Edgar Soberon Torchia In 1974 director Julián Soler released "Satanás de todos los horrores", a new version of Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher", suggesting the influence of Juan López Moctezuma's 1972 horror drama "The Mansion of Madness". For López Moctezuma, though, Poe's name and work were as incidental as Sheridan Le Fanu's, whose novella "Carmilla" inspired this masterpiece of gore. The sound and visuals of "Alucarda" went over the top, prompting the publisher of the "Psychotronic Video" magazine to declare that the film had «more blood, loud screaming and nudity than any horror film» he could think of. I suppose that indeed it was, at least in 1978, and it surely called into question the "appropriateness" of the Mexican mini-epics of terror for the middle class that were in vogue, and the stiff upper lip of Hammer vampires and victims of the 1970s. It also came up against the presumptuousness of those Mexican genre directors who denied their cultural roots, in search of a horror cinema made in limbo. In the times of Mexican genre masters Fernando Méndez, Chano Urueta and Rafael Baledón, the Eastern European names and locales of their movies were naïve attempts at worldliness, that made us giggle and panic, as also did products like Portillo's "La momia azteca", that toyed with pre-Columbian cultures and Mexican folklore but was also aligned with the Egyptian mummy of Universal Films. Here worldliness became universal and it was simultaneously rooted in the weirdness or excessive emotion that Mexicans can elicit from themselves as a cultural trait. The representation of fanaticism, guilt, vice and death in "Alucarda", among demented (and lascivious) nuns and monks, proved one more time how correct André Breton was when he declared México «the most surrealist country in the world». Juan López Moctezuma's film gave a grand finale to an era of undeniably wonderful, non-expensive and evocative works in the history of humankind's creation of cultural works of horror, from 1953 (the year when Chano Urueta's "El monstruo resucitado" was released) to 1978, in México.

chaos-rampant You can have so much fun with this! In this crazy exploitation movie, young nuns Alucarda (anagram for Dracula) and Justine strike a blood pact, summon demonic forces of some sort and wreak havoc in a small religious community in Mexico. That's it in a nutshell.It isn't simply a bad film, though it is in conventional terms. It's so utterly nonsensical, so bizarre and hysteric it becomes much more than it is. And isn't the whole point with movies that we construct what they mean to us?It falls somewhere between Jess Franco's lesbian vampire films, and unconsciously Arrabal's Panic Theater and the Pythons. The beauty of it is that you can read it any way you feel like, there is no logic which is something I seek in films. Or rather, the logic is so inane compared to the anarchic joy, it breaks. My preferred reading is that the whole cacophonous mess is something between Justine's fears of motherhood strangling her sexuality (viewed through a Catholic prism), a confessional of scandalous teenage thoughts, and mischief caused by two young nuns in the back benches during Sunday school, perhaps imaginary, perhaps blown up into 'possession' by the shrill teacher.It is all entirely theatric, but unselfconscious which is why its chaos works. Everyone is acting crazy, nuns drop down out of the blue. A book (ostensibly on demonology) simply reads 'Satan'. It's all of it disconnected, we visit one place then another. There is a satanic ritual and orgy for no good reason.There is so much screaming, there is screaming inside the screaming.It's awesome.

ferbs54 In case you were wondering whether or not the fact that the name "Alucarda" almost spells "Dracula" backwards has any special significance here, the answer is no, not really. Hardly a tale of vampires, this Mexican film from 1978 rather gives us a look at demonic possession, but, as it turns out, is more--much more--than just a south-of-the-border "Exorcist." The film transpires in the year 1865, but, as it was shot in English, its setting may just as easily be the U.S. as Mexico. In it, we meet a beautiful 15-year-old named Justine, played by the gorgeous actress Susana Kamini. (Indeed, Kamini strongly resembles no less a sex symbol than the young Jeanne Crain, and if, by some weird chance, you've read my reviews on this site for the Crain films "State Fair," "Dangerous Crossing" and "Hot Rods to Hell," you already know what I think of HER remarkable physiognomy!) Newly orphaned, Justine comes to live at an unusual orphanage/convent, which looks more like a labyrinth of underground caves and where the nuns are swaddled in mummylike wrappings. Here, she meets Alucarda (Tina Romero), a pretty young "fey" who convinces her to go on an exploration of a nearby crypt. Unfortunately, by innocently (?) prying open one of the coffins there (that of Alucarda's own mother, as it turns out), a Satanic demon is loosed that wastes little time in possessing both young ladies. And after Alucarda practically rapes the orphanage's priest during confession, what else can the beleaguered congregation do than to...exorcise its rites?From its fairy tale-like beginning straight through to its apocalyptic conclusion, "Alucarda" truly is a remarkable film. It contains more screaming and (somehow appropriately) more over-the-top hysterical acting than any film you've probably ever seen. It may also be one of the bloodiest; indeed, the nuns in this convent seem to be perpetually covered in the red stuff, and not just as a result of some intensive flagellation. I was not surprised, thus, to learn that the film's director, Juan L. Moctezuma, was a friend of Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky and served as an associate producer for his 1970 cult film "El Topo" (the goriest film I'd ever seen, back then). "Alucarda" also features some stunning cinematography--indoor and outdoor--by Xavier Cruz, numerous gross-out segments (those whippings, especially, plus a skewer-filled exorcism AND the picture's most memorable image: Justine rising, admittedly vampirelike, from a coffin filled with blood) and some very bizarre moments (such as the deservedly named Sister Angelica oozing blood from every pore and levitating while she prays for the two girls). Viewers who may be expecting the usual blend of head swiveling, cussing and the regurgitation of pea soup may be both stunned and surprised with the imaginative work that Moctezuma has given us here. The film comes to us from the wonderful outfit known as Mondo Macabro, known for its great-looking DVDs that are simply jam packed with extras. "Alucarda" is no exception. It impressed this viewer so much that I am now eagerly looking forward to watching Moctezuma's first picture as a director, 1973's "The Mansion of Madness," which, happily, is also available from Mondo Macabro....

GoregirlsDungeon This deliciously sacrilegious and surreal bit of insanity from 1978 is pure exploitative gold. They just don't make them like this anymore!The sets are imaginative and quite impressive. The convent has the appearance of a cave and the multiple tiered Christs hanging from the ceiling is one of the most brilliant props I have ever seen! Instead of traditional habits, the nuns are clothed in what appears to be torn bloodied bandages. Tina Romero, who plays Alucarda gives a brooding and wonderfully wicked performance. When the action starts, it keeps a spirited pace right through to the end. There is more hysterical female screaming then I've ever witnessed in a single film! The dialog is over dramatic at times and there are a few moments that are bordering on cheesy but Moctezuma's strange, daunting and moody presentation keeps it from slipping into silliness. There is some great bonus material on the DVD, including a brief doc on the films director, Juan López Moctezuma and an interview with Guillermo Del Toro. You will be treated to bizarre images, flagellating nuns, satanic rituals, copious nudity, lesbianism, and bloody violence. It is all complimented nicely by some trippy organ music. This little gem from Mexico City is a must see for horror fans! Highly recommended!