Michael_Elliott The Vampire's Coffin (1957)*** (out of 4) A doctor steals the corpse of vampire Count Lavud (German Robles) and soon those from the first film who destroyed him must try to do so again. Once again the Count is after Marta (Ariadna Welter) but Dr. Saldivar (Abel Salazar) is there to try and save the day.This sequel to EL VAMPIRO is actually a lot better and manages to be one of the better vampire movies from this period. The movie fixes a lot of the problems with the first movie and manages to be a lot more entertaining thanks in large part to a nice atmosphere, a much better flow to the picture as well as some nice performances. The film kicks off with a great grave robbing sequence, which was obviously influenced by FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN but it's still a lot of fun.From here we get a lot of very good scenes that manage to pack some nice atmosphere and of course the fog machine is on overdrive during most scenes. There's some very good stuff inside the hospital where two doctors debate on science and the idea of stealing the vampire's corpse. I thought the attack scenes were all extremely good and there's no doubt that the flow is much better here. The film manages to go by rather quickly and this certainly helps.Another benefit is that the three leads are all very good. Robles is excellent as the vampire and manages to be quite menacing. Welter isn't given as much to do here as she did in the original but it's still nice seeing her return. Abel Salazar handles the role without any problems and makes for a memorable character. THE VAMPIRE'S COFFIN, like the first film, features some bad special effects with the wires attached to the flying bat being very noticeable but it doesn't do any major harm to the picture. If you're a fan of Mexican cinema then this here is a must see.

ferbs54 In the ordinary course of things, a movie sequel begins production only after the original film has proved itself a success at the box office. This, however, was not the case with the sequel to the 1957 Mexican film "El Vampiro." Producer Abel Salazar, apparently, felt so confident that his film would be a hit--and it was; tremendously so--that he began work on that picture's follow-up even before the first one saw the light of day. That sequel, released in '58, was called "The Vampire's Coffin," and does what all good sequels should: expand on the story line and themes of the original, bring back characters from the first (four, in this case), and do its darnedest to top its predecessor. Like its more famous forebear, "The Vampire's Coffin," directed again by Fernando Mendez, must be deemed a complete success.When we last saw the Count Duval (played here again by Spanish émigré German Robles)--revealed to actually be the vampire Lavud--in the first film, he was lying in his coffin with a stake through his heart, courtesy of the elderly Aunt Maria (Alicia Montoya). The sequel picks up days, possibly weeks, later, when Aunt Maria unsuccessfully tries to stop a pair of crypt robbers from stealing the titular coffin. The casket is coincidentally brought to the very hospital where Dr. Enrique (whose actual name, we learn in this film, is Enrique Saldivar, played again by Abel himself), the hero of the first film, works, and where his current flame, showgirl Marta (Ariadna Welter, who played the damsel in distress in film #1), is for some strange reason helping him out. Trouble looms, however, when one of the tomb raiders, Barraza, removes the stake from Lavud's chest, reanimating the undead bloodsucker and commencing all the nastiness once again...."The Vampire's Coffin" has a very different feel than its original. Whereas that first film took place in the countryside, with an emphasis on its hacienda in the middle of nowhere, the sequel feels more urban, and transpires in what seems to be a small city. The main selling points of the first film--the remarkably dreary sets of Gunther Gerszo, the stunning B&W cinematography of Rosalio Solano, and those amazing, stationary mists--are largely absent in the second; though Gerszo also worked on the sequel, his sets here are more mundane, but fortunately, Victor Herrera's lensing is often quite remarkable. What this film can justifiably boast is some very impressive use of light and shadow, most especially in the scene where Lavud chases a young woman down a nighttime street. Still, the first film LOOKS better than the second; it is more artfully composed, with numerous scenes that you just want to freeze and admire. But the second film, if more prosaic, certainly moves quicker, and is more action oriented. Among the many exciting sequences is the one in which Aunt Maria tries to escape from Lavud and his hypnotized, thuggish henchman in a dreary wax museum, replete with fully functioning guillotine and iron maiden; the one where Enrique fights that same henchman, Barraza, on a high ladder perched atop a playhouse; and the wonderful finale, in the wax museum again, where Enrique fights it out with Lavud (as he had in the first film) whilst Maria lies nearby, in dire peril. Some truly exciting sequences in this follow-up, to be sure!Truth to tell, when I first watched the film in question, I was somewhat appalled at how stupid Enrique was acting. In several scenes, he voices the opinion that--despite everything he had witnessed in the first film--Lavud is not a genuine vampire, but merely a normal man who likes blood! Wha? How can any reasonable man be so naive? A repeat viewing, however, made me realize that Enrique was merely trying to cover up before his coworker, Dr. Mendoza (the other tomb raider), as well as dispel Marta's fears and concerns; Enrique redeemed, and all that. Abel, as usual (I have also seen him in such wonderful Mexican films as "The Brainiac," "The Man and the Monster" and "The Curse of the Crying Woman"), is a nicely ingratiating performer, and I was relieved to realize that his character had an ulterior motive for his seeming callowness. Still, Enrique does come off a bit goofier in this film, by dint of the picture's emphasis on amusing situations, such as Enrique being unable to explain to his hospital boss just HOW that coffin has disappeared, and his failed attempts to convince the police that there IS a vampire flapping about. Fortunately, the film never devolves into silliness, and the amusing bits are kept in check. One strange inconsistency that I did notice, in what is otherwise a seamless continuation of the original, is the matter of Lavud's reflectiveness in mirrors. In the first film, he is completely invisible in a mirror--as is Marta's vampiress Aunt Eloisa, too, for that matter--but here, he appears as a skeleton in a reflecting surface; only his skin is invisible. Don't ask me to explain; maybe it has something to do with being staked and coming back? But despite this possible glitch, and despite the film's aforementioned difference in tone and feel, "The Vampire's Coffin" remains a very fine sequel; a perfect double feature, natch, when viewed following the original. And thanks to the good folks at Casa Negra, both films are currently available on great-looking, extras-packed DVDs. Not for the first time, thus, am I being compelled to say, with gratitude, "Gracias, Casa Negra!"

