Romasanta (2004)

An uproar is caused when some mutilated cadavers are discovered, giving way to the legend of the "Werewolf of Allariz". A traveling vendor rolls through the forest in his old wagon. A woman... See full summary »

Director:

Paco Plaza

Writers:

Alfredo Conde (story), Elena Serra (screenplay)

Stars:

Julian Sands, Elsa Pataky, John Sharian

8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julian Sands	...	Manuel Romasanta
Elsa Pataky	...	Bárbara
John Sharian	...	Antonio
Gary Piquer	...	District Attorney Luciano de la Bastida
David Gant	...	Professor Philips
Maru Valdivielso	...	María
Luna McGill	...	Teresa
Carlos Reig-Plaza	...	Gómez (as Carlos Reig)
Reg Wilson	...	Judge
Ivana Baquero	...	Ana
Laura Mañá	...	Antonia
Sergi Ruiz	...	Francisco
Itziar Fenollar	...	Benita
Carlos Sante	...	Hunter 1
Jaume Montané	...	Raúl

Storyline

An uproar is caused when some mutilated cadavers are discovered, giving way to the legend of the "Werewolf of Allariz". A traveling vendor rolls through the forest in his old wagon. A woman from every village on his route faithfully awaits him. He's attractive, intelligent, charming.... But he's also the monster feared by all. His most recent prey, Barbara will soon become the one who hunts him down. The film is based on the true-life story of Manuel Blanco Romasanta, the traveling vendor, who confessed to the murders of thirteen people, using their body fat to make soap. Romasanta was tried in Allaríz in 1852 and avoided capital punishment by proclaiming he was a werewolf. Barbara was the lone survivor of four sisters.

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Plot Keywords:

werewolf | male frontal nudity | male nudity | costume horror | 1850s | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, some sexuality, nudity and brief language

Details

Country:

Spain UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 May 2004 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Werewolf Hunter

Box Office

Budget:

€4,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

€131,690 (Spain), 14 May 2004, Limited Release

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmax,Future Films,Fantastic Factory (Filmax)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on the case of serial killer Manuel Blanco Romasanta who murdered at least 13 people in 1850s Spain. He claimed a curse turned him into a wolf causing him to kill. Because of these claims, Queen Isabella II acquitted him, but he died in jail before being released.

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Quotes

Bárbara: How many women have you been with?
Manuel Romasanta: [kissing her neck] What answer would you like to hear?

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Crazy Credits

The opening Filmax logo, usually a white sphere with three stripes (yellow, red and blue), turns into a full moon.

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Connections

Featured in El último justo (2007)

User Reviews

Highly engrossing horror-mystery and based on facts

1851 Galicia , an uproar is caused when some mutilated cadavers are discovered. Wolves plague the forests. People are disappearing. The mutilated cadavers present precise surgical cuts along with savage gashes ,giving way to the legend of the "Werewolf of Allariz". A traveling vendor (Julian Sands) along with his wife (Maru Valdivieso) and daughter rolls through the forest in his old wagon. A woman from every village on his route faithfully awaits him. He's attractive, intelligent, charming.... But he's also the monster feared by all. His most recent prey, Barbara (Elsa Pataky) will soon become the one who hunts him down .

This exciting terror picture displays drama , action, suspense, with mysterious touches and is quite entertaining . The frightening story begins well and grows more and more until a downbeat finale. It's some different containing Galicia legends and actual events but with clear reference to previous werewolves films . Good performances from Julian Sands as traveling seller who hides a terrible secret and Elsa Pataky as unfortunate victim who seeks vengeance . The transformation of man into werewolf is complex and is made by expert make-up artist with no computer generator FX .The writers provide a well-knit plot with mystery and horror, giving full rein to Paco Plaza natural talent for the terror genre . Colorful cinematography by Javier Salmones and atmospheric musical score by Mikel Salas fitted perfectly to suspense action .The flick is finely produced by the chairman of Filmax and Castelao Productions , Julio Fernandez who along with his brother Carlos Fernandez are two successful producers and experts on Horror genre , producers of hits as ¨The machinist¨ ,¨ Fragiles¨, ¨Darkness¨, and many others. The picture is professionally directed by Paco Plaza (Second name, OT) who along with by Jaume Balaguero are the main Spanish filmmakers expert on terror cinema , both of whom have realized the box-office big successes as ¨Rec 1¨ and ¨Rec 2¨ , among others . It's a standard terror and sometimes graphically gory and turns out to be an acceptable attempt to cash in the werewolf sub-genre. Rating : 6,5 Good .

The film is based on the true-life story of Manuel Blanco Romasanta, the traveling vendor, who confessed to the murders of thirteen people, using their body fat to make soap. Romasanta was tried in Allaríz in 1852 and avoided capital punishment by proclaiming he was a werewolf. Barbara was the lone survivor of four sisters . He obtained pardon to death penalty by queen Isabel II but was condemned life penalty . He died in prison .