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 Alucarda More at IMDbPro »Alucarda, la hija de las tinieblas (original title)

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23 out of 27 people found the following review useful:
ALUCARDA (Juan Lopez Moctezuma, 1975) ***, 17 October 2004
Author: MARIO GAUCI (marrod@melita.com) from Naxxar, Malta

After much deliberation and, at one time, even an outright cancellation, I finally took the plunge and purchased Mondo Macabro's R1 SE DVD of Juan Lopez Moctezuma's diabolical horror opus ALUCARDA, which I've received a few days ago and have now watched for the first time. Essentially a modest undertaking, it still manages to be a very creepy piece (the demonic sound effects in particular) and, quite frankly, I found ALUCARDA a lot more enjoyable than either THE DEVILS (1971) and THE EXORCIST (1973) – perhaps the most obvious touchstones of the 'demonic possession' subgenre.

Before writing this personal appraisal, I've re-read all the reviews for the R1 disc I could find on the internet and one thing that I don't remember having been mentioned anywhere is that, unlike most films of its type, Alucarda is not gradually possessed but, as can be seen from the very first scene (her clandestine birth in an unused barn 'decorated' by the relics of ancient demons), she is possibly a spawn of the devil! In fact, her very first appearance as a grown-up – manifesting out of the shadows, like a supernatural entity, behind new intern Justine – seems to substantiate this thesis. The girl's essentially malevolent nature may have been tempered by her stay in the convent (considering her own genuine confusion and shock when, drawn to the barn once again, it is powerfully re-awakened) but it's also obvious that, perhaps unwittingly, she may also have been working her spell on the other nuns: their own religious zeal borders on possession (at one point one of them actually levitates and sweats blood, and witness also their behavior during the grueling exorcism scene).

The film offers any number of highly effective (and potentially subversive) imagery: the nuns themselves, clad exclusively in white, resemble nothing less than a host of mummies; the catacomb-like convent setting with its overhanging religious paraphernalia; a shepherd (usually associated with Christ as leader of the Church) is actually the tempter here, leading the two girls first into a lesbian blood pact and subsequently a demonic orgy!; there are also elements of vampirism on display, as when a charred corpse is suddenly re-animated and has to be restrained by being viciously beheaded and the scene in which Justine (also thought to have died) emerges naked and blood-soaked from a coffin filled with copious amounts of the red stuff and unceremoniously takes a bite off Sister Angelica, who had always been over-protective of the two girls (a sure sign of her own latent lesbianism)!; Alucarda's demise, fading away during the fiery climax when faced with Sister Angelica (being carried by the other nuns) striking a cross-like pose.

Another powerful scene is when Alucarda is sent to confession: she provokes and confounds the priest by first questioning his faith, and then taunts him to give in to his lust for her. The ending has caused a lot of debate: I must say that I had no trouble at all with the conflagrated figure of Christ on the cross. As for the film's apparent unwillingness to take sides, all I can say is this: while organized religion is definitely not portrayed in a good light (the cringe-inducing exorcism as already mentioned but also the self-flagellation sessions), it is also obvious that Alucarda and Justine would need to perish at the end, as we certainly cannot have Satanism emerge triumphant!

Though the film is obviously a period piece, there is no overpowering urge here to recreate it in detail (as was evident in THE DEVILS, for instance) – and, in fact, I would say that the film feels quite 'modern'. The acting is high-pitched but involving: Claudio Brook's ambivalent dual roles and Tina Romero (who also does double-duty as an actress, which fact I was not aware of until I re-read Mondo Digital's review!) – she is effortlessly seductive and possesses (no pun intended) an undeniable screen presence, yet this is mixed with an odd vulnerability which makes her something more than a conventional 'possessed' girl. The synthesizer-based score is also very effective, and genuinely unnerving.

Still, that quote from 'The Psychotronic Video Guide' on the DVD cover is somewhat misleading: it's true that the film is awfully bloody at times but this and the nudity are certainly not consistent, or in any way extreme, like I was led to believe! And while there IS a lot of screaming (I'd say even more so than in THE Texas CHAIN SAW MASSACRE [1974]), it is not as annoyingly hysterical as that heard in THE DEVILS either (though I concede that the latter film was made on a far broader scale). Conversely, the so-called 'Satanic' orgy is no great shakes; in fact, as a rule, I did not find the film all that shocking!

