A first-time watch for me of Paul Naschy's HUMAN BEASTS (1980, original title El carnaval de las bestias, aka THE PIG, CARNIVAL OF BEASTS), an odd yet intriguing mix of horror and thriller made as a co-production with some Japanese financiers. Naschy plays a criminal who gets hired by the Yakuza to take part in a diamond theft, but it all goes horribly wrong and he ends up convalescing at the home of a kindly Spanish doctor and his two daughters.
This one starts out a little clunky at times, certainly more thriller than horror, although the violent action works. Later I was reminded of BLUE EYES OF THE BROKEN DOLL in terms of setting and plot development. A huge air of mystery builds, and although this is a real slow burner with nary any gore apart from in two stand-out moments, I was gripped by the mix of elements: romance, ghost story, suspense, comedy, social satire and of course those pigs. Be warned, there is some racism too. The ending offers an excellent twist that raised my overall rating of the movie. 7/10.
This one starts out a little clunky at times, certainly more thriller than horror, although the violent action works. Later I was reminded of BLUE EYES OF THE BROKEN DOLL in terms of setting and plot development. A huge air of mystery builds, and although this is a real slow burner with nary any gore apart from in two stand-out moments, I was gripped by the mix of elements: romance, ghost story, suspense, comedy, social satire and of course those pigs. Be warned, there is some racism too. The ending offers an excellent twist that raised my overall rating of the movie. 7/10.