Alucarda (Juan López Moctezuma, 1977)

Alucarda (1977)

Alucarda (1977)

Susana Kamini and Tina Romero in Alucarda (1977).

Alucarda (1977) dir. Juan López Moctezuma

Alucarda by Juan López Moctezuma.

Alucarda 1977 dir. Juan López Moctezuma

Movie Review | Alucarda (Moctezuma, 1977)

I found the shift in perspective from the girls in the first half to the priests and nuns in the second half, as well as the way the movie parallels the depravity of their respective practices. Certainly the scenes where the nuns flagellate themselves carry much of the manic violent sexual charge of any of the satanic rites. And there is no shortage of shocks, from decapitations, bloodied nude bodies, and the thunderous climax. (The smallness of the production probably makes this last scene feel all the more explosive.) Michael Weldon’s claim that this has “more blood, loud screaming and nudity than any horror film [he] can think of” that’s emblazoned on the cover of my DVD certainly seems apt.

At the same time, I must concede that with my non-Christian, not particularly religious upbringing, I had difficulty relating to the baseline of hysteria this movie starts with. This is probably a me problem, but with this kind of religious horror or exploitation, I greatly appreciate when we’re able to fully grasp the arc and religious tension experienced by the protagonist (I think Satanico Pandemonium does this especially well), and here it felt like I was being yelled at from the get go. If we’d stuck with the girls for the entire runtime, the movie might have lost some of its religious satire, but I think on a narrative, emotional level it would have worked a lot better. It could have allowed for a sense of triumph and catharsis in the climax that I found missing in the picture as is.

Alucarda (Juan López Moctezuma, 1977)

Alucarda, the Daughter of Darkness (Alucarda, la Hija de las Tinieblas), 1977, dir. Juan López Moctezuma

Alucarda (1977)

Alucarda (1977)

Alucarda (1977) dir. Juan López Moctezuma

Alucarda by Juan López Moctezuma.

Alucarda (1977) directed by Juan López Moctezuma