Some of you here may know that I'm not a great fan of Alejandro Jodorwosky's work, so I was actually thankful that ALUCARDA proved very dissimilar in approach to that film-maker's 'Surrealistic' films. On the other hand, I did feel that the few snippets I saw of Moctezuma's MANSION OF MADNESS (1971) smacked unmistakably of Jodorowsky's somewhat extremist style (though, being based on Poe, I would still love to watch it and, hopefully, Mondo Macabro's proposed DVD edition is not too long in coming)!

One final question with regards to ALUCARDA: does anyone know whether there is actually a longer 90-minute version of this film? Pete Tombs of 'Mondo Macabro' says he could not find any evidence of this, yet some (who were around when it first came out) feel that the 'present' version is somewhat choppy!

Now to the DVD itself: the print, with all its apparent defects and the fact that it is presented full-frame (though it may well be its OAR), is perfectly acceptable under the circumstances. The audio, however, was somewhat problematic displaying echo and distortion which I found rather distracting (I've encountered this same glitch on a small number of other discs and it has always bothered me) – all in all, the Stereo soundtrack sounded unnatural to my ears, and I truly wish the Spanish track had carried subtitles! The supplements, however, I found to be excellent indeed: the documentary on Moctezuma, as well as the text interview and biography, but also the enthusiastic interview with director Guillermo Del Toro who expresses his admiration for Moctezuma's work in general, and even discloses some of his other influences. The theatrical trailer is said to contain missing footage and alternate angles – but I have to say that, since it was presented in Spanish, I didn't give much attention to it!

This had only been the third Mondo Macabro disc I've purchased, but I look forward even more now to more obscure horror titles from this stable, beginning with THE LIVING CORPSE (1967; in terms of extras alone, perhaps their best release yet), which I hope to order in the very near future...

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21 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
Brilliant!, 10 December 2001
10/10
Author: HumanoidOfFlesh from Chyby, Poland

I've seen this cult masterpiece under the title "The Inferno" here in Poland.This is surely one of the most atmospheric and diabolical horror films ever made.The two main ladies-Justine and Alucarda-are incredibly beautiful."Alucarda" is loaded with gore and violence and it offers some delicious sleaze(lots of nudity,sex and lesbianism).My favourite scene is when Justine rises from the coffin full of blood and bites out a nun's throat-pure brilliance on screen!It's really a shame that I haven't seen the other horror movies made by Juan Lopez Moctezuma("Mary,Mary,Bloody Mary"),but now I'm dying to see them.10 out of 10-an absolute masterpiece of sleazy horror!

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13 out of 15 people found the following review useful:
A striking Mexican nunsploitation movie with some unforgettable surreal imagery., 14 September 2003
Author: Infofreak from Perth, Australia

For the first ten minutes or so I thought 'Alucarda' was going to be a waste of time. It looked very cheap and mediocre. But boy, was I wrong! The movie very quickly kicked into gear and after that it was one fantastic scene after another! I suppose technically this movie could be classified as nunsploitation, as it is most definitely an exploitation movie and it DOES have nuns in it, and, like virtually all the movies in that fascinating subgenre I've seen, it draws a lot of inspiration from Ken Russell's 'The Devils', but I'd be a bit wary of giving it that slightly misleading description. The focus of the movie isn't on the nuns, but the girls they look after, "good" Justine (Susana Kamini) and "evil" Alucarda (Tina Romero), and their strange relationship, and that to me puts it closer to the witch tradition, or even to 70s erotic vampire movies like Hammer's 'The Vampire Lovers' and 'Twins Of Evil', or similar movies by Jess Franco and Jean Rollin. Anyway, this is my first experience with Moctezuma's movies, and if this is anything to go by, I hope it isn't my last! He was a friend of Jodorowsky and produced the cult classic 'El Topo'. 'Alucarda' isn't "just" a horror movie, like Jodorowsky and Ken Russell, Moctezuma creates some unforgettable surreal imagery and that combined with his strong anti-catholicism makes this a very striking movie that will appeal to Bunuel buffs as much as 'Carrie' fans. 'Alucarda' is a very underrated movie and not to be missed!

