This is only the third official Ze' De Caixao/Coffin Joe movie after AT MIDNIGHT I'LL TAKE YOUR SOUL (1964) and THIS NIGHT I'LL POSSESS YOUR COPRSE (1967), though there are a number of others in which he appears (and which Mojica Marins directed) – not least two more I own, STRANGE WORLD OF COFFIN JOE (1968) and AWAKENING OF THE BEAST (1970). For the record, I also have the little-seen STRANGE HOSTEL OF NAKED PLEASURES (1976) and INFERNO CARNAL (1977) from this Brazilian cult figure. Though I cannot say I was bowled over by the first two entries in the series, I enjoyed them to a certain degree (on the other hand, I positively disliked AWAKENING, which was the only other one I had watched so far).
While this has typically been greeted with enthusiasm by ardent fans, I was skeptical about it myself – but, seeing it available on Blu-Ray at my local DVD rental outlet, I sprung for it regardless. Incidentally, it is nice that exploitation veterans can still keep busy in today's very different climate (even if, like here, they have to stoop to the level of 'Torture Porn' now in vogue): I had watched the idiosyncratic but below-par effort by the late Jean Rollin, Fiancée' OF Dracula (2002), but was reasonably impressed with the Paul Naschy (also deceased by now) vehicle BLOOD RED (2004) and, for what it is worth, I also own Jess Franco's well-received SNAKEWOMAN (2005). Anyway, the film under review is definitely not bad for a modern horror film, though the DV-sourced photography (with its sharpness augmented by the HD transfer!) is rather unattractive.
Coffin Joe is released from prison after 40 years (still in his top-hatted, cape and cane attire, not forgetting the disgusting extra-long fingernails!), by which time many had figured he had died. He still has his faithful servant waiting on him (on their way home, Ze' is even hit by a speeding car, from which he emerges amazingly unscathed!) and, who has acquired a number of other willing acolytes (that are immediately put to the test by their sadistic/blasphemous master). He is still trying to beget a son (in fact, one of the girls in his power offers herself up for the task) and has already set his sights on a number of prospective candidates, whom Joe torments into acquiescence (one is even forced to eat her own buttock!).
An interesting aspect here is that Ze' is, if anything, an anguished boogeyman – as he is haunted by the victims from his previous outings (the women's original demises at his hands shown in flashbacks from their respective films)! At one point, he descends once more into Hell, albeit a different vision from the memorable one (and which is how I had actually first come across the character on late-night Italian TV) featured in Joe's 1967 'vehicle'. His nemesis here are two military officers behind an oppressive regime: actually, it was intended to be just one part but had to be split when the actor concerned died during filming! The Anchor Bay UK "Special Edition" disc included a half-hour "Making Of" which, apart from the typical behind-the-scenes vicissitudes, amply displays the esteem in which Mojica Marins is still held.
While this has typically been greeted with enthusiasm by ardent fans, I was skeptical about it myself – but, seeing it available on Blu-Ray at my local DVD rental outlet, I sprung for it regardless. Incidentally, it is nice that exploitation veterans can still keep busy in today's very different climate (even if, like here, they have to stoop to the level of 'Torture Porn' now in vogue): I had watched the idiosyncratic but below-par effort by the late Jean Rollin, Fiancée' OF Dracula (2002), but was reasonably impressed with the Paul Naschy (also deceased by now) vehicle BLOOD RED (2004) and, for what it is worth, I also own Jess Franco's well-received SNAKEWOMAN (2005). Anyway, the film under review is definitely not bad for a modern horror film, though the DV-sourced photography (with its sharpness augmented by the HD transfer!) is rather unattractive.
Coffin Joe is released from prison after 40 years (still in his top-hatted, cape and cane attire, not forgetting the disgusting extra-long fingernails!), by which time many had figured he had died. He still has his faithful servant waiting on him (on their way home, Ze' is even hit by a speeding car, from which he emerges amazingly unscathed!) and, who has acquired a number of other willing acolytes (that are immediately put to the test by their sadistic/blasphemous master). He is still trying to beget a son (in fact, one of the girls in his power offers herself up for the task) and has already set his sights on a number of prospective candidates, whom Joe torments into acquiescence (one is even forced to eat her own buttock!).
An interesting aspect here is that Ze' is, if anything, an anguished boogeyman – as he is haunted by the victims from his previous outings (the women's original demises at his hands shown in flashbacks from their respective films)! At one point, he descends once more into Hell, albeit a different vision from the memorable one (and which is how I had actually first come across the character on late-night Italian TV) featured in Joe's 1967 'vehicle'. His nemesis here are two military officers behind an oppressive regime: actually, it was intended to be just one part but had to be split when the actor concerned died during filming! The Anchor Bay UK "Special Edition" disc included a half-hour "Making Of" which, apart from the typical behind-the-scenes vicissitudes, amply displays the esteem in which Mojica Marins is still held.