La mansión de los muertos vivientes (1985)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Jesus Franco

Writers:

Jesus Franco (novel)
Jesus Franco (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 November 1985 (Spain)

Genre:

Horror

Plot Keywords:

Poison | Ancient Curse | Hotel | Tomb | Death Cult

Cast

Lina Romay	...	Candy (as Candy Coster)
Antonio Mayans	...	Carlos Savonarola (as Robert Foster)
Mabel Escaño	...	Mabel
Albino Graziani	...	Marleno
Mari Carmen Nieto	...	Lea (as Mamie Kaplan)
Elisa Vela	...	Caty (as Jasmina Bell)
Eva León	...	Olivia

Also Known As:

Mansion of the Living Dead (USA) (literal English title)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Golden Films Internacional S.A.

Movie Connections:

Remake of La noche del terror ciego (1971)

I didn't understand it, but I loved it

I watched this movie a couple of years ago; I believe it was in Spanish with no subtitles, but that didn't really matter. What mattered was that it was fantastic! I know 95% of the world's population wouldn't agree with me, but I always had a thing for old sleaze/horror movies which seem to be made just because the director had nothing to do, had had a funny dream he wanted to realize, or that he just needed money.

As for this film, I couldn't understand why the title had anything to do with the action. I only remember some scenes with cloaked individuals walking slowly as though in some kind of procession. And there was a man (Antonio Mayans I believe) talking often to some girls, and there were scenes of various sexual intercourse; although I found the atmosphere in the film very serious and unpretentious.

There is one very interesting scene where a couple of girls are lying on the beach, and suddenly a meat cleaver flies through the air, thrown from a hotel window high above, and lands in the sand just beside them. I was intrigued by that scene, quite intimidating.

Only Franco (Oasis of the zombies) and D'Amato (Porno Holocaust, Erotic nights of the living dead) could make movies with this kind of enchanting atmosphere. A solemn, sombre echo from an era since long lost, which after the forgetful ravages of time still can like the bird of Phoenix rise from the ashes of oblivion to once again let its plumage shine with unprecedented respectability.