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12 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
A little taste of Satanic hysteria, 23 March 2005
7/10
Author: fertilecelluloid from Mountains of Madness

Alucarda (Tina Romero) is an impressionable young lady who develops a fondness for displays of blasphemy and Satanic worship. Susana Kamini is Justine, a sweet-faced teenager who joins Alucarda as she goes off the rails. Ever-reliable Claudio Brook, essaying the good Doctor Oszek, is unconvinced of the merits of possession until he tangles with our devil-loving teeners.

Director Juan Lopez Moctezuma delivers a texturally rich, erotic tableau of horror. Setting his film in a convent, he exploits every religious symbol he can get his hands on in order to fully realize his nightmarish vision of Satanic anarchy amongst those of the cloth.

Similar in tone to Ken Russell's THE DEVILS, this is a more Gothic work with a strong religious flavour. Its erotic aspects are quite potent (there is much nudity), as are its numerous detours into bloodshed and self-inflicted violence.

A slack third act had a detrimental effect on my overall enjoyment of the piece. I became slightly bored and prayed for a quick, fiery finale.

Undeniably a work of passion and skill, its fire-baked imagery and scream-filled soundtrack color it highly valid in horror annals.

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15 out of 21 people found the following review useful:
Disturbing wardrobe, 5 December 2003
6/10
Author: ethylester from Michigan

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!

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7 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
And this is what the devil does!, 13 January 2005
7/10
Author: GroovyDoom from Haddonfield, IL

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Delirious 70s exploitation shocker, disjointed and bizarre but not without its moments. The plot concerns a young heroine named Justine who is sent to live in a convent after her parents die. A strange girl, 'cleverly' dubbed "Alucarda", materializes in Justine's room and soon lures her into adventures in lesbianism, devil worship, and bloodsucking (in that order). When they challenge the authority of the nuns by chanting satanic rituals during a church lesson, the two girls are put through a devastating exorcism, which of course has disastrous results.

The film is loaded with unforgettable images, many of which center on such blasphemies as demonic orgies and burning crosses. The acting is atrocious but enjoyable in a campy kind of way, with most of the cast delivering their performances in histrionics. The photography is interesting, as are the sets. The nuns exist in a strange, cave-like environment, and traditional habits are abandoned for strange gauze outfits that make them look like mummies. Those who are easily put off by this sort of thing will be offended, but fans of the weird will not be disappointed. This one demands multiple viewings.

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5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
One Ferocious Piece of Sacrilegious Cinema., 29 December 2008
8/10
Author: youshotandywarhol from Oregon

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

"Alucarda" is a little-known 1970s Mexican horror film that focuses on a fifteen year old girl named Alucarda, who lives as an orphan in a large convent in the early 19th century. A new arrival to the convent, Justine, becomes very good friends with Alucarda, and their relationship and mutual attraction is almost immediate. But after stumbling upon a band of gypsies and an old crypt in the surrounding woods, the girls become possessed by Satan himself, and begin wreaking bloody havoc on the convent's inhabitants. A local doctor, who is at first skeptical of the events, soon comes to realize something supernatural is going on, and decides to help when all hell breaks loose.

A film that is hardly known by genre fans, but a gruesome little treat if you can get your hands on it, "Alucarda" is one of the more surreal entries into the possession horror sub-genre. You can tell from the first frame that it is a fairly low-budget, independent horror flick, but that doesn't detract from its power. Director Juan López Moctezuma uses a lot of style here, and the film looks very nice considering its budget and age. The convent (which is the main setting for the film) itself is almost cavern- like, the walls made of desert rock and dirt, giving it a rustic appearance. The nuns in the film are also quite strange looking, donning white gauze-like headdresses and gowns that are inexplicably stained with what appears to be blood. All these weird, creepy little details work in favor of the film, giving it an off-center sort of atmosphere.

Then comes Alucarda into the picture - a strange, dark-haired teenage orphan that inhabits the convent, who befriends (and essentially seduces) the Justine character, both of them winding up possessed by the devil, much to the dismay of their guardian nuns and priests. It's a quite strange story, to be frank, but it has a sort of charm to it that keeps the audience's attention. The elaborate sets and weird, spooky imagery lock the viewer in from the bizarre opening scene to the fiery, bloody conclusion to it all. "Alucarda" has often been noted for being controversial and extreme, which is a reasonable declaration. We've got nuns and priests who participate in whipping sessions as a form of religious discipline, bizarre gypsies who dabble in witchcraft and indulge in orgies, exorcisms that consist of chanting and torture by sharp objects, and two possessed teenage girls (whom appear to be something of lesbian lovers) that are taking bloody "revenge" on those around them.

