Alucarda, la hija de las tinieblas (1978)

Director:

Juan López Moctezuma

Writers:

Sheridan Le Fanu (novel)
Alexis Arroyo (story) ...

Release Date:

26 January 1978 (Mexico)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

They gave their souls to Hell... but the Devil wanted MORE! [Canada]

Plot:

A young girl's arrival at a convent after the death of her parents marks the beginning of a series of...

Plot Keywords:

Convent | Satan | Male Frontal Nudity | Violence | Decapitation

Cast

Claudio Brook	...	Dr. Oszek / Hunchbacked Gypsy
David Silva	...	Father Lázaro
Tina Romero	...	Alucarda / Alucarda's Mother
Susana Kamini	...	Justine
Lili Garza	...	Daniela Oszek (as Lily Garza)
Tina French	...	Sister Angélica
Birgitta Segerskog	...	Mother Superior
Adriana Roel	...	Sister Germana
Antonia Guerrero
Martin LaSalle	...	Brother Felipe (as Martín Lasalle)
Manuel Dondé	...	Wagon Driver
Adriana Riveroll
Susan Inman
Alejandra Moya
Agustín Isunza	...	Monk

Also Known As:

Alucarda (USA) (video title)
Innocents from Hell (USA) (video title)
Mark of the Devil 3 (USA) (video title)
Sisters of Satan (USA)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

Mexico

Language:

English

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Unrated (DVD rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Estudios América, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company:

Films 75

Movie Connections:

Featured in Mondo Macabro: Episode 2 - Mexican Horror Movies (2002)

Disturbing wardrobe

The movie is a little hard to follow, but that doesn't take away from the eerie creepiness of the whole film. The best and most memorable part of this movie was the costumes. The nuns were wearing what looks like white, layered cheesecloth or that material you wrap around your sprained wrist. They have it wrapped around their heads, necks and chest, while it flows out into a dress in three layers down below. Seems very course, tight and uncomfortable. Every nun has her own tinges of dirt and blood on her dress. Mostly blood has lightly gotten all over the dresses to give the convent a feel of filth, stench and poverty. Mystery, too, as you wonder why the dresses are so bloody in the first place. Is it their own blood? In the front/middle of the skirt, there is always a very high concentration of blood, as if the nuns wiped their hands on this apron or even menstruated on it! It's quite disturbing and odd. Do Mexican Catholic nuns wear uniforms like this?

The other very memorable part of this movie is the character Alucarda. This actress is amazingly good. She plays the devilish child role extremely well. Her eyes sparkle with dark evil glances and she moves and dances in a possessed and spooky way! Like a little girl who is totally absorbed in herself. This actress was really impressive and her long, dark, fluffy hair really added to her charm.

This movie is worth watching for these two reasons. You will never see such a good demon-child or such discomforting costumes in any movie. Recommended!