Alucarda

Available DVDs Press Kit File:ALU11.jpg

Also Known As

• Alucarda, la hija de las tinieblas (Original Title, Mexico)
• Innocents From Hell (US Video title)
• Mark of the Devil 3 (US Video title)
• Sisters of Satan (US)

Main Details

• Filmed: 1975
• Released: Jan. 1978 (Mexico)
• Aspect Ratio: (1.37:1)
• Rating: Unrated
• Running Time: 74 Min.
• Production Co: Films 75, Yuma Films

Cast and Crew

• Directed by: Juan Lopez Moctezuma
• Written by Alexis Arroyo
• Starring: Tina Romero, Susana Kamini, Claudio Brook, David Silva, Tina French
• Produced by: Juan Lopez Moctezuma, Max Gordon, and Eduardo Moreno
• Original Music: Tony Guefen
• Cinematography: Xavier Cruz

Synopsis

Alucarda (Spanish title: Alucarda, la hija de las tinieblas, or Alucarda, the daughter of darkness) is a 1978 Mexican horror film directed by Mexican horror filmmaker Juan López Moctezuma, starring Tina Romero in the title role. Often thought to be based on the 1872 novella Carmilla, it revolves around two teenage orphan girls living in a Catholic convent, who unleash a demonic force and become possessed by Satan. Although it was made in Mexico, it is an English language film.

Film Review

This is a classic! For years, praises have been said about this very unique film which can be described as a sexy demonic possessed nightmare Directed by Juan Lopez Moctezuma that's his best film standing with The Mansion of Madness, and those who have not seen this film yet should try to see it soon. Under-rated in it's original run, this fell prey to the usual multi-titled release world on VHS, with Innocents from Hell being the most familiar, but thankfully it's DVD release did everything right in making sure this gets known under a proper title.

The set up is very basic, based on the legendary tale of Carmilla, but it's what Moctezuma and Mansion of Madness writer Alexis Arroyo come up with that creates a very wild world out of that. Alucarda (Tina Romero who really should have been in many other films) is the orphaned girl of a mother who was killed by evil spirits once a witch takes her away to a convent and is possessed by those forces. She spreads her influence to two other women there, most notably Justine (Susana Kamini), a newcomer to the place who sparks interest, and after the two get introduced to the occult through a local gypsy (Claudio Brook) and his cult, they literally raise Hell back at the convent out of rebellion to the extreme repression there.

There's plenty of gore, Occult madness, nudity, and the well-remarked about screaming blended in with a Gothic mood with slight surreal touches, and those who play the religious characters that take things to bloody extremes to inspire such extreme rebellion also turn in excellent performances, especially David Silva as Father Lazaro, and Brook has a good second role as the Doctor who looks into the place and the possession. The nuns almost look like mummies, the flagellation goes for the gore, the deadly inquisition features Justine naked while her resurrection is very bloody, and Alucarda's final act is filled with fire.

Thanks to Romero's performance all in black and Kamini's bloody resurrection rage that's a classic moment this is one of the greatest experiences in the history of Horror Films.

"And this is what The Devil does..."

Reviewed by Screen 13 - 2/9/08

Themes

Alucarda is notorious for its extreme subject matter and themes, which includes that of Satanism, murder, demonic possession, exorcism, orgies, and lesbianism, among other things, within a religious setting. All of these things made the film controversial, especially for the time it was made. Because of its extreme violence, scenes of sacrilege, and perversely defiled religious imagery, it has gained notoriety among fans of the horror genre. The film has been often compared to Ken Russell's 1971 horror film The Devils, and William Friedkin's 1973 film classic The Exorcist, because Alucarda was released within five years of both of them, and because they share similar plot themes.

External Links

• @ IMDB