As the atmosphere and suspense builds during the film, the audience is exposed to some pretty darn horrific stuff. Lots of sacrilegious insinuations and imagery would more than likely make this an unsuitable film for some, but for those with an open mind (or those who are not easily offended), this is an entertaining religious-themed B-horror picture. The acting isn't award-worthy, but Tina Romero is remarkably decent in the title role, showing off some scary facial expressions and the scream-filled demeanor of a pale-faced, possessed girl. Some of the acting is corny, but I was able to look past it. Really, the atmosphere and cinematography were what did it for me here - I thoroughly enjoyed those aspects of the film. As for the ending, it's quite intense. Lots of screaming and hysteria (which are quite a large part of this flick), and a fiery, good-versus-evil conclusion to it all.

Overall, "Alucarda" is an extremely bizarre little entry into the horror genre that most people don't know about. To be honest, it's a weird flick, but an enchantingly atmospheric and devilish one at that. It's got too many positive points for it to be dismissed by genre fans, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It may be something of an acquired taste (and will not generally please the regular movie goer), but if you're into bizarre religious-themed horror films, then you won't want to pass up this 1970s sacrilegious B-horror flick. 8/10.

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6 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
They Don't Make 'Em Like this Anymore, 22 September 2009
10/10
Author: GoregirlsDungeon from Canada

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!

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6 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
The guy before me did a good summary, 6 June 2006
9/10
Author: ladyksatria from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This movie is very awesome. Three reasons: psycho nuns, religious fanatics and a gypsy troll. What else could one want out of a z-grade film? If you like the band "my life with the thrill kill kult", then you will giggle when you find that some of their most notorious songs sampled lines from this film such as, "this is what the devil does" and "you liars, repent".

The pseudo-lesbianism between Justine and alucarda is depicted as an innocent connection between two disconnected girls who find solace and comfort in their companionship. Alucarda was born to a witch (I believe) and therefore was the direct link to Satan. Interestingly, Alucarda appears to be a naughty but nice girl. Her love for Justine is very genuine. These two girls make a blood pact with the help of a gypsy troll and are lured into all kinds of satanic activity and babble thence forward. Eventually, their activities in the convent and out in the beautiful countryside drive the nuns to perform flagellation, and eventually, the persecution of Justine.

There are many nuances to the films, such as the involvement of a local doctor with the convent. He is fully convinced of the truth of the scientific praxis, and finds the outlandish behavior of the nuns to be anachronistic and laughable. He finds out the hard way, by entrusting Alucarda with the company of this blind daughter, that Satan is more powerful than the tenets of science! A++ this movie is one of my absolute favorites. It is right up there next to a few of my favorite naschy films. Dude, watch this movie and discover what is so great about not being a nun.

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7 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Disturbing, 17 April 2005
9/10
Author: bensonmum2 from Tennessee

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

- After the death of her parents, a girl, Justine (Susana Kamini), arrives at a convent hoping to find a new life. She immediately meets Alucarda (Tina Romero). Before long, Alucarda professes her love for Justine and wants to seal their friendship with a blood oath. But the spot the girls select to perform this ceremony is home to evil spirits that take over their bodies. Soon after, the girls express their allegiance to Satan and Alucarda attacks a priest. The girls eventually find themselves the subjects of an exorcism.

- Alucarda certainly is a twisted story full of imaginative imagery. Between blood pacts, orgies with Satan, levitating nuns, exorcisms, reanimated dead bodies, and the fiery destruction of the convent, there are very few moments to catch a breath. I found everyone of these moments visually disturbing, yet somehow incredibly beautiful. It's a real contradiction to see a nun floating off the ground covered in blood and think to yourself that it's one of the most beautiful images you've seen in a film.

- There are other contradictions within Alucarda that add to its effectiveness. Take Alucarda herself as played by Romero. She is evil and innocent at the same time. It's truly a remarkable performance.

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