Satan's Cheerleaders (1977)

"We want live bodies for the Prince of Darkness, not shredded corpses!" - Bubb

Cheerleaders encounter a pesky satanic cult.
Starring: Kerry Sherman, Jacqueline Cole, John Ireland, Jack Kruschen, Yvonne DeCarlo

Link to IMDB

The bubbly cheerleading team of Patti, Sharon, Chris and Debbie are getting ready for an upcoming football game against the rival highschool. Their teacher, the ditzy Ms. Johnson, tries to keep the girls in line but they love to party at the beach and get frisky with the boys. It's not all sunshine and root beer though, as we see a Satanic cult is also in town, and the awkward highschool janitor, Billy, is a member of the evil group.

Ms. Johnson and the girls.

Billy

The beginning is a bit slow, mostly being a typical highschool comedy, but it has a charming sense of humour and the promise of trouble from the Satanists adds some suspense. The movie changes gears when Ms. J and the girls get stranded out on the highway after their car breaks down.
It's none other than Billy who comes along to help them, but once he has the cheerleaders in his truck he takes them into the woods to meet his dark lord! His attempt to sacrifice Patti on an altar doesn't go as planned, as she somehow defies the evil powers and Billy has a heart attack. The girls run to the local sheriff for help, but by doing so they have unwittingly walked right into the home of the cult leaders! Now kidnapped for the second time in one day, Ms. J and her cheerleaders might seem doomed for certain, except that a mysterious and powerful force has been awakened in Patti and even the cultists fear what she's becoming!

Patti: "Don't make any sudden moves."

Debbie: "I am making sudden moves... Just really slow."

Despite becoming more serious and dark as it unfolds, there is still enough humour to keep it feeling quite silly, and indeed this was intended as a quirky homage to the popular Drive-In horror movies of the time. Although the cheerleaders tend to feel like amateur actors, the excellent supporting cast are mostly played by genre icons. The pacing stumbles in a few places, making the movie feel a bit longer than necessary, but the end has some very surprising twists on how everything is resolved.
This is quite enjoyable as a weird, quasi-spoof of both the satanic and the cheerleader genres of the 70s, and it usually accomplishes what it was aiming for.

Rain or shine, Satan demanded robed attire.

Be sure not to miss:
- Once again, John Carradine cameos as a weird old man.
- The dogs are named Lucifer and Diablo. Talk about subtlety.
- More janitors should have rhinestones on their coveralls.

Internet review:
"It's in my schlock hall of fame collection." - Vibiana

Should I watch it?
Despite flaws, it's still a hell of a good time.

Where can I find it?
Here on YouTube.

Satan's Cheerleaders gets...