vtcavuoto "The Vampire's Coffin" is a good sequel to "The Vampire". German Robles again reprises his role as Count Lavud as do the actors playing the Doctor and Martha. This film had the same Gothic settings plus a bit more suspense than the first film. The acting again is well done as is direction, music and the dubbing. The only problem as with the first film is that the wires flapping the fake bat are very noticeable. The film's scene in which a robber removes the stake from the Vampire is taken directly from "House of Frankenstein" and is well done here. The scenes in the wax museum are very good and it is here that the Aunt from the first film is killed. Overall, another fine job from south of the border.

insomniac_rod I have to be honest, I was very disappointed with "El Ataùd del Vampiro". Not even the great Germàn Robles; who is an excellent actor in movies and theater (I've seen him in his brilliant performance in "The Woman In Black"); but sadly, he can't save this movie by himself.The movie lacks the greatness of the "El Vampiro" in all aspects. The atmosphere is no longer creepy, the acting is quite silly and naive. The performances are cartoonish; of course, except for Robles.The effects are truly horrendous although I understand the minimal budget at the time for Mexican classic Horror.Overall, this is an over the top Vampire flick that displays what was going on with Mexican Horror classic cinema: Kitschy dialogs, cheesy settings and situations, and a cartoonish atmosphere that is nowhere as creepy as the original.The grave robbers plot was quite interesting but it lost credibility when they found the Vampire. Robles characterization wasn't that good.Still, the best thing is the cinematography; specially when Mr. Robles comes in fully disguise.Give this movie a try ONLY if you liked the original "El Vampiro" which is a creepy and beautifully done Horror movie. Among the best ones from the time. This sequel will let you expecting more but sadly, you won't get more than just the typical Horror/Comedy from Mèxico.