After the death of her parents, Justine arrives at a convent where she meets an enigmatic new friend Alucarda. The two are inseparable, and soon after meeting a mysterious man, find themselves obssesed by the Devil - lots of satanic rituals, gore and sleaze ensues. Juan Lopez Moctezuma's Alucarda is a film that has been described as part of the Nunsploitation genre, and while the film definitely has a lot of similarities to this subgenre, the sleazy-ness for example, it's probably not the best descriptor. This film is much more about these two girls, who gradual fall deeper and deeper into the threshold of Satan's control. I must admit, at the start of the film I feared thie film's cheap look would take away from its potential impact, but after a little set-up this worry did ring true in the slightest. Alucarda is an incredibly inventive, atmospheric experience that uses some amazing set designs, staging and well-designed compositions to tell a creepy story of two girls possessed by the devil. The sets are very lavish and inventive, creating a brooding, creepy atmosphere and while there are moments in the film that come off as dated and laughable in execution, the overall feel remains both horrifying and fun. The film does touch on some interesting themes about religious fanaticism, though it's not particularly interested in plot or character development, focusing much more on atmosphere and gore. Tina Romero who plays Alucarda, really stands out in this film, capturing this terrifying character quite well, usually with nothing more than a creepy-ass stare. The finale of this film is fantastic, which must have inspired the techniques used for the finale of De Palma's Carrie. Fans of Alejandro Jodorowsky, as well as anyone who enjoys atmospheric type horror, should seek this one out. 8.25/10
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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