Plot: What’s it about?
Justine (Susana Kamini) has just arrived at a convent, but she quickly forms a bond with her roommate, Alucarda (Tina Romero). Alucarda is a strange young woman, one few people know much about and as such, she remains a sort of outsider. But Justine likes her and the two become close friends, often taking excursions into the countryside to escape. On one such venture, they encounter a gypsy (Claudio Brook), who warns the girls about creatures within the forest, evil and supernatural beasts that lurk in the darkness. The girls explore the forest and discover a strange tomb, which they cannot resist getting a closer look at. So they go inside the tomb and feel an unexplainable, evil presence, so they leave in hurried fashion. After they return to the convent, Alucarda finds herself possessed and the gypsy appears to the girls, then escorts them off to a ritualistic orgy, not the kind of behavior the convent encourages. As such, the girls’ advocate, Sister Angelica (Tina French) suspects supernatural presence and begins a psychic clash to bring them back, which is no simple task. The girls do wind up back at the convent, but they’re stricken with frequent possessions and other odd happenings. Are the girls lost forever and if so, will all those within their reach be taken to the dark side as well?
If you’re a fan of cult cinema, then stop reading this review and go purchase Alucarda right now, as it is a must own release. Alucarda was almost impossible to locate for a long while, but now Mondo Macabro has made sure it is back in circulation. This movie is drenched in blood, sex, and religious symbols, as well as some surreal, highly effective visuals. You can tell director Juan Lopez Moctezuma planned each scene to the details, as each one is loaded with atmosphere and intense visual presence. I know a lot of cult films are well liked because of cornball reasons, such as so bad its good content, but Alucarda isn’t one of those movies. This is just a well crafted, imaginative horror movie that relies on the genre’s basic elements. We have sex, violence, bloodshed, keen visuals, and atmosphere, which are pushed to extremes by Moctezuma, in order to create a more insane, unique motion picture. You’ll see several scenes in Alucarda that inspired other films, including some mainstream efforts and that makes sense, as this is the kind of movie that paved new roads in the genre. Yes, it takes some cues from outside sources, especially from Moctezuma’s mentor Alejandro Jodorowski, at least in terms of visual madness. In any event, Alucarda is a movie that no horror, cult, or surreal cinema fan can be without. And since Mondo Macabro’s treatment is quite good, there’s no reason not to rush out and purchase this release.
Video: How does it look?
Alucarda is presented in full frame, as intended. I was stunned by the visual effort found here, as it is a vast improvement over previous editions. Even when stacked up against Mondo Macabro’s own import version, this edition comes off as sharper, crisper, and more natural. The colors have a more vivid and realistic presence, which is important, since blood reds are frequent and flesh is often on showcase. The print seems to be the same one used, which isn’t bad news, as it looks clean except for some minor nicks and scratches. But given the origins of this movie, I can overlook these minor issues and be thrilled the material is such good condition. As far as contrast, I found black levels to be smooth and stark, with no errors to report. This might have been the first U.S. release from Mondo Macabro, but you wouldn’t know it from this impeccable visual treatment, as Alucarda looks excellent.
Audio: How does it sound?
The import edition sported a worn mono soundtrack, but for this release, Mondo Macabro has included a stereo option. In addition to the added presence that stereo allows, this track is much cleaner and offers a more pleasant experience. The harsh hiss found on the mono soundtrack is eliminated, while the assorted pops and cracks are greatly reduced, so this is a clean and effective presentation. So dialogue seems crisper and easier to understand, since it isn’t hindered by the tolls of time on the material. The elements have less defects, which means all the ingredients are allowed to shine through. A few small problems still remain, but this is a much improved soundtrack and fans should be pleased.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The extras here are different than the import also, as we have a brief featurette on director Juan Lopez Moctezuma, an interview with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, both exclusive to this new American release. The disc also includes a text interview with Moctezuma, some still photos, a talent file on Moctezuma, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
