(233) ESPIRITISMO (1961) English subtitled & English version
5039DVD
Two
Complete Versions on Two Discs
Original Mexican Version [93
min] (with English subtitles) and English
Language edit [85 min]
Original Mexican
Title: ESPIRITISMO [Spiritism]
director:
Benito Alazraki [English version by K. Gordon Murray]
starring: Jose Luis Jimenez · Nora Veryan · Beatriz Aguirre · Alicia
Caro
This
film is widely recognized as "among the best of the Mexican horror
films" [if not the best]. Most critics are also quick to mention
that it's an adaptation of the W W Jacobs' Monkey's Paw
story. But, while that theme does come into play during the last half
hour, there is actually much more going on here [probably a good reason
to watch the uncut Spanish version (with English subtitles) instead
of the shorter English Language edit].
A
dinner party takes a turn for the worse when Louis and Mary Howard take
part in a seance. The medium, Elvira, warns them that tragedy will enter
their lives on April 8, the result of "an encounter with inhuman
creatures wielding extraordinary powers." As it turns out, on that
date, son Rodolpho asks for a $40,000 loan to start his new business
venture. They refinance their home to give him the money. And, sure
enough, tragedy soon follows.
Workhorse
director Benito Alazraki had just previously made FRANKENSTEIN,
VAMPIRE AND COMPANY, his knockoff of Abbott and Costello
Meets Frankenstein [yes, Universal sued and kept that one from
entering the USA]. A year later, in 1962, he helmed SANTO
VS THE ZOMBIES. Mr Alazraki died from a heart attack at age
85, June 2007, after making 40 films.
This
package contains both the original Spanish version (with optional English
subtitles, widescreen) and the English dubbed print, edited and fullscreen,
but with some additional scenes shot in Miami by K. Gordon Murray.
Two versions of a Mexican film (original
Spanish with English subtitles and English dub)
fullscreen
format, (93 + 85 minutes), on two DVDs encoded for ALL REGIONS NTSC FORMAT;
extras include Mexican theatrical trailers.