. The phenomenon features MoralGuardians who become obsessed with Devil worship and, specifically, HollywoodSatanism. Usually, it extends to panic on behalf of the CulturePolice including HeavyMetal and any youth-centric interests, fueled by hypnosis and a new interest in psychiatric care.

* ''Film/BlessTheChild'' leans ''heavily'' on the keystones of the Satanic Panic, including as it does a cult of Satanists that can stage impossible crime scenes, cover up those crime scenes mere moments later, child abduction, and the same sort of quality research carried out by genuine Panickers; at one point, a Detective confidently asserts "That's a Druidic Rune straight out of the 16th Century." The Druids didn't use runes, their religion died out in the 11th Century[[note]]modern Druidism has gone through a number of re-creations, starting in the late 18th Century[[/note]], and even if you ignore all of that, '''''Druids Aren't Satanists'''''.

It was also believed to be inspired in part by the turn towards TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse paranoia in media of TheSixties and TheSeventies. The popular success of ''Film/RosemarysBaby'', ''Film/TheOmen'', and ''Literature/TheExorcist'' and its following [[Film/TheExorcist adaptation]], are believed to have inspired it. ''Rosemary's Baby'' is the TropeCodifier as it depicts a Satanic cult in New York City of the BigApplesauce variety; Creator/IraLevin even went on record to say that he felt partially responsible for the ensuing Satanic Panic as he felt he had played some role in mainstreaming it. Real-life cult activity throughout the '70s - most notoriously, the one led by UsefulNotes/JimJones - and occult-adjacent serial killers - like David Berkowitz, aka "The Son of Sam", or the Zodiac Killer - gave the whole thing a patina of "but it really happened" plausibility.

** In his review of ''VideoGame/UltimaVIIIPagan'', he also jokes about the game's occult imagery getting him sent to an insane asylum.

It was also believed to be inspired in part by the turn towards TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse paranoia in media of TheSixties and TheSeventies. The popular success of ''Film/RosemarysBaby'', ''Film/TheOmen'', and ''Literature/TheExorcist'' and its following [[Film/TheExorcist adaptation]], are believed to have inspired it. ''Rosemary's Baby'' is the TropeCodifier as it depicts a Satanic cult in New York City of the BigApplesauce variety; Creator/IraLevin even went on record to say that he felt partially responsible for the ensuing Satanic Panic as he felt he had played some role in mainstreaming it.

As a result, it is a subtrope of WitchHunt. Other common features include HorrorHippies, DrugsAreBad, and LonersAreFreaks, due to the general fear of the "other" and youth culture that fuelled it. It will usually involve EveryoneIsSatanInHell being invoked in-universe.

* ''Film/TheHouseOfTheDevil'', being a GenreThrowback to 70s and 80s horror, opens with a caption about the prevalence of Satanic cults being hidden everywhere in America, and proceeds to tell a story about one that targets a young babysitter.

* ''[[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117293/ Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills]]'' was an Creator/{{HBO}} documetnary about how {{Goth}} teens were railroaded into being sentenced for murder because they were nonconformist, accused of Satanic worship. It was followed by two sequels, following up on the case in 2000 and 2011, the latter of which after the defendants were released from prison.

** Played deadly serious in Season 4, where [[BigBad Vecna's]] killing spree is pinned on the anti-conformist head of the high school's D&D club because of Satanic Panic mentality. Worse, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome after years of mysterious unexplained deaths, the town is desperate for someone to blame]], so it isn't long before most of the town is demonizing the club as a Satanic murder cult and [[TorchesAndPitchforks hunting them]]. It doesn't help that the first people[[note]]Wther than the scientists at the secret government lab, and ''they'' weren't telling anyone[[/note]] to learn about the ParallelUniverse that was ''actually'' responsible for the deaths were a literal D&D party of middle-school nerds, and they gave the creatures of that parallel universe D&D-based names like, um, Vecna.

** Played deadly serious in Season 4, where [[BigBad Vecna's]] killing spree is pinned on the anti-conformist head of the high school's D&D club because of Satanic Panic mentality. Worse, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome after years of mysterious unexplained deaths, the town is desperate for someone to blame]], so it isn't long before most of the town is demonizing the club as a Satanic murder cult and [[TorchesAndPitchforks hunting them]]. It doesn't help that the first people (other than the scientists at the secret government lab) to about the ParallelUniverse were a literal D&D party of middle-school nerds, and they gave the creatures of that parallel universe D&D-based names like, um, Vecna.

** Played deadly serious in Season 4, where [[BigBad Vecna's]] killing spree is pinned on the anti-conformist head of the high school's D&D club because of Satanic Panic mentality. Worse, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome after years of mysterious unexplained deaths, the town is desperate for someone to blame]], so it isn't long before most of the town is demonizing the club as a Satanic murder cult and [[TorchesAndPitchforks hunting them]].

** Implied at the end of Season 3, where the epilogue has a television special that suggests a Satanic cult may be responsible for the strange occurrences at Starcourt Mall.

* Implied in ''Series/StrangerThings'' at the end of Season 3, where the epilogue has a television special that suggests a Satanic cult may be responsible for the strange occurrences at Starcourt Mall.