Catching his stylishly over the top Giallo A Dragonfly For Each Corpse a few years ago,I decided that it was about time to take a closer look at Paul Naschy's movies.Taking a look at the handful of his titles that I've gathered,I found a Naschy film which appeared to be oddly serious,which led to me paying a visit to the orchard.
The plot:
Gaining entrance to the elite via his wife's dad name, Juan Andrés Aldije finds himself desperate to become a member of bourgeoisie society under his own terms. Teaming up with close friend José Muñoz Lopera, Aldije turns his countryside orchard into a gambling den and brothel. Running an illegal set-up,in the remote countryside,the guys come up with a plan to make cash in double-quick time,by killing all the "tricks" as they leave the place,and burying their bodies in the garden (Bet they don't get much return business!) Being a ladies man, Aldije is taken aback, when Andrea knocks on the door, pregnant with his child. Arranging an abortion for Andrea, Aldije tries to keep things discreet,as Aldije pulls the weeds of the bourgeoisie.
View on the film:
Bringing the curtain up with the sound of a siren in the wind,co- writer/(along with Antonio Fos) director/star Paul Naschy & cinematographer Leopoldo Villaseñor give the movie an ominous atmosphere,where discreet,tightly corned camera moves capture the creeping sense of impending doom on the orchard. Whilst he does go for some sleaze from the flesh and blood of the ladies, Naschy displays a remarkably restrained attitude,via the camera focusing on the faces of the victims,rather than the violent acts themselves.
Growing on the branches of Historical Horror,the screenplay by Naschy and Fos scrub the dirt in on Juan Andrés Aldije's bourgeoisie image,as the writers brilliantly use the elite coat of Aldije to bury his vicious horror secrets in the earth.Working in a place of easy virtue gated by the Spanish class system,the writers dress the ladies in an impressively sympathetic light,with Andrea's (played by a delicate María José Cantudo) abortion being handled in an emphatic manner,as everyone gambles with their lives and cash on Naschy's orchard.
The plot:
Gaining entrance to the elite via his wife's dad name, Juan Andrés Aldije finds himself desperate to become a member of bourgeoisie society under his own terms. Teaming up with close friend José Muñoz Lopera, Aldije turns his countryside orchard into a gambling den and brothel. Running an illegal set-up,in the remote countryside,the guys come up with a plan to make cash in double-quick time,by killing all the "tricks" as they leave the place,and burying their bodies in the garden (Bet they don't get much return business!) Being a ladies man, Aldije is taken aback, when Andrea knocks on the door, pregnant with his child. Arranging an abortion for Andrea, Aldije tries to keep things discreet,as Aldije pulls the weeds of the bourgeoisie.
View on the film:
Bringing the curtain up with the sound of a siren in the wind,co- writer/(along with Antonio Fos) director/star Paul Naschy & cinematographer Leopoldo Villaseñor give the movie an ominous atmosphere,where discreet,tightly corned camera moves capture the creeping sense of impending doom on the orchard. Whilst he does go for some sleaze from the flesh and blood of the ladies, Naschy displays a remarkably restrained attitude,via the camera focusing on the faces of the victims,rather than the violent acts themselves.
Growing on the branches of Historical Horror,the screenplay by Naschy and Fos scrub the dirt in on Juan Andrés Aldije's bourgeoisie image,as the writers brilliantly use the elite coat of Aldije to bury his vicious horror secrets in the earth.Working in a place of easy virtue gated by the Spanish class system,the writers dress the ladies in an impressively sympathetic light,with Andrea's (played by a delicate María José Cantudo) abortion being handled in an emphatic manner,as everyone gambles with their lives and cash on Naschy's orchard.