Dante Tomaselli is a director which I have followed very closely since reading the initial reviews of his previous film Horror. The reviews were incredible, stating that the film was incredibly stylish, in a visual sense. Some even compared the film to the works of Argento and Fulci. I'm not exactly certain how an artist can be compared to both of the aforementioned film-makers, as their styles are distinct, and not very similar. The film was supposed to be a visual feast for the eyes. And, if I recall correctly, it was visually stimulating; however, a film, like anything else, is only as good as the sum of its parts, and Horror fell incredibly short of the mark set by the vibrant lighting and strong camerawork, in the story department.

I did, however, see potential in the director to achieve something unique, and, given a proper story, perhaps craft a great horror film. His early effort, Desecration, was far more effective as a horror film, creating a genuinely unsettling atmosphere, surrounded by some very creepy visuals. Satan's Playground falls somewhere between the two, being more effective as a horror film than Horror, yet the visuals aren't as inventive or surreal.

Where Satan's Playground is most effective is in the creation of atmosphere through the lighting of the most prevalent set in the picture – the house in the woods, where most of the events unfold. The sequences that unfold within this house are surprisingly effective, as moonlight creeps in through the cracks in the window, accentuating the effect of what occurs on-screen. The house is inhabited by a family of… well, psychos (for lack of a more fitting term), and within the woods lies something even more terrifying. (Yes, even more terrifying than a family of psychos.) Where Horror was an attempt to create something in appreciation of horror as a genre, Satan's Playground pays appreciation to more specific films from the genre. The cast is made up primarily of actors and actresses who've appeared in some classic horror films, including Felissa Rose, Edwin Neal, and Ellen Sandweiss. Irma St. Paule, who also appeared in Tomaselli's Desecration, is also suitably creepy in the role of Mrs. Leeds.

Tomaselli continually does fine work with both a limited budget and a very loose screenplay. I, personally, will continue to follow his efforts, as he has done nothing to discredit his potential. If he were able to focus his directorial abilities on someone else's script, I have faith the film may be more solid than his current catalogue. Satan's Playground is a step in the right direction, and successfully balances style and substance better than his previous pictures. It's just not as good a horror film as Desecration.