Dancing With The Devil

Dancing With The Devil

movie

1991

WISE
62%

WISE Score

A retro trip into the 90s Satanic Panic that proves we've always been a little bit weird about what kids listen to.

TMDB8.0
Common Sense Media
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Screenwise Verdict

If your kid is a music nerd or a history buff, this is a fascinating look at the 'Satanic Panic'—a time when adults genuinely thought Queen was using secret messages to turn kids into stoners. It’s a bit of a slog because it’s a 1991 Channel 4 documentary, so don't expect the fast-paced editing of a modern Netflix true-crime series.

The real value here isn't the music; it's the lesson in moral panics. It shows how easily people can be whipped into a frenzy over things they don't understand. It’s the perfect 'I told you so' for any kid who feels like their current interests are being unfairly judged by the older generation.

Age Fit

Best for high schoolers (14+) who have an interest in music history or media studies. It's likely too dry and dated for younger kids, and the discussion of self-harm requires a more mature audience.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
42

While it's an educational look at history, the subject matter involves record burnings, intense religious conflict, and mentions of self-harm.

Imaginative
35

As a standard 1991 documentary, it focuses on reporting facts and interviews rather than creative or imaginative world-building.

Safe
48

Contains mentions of a suicide attempt linked to music and drug references. The 'Satanic Panic' imagery might be unsettling for younger or sensitive viewers.

Enriching
82

Excellent for media literacy. It perfectly captures how moral panics start and how censorship attempts can look ridiculous in hindsight.

Parent Info

Why It Might Be Great

  • Media literacy masterclass on how moral panics are manufactured and sold to the public.
  • Historical time capsule of the 1985 PMRC hearings and the 'Parents Music Resource Center' era.
  • Hilarious retro absurdity, specifically the preacher claiming Queen is trying to sell you marijuana through backwards masking.
  • Great conversation starter for comparing 90s music fears to modern fears about AI or TikTok algorithms.

What to Watch For

  • A man discusses his suicide attempt which he attributed to listening to Black Sabbath; it's heavy and handled with 90s-era bluntness.
  • The production value is strictly 1991 television—expect grainy footage, questionable fashion, and a pacing that feels slow compared to modern YouTube docs.
  • Heavy use of occult imagery and 'Satanic' symbols used by metal bands to shock parents, which might require context for kids who don't 'get' the aesthetic.

Conversation Starters

  • "Why do you think adults in the 90s were so afraid of heavy metal lyrics?"
  • "Does the way people talk about 'backwards masking' remind you of any modern conspiracy theories?"
  • "If you were a parent in 1991, would you have wanted warning labels on CDs?"
  • "How is the panic over music back then similar to how people talk about video games or social media today?"

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