Aurora Bautista and Esperanza Roy play two sisters running an inn in Spain. Young, foreign girls come to visit but end up staying permanently. British actress Judy Geeson plays the sister of one of the girls who begins to put the pieces together of the horrors that have been going on at the inn. Director Eugenio Martin does quite an effective job with this film. It seems that the oldest sister Bautista was jilted on her wedding day by a young, pretty girl of a loose nature. Now, she is out to do God's work and rid the world of girls with loose morals and inappropriate attire. Both actresses playing the crazy sisters do stellar jobs playing off-key, psychotic women of very different natures. Bautista in particular gives a very commanding performance and is indeed very menacing. She also adds some pathos to her role. Martin builds suspense nicely and does several things very well. The use of religion as a tool of sexual repression was a thematic thread throughout. One scene has a girl die by accidentally falling in a pane of stained glass - a religious subject. When the body is removed a piece sticking in her has a bloody sword from the window stand in tact as to say this is the work of God. There are many other religious scenes and references used as well. The film is not particularly gory but there are some scenes that I found quite chilling. One with a baby as witness and then another of Geeson getting to know wine vats. The performers all do fine jobs, the direction is taut, and the script is convincing given the aforementioned two credits toward its credibility. The film does indeed have that European film from the 60's or 70's quality, but I truly am surprised that I had not heard much about this film beforehand. It is one of those minor gems you sometime are lucky enough to come across every now and then.
46 Reviews
Entertaining shocker about vicious sisters terrorizing a guesthouse
ma-cortes22 March 2010
This is a grisly, superbly amusing Gothic horror story with vivid performances from the mature ladies, they are admirably enigmatic and mysterious . It's a Spanish classic of the chilly grotesque with awesome duo, a convincingly gruesome twosome as spinsters, Aurora Bautista and Esperanza Roy as the weird house keepers. The sisters living together in a gloomy boarding house hire rooms to tourists and develop an awful habit only murder them. They portray fanatic aging sisters , when the demented Aurora learns of sexpot boarders she kill them. Meanwhile Judy Geeson takes a room in hopes of solving the mystery of disappearing her sister, Loreta Tovar as the murder victim at the start. Bautista plays her part to the hilt, unafraid of Eugenio Martin's unsympathetic camera and the viciousness of her character .
The picture packs atmospheric blending of eerie thrills and creepy chills combined with a terrific finale. It displays lots of guts and blood but it seems pretty mild compared to today's gore feasts. It's an unrelenting shock-feast laced with nice acting by the two Spanish stars that deserves its cult status. Watch for Aurora Bautista who makes an indelible mark on the movie as the deranged and religious keeper. Judy Geeson, too, is excellent as tourist investigating the strange events in the gloomy mansion. Lively secondary cast is frankly cool, formed by Spanish support casting, as Fernando Hilbeck, Vic Winner , Lone Fleming and Blanca Estrada , both taking early film roles. Bone-chilling musical score by Antonio Perez Olea. Passable photography with juicy atmosphere by Jose Aguayo, but unfortunately turns too much murky in some video print . The picture belongs to sub-genre about killings committed by aging spinsters women such as the classic ¨What ever happened to Baby Jane ? (1962) ¨by Robert Aldrich with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, ¨Huss, Huss, sweet Charlotte (1965)¨ by Aldrich with Bette Davis and Olivia De Havilland and ¨Whatever happened to aunt Alice ? (1969)¨by Lee H Katzin with Geraldine Page and Ruth Gordon, among others.
The motion picture is professionally directed by Eugenio Martin or Gene Martin. He's a horror movies expert(Hypnosis, A candle for the devil, The fourth Mrs Anderson) and Spaghetti Western(Pancho Villa, Bounty hunter, Bad man's river). Rating : Acceptable horror movie, well worth watching. This macabre movie thriller that commits viewers to sit chewing their fingernails for more than ninety minutes will appeal to Euro-horror fans.
The picture packs atmospheric blending of eerie thrills and creepy chills combined with a terrific finale. It displays lots of guts and blood but it seems pretty mild compared to today's gore feasts. It's an unrelenting shock-feast laced with nice acting by the two Spanish stars that deserves its cult status. Watch for Aurora Bautista who makes an indelible mark on the movie as the deranged and religious keeper. Judy Geeson, too, is excellent as tourist investigating the strange events in the gloomy mansion. Lively secondary cast is frankly cool, formed by Spanish support casting, as Fernando Hilbeck, Vic Winner , Lone Fleming and Blanca Estrada , both taking early film roles. Bone-chilling musical score by Antonio Perez Olea. Passable photography with juicy atmosphere by Jose Aguayo, but unfortunately turns too much murky in some video print . The picture belongs to sub-genre about killings committed by aging spinsters women such as the classic ¨What ever happened to Baby Jane ? (1962) ¨by Robert Aldrich with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, ¨Huss, Huss, sweet Charlotte (1965)¨ by Aldrich with Bette Davis and Olivia De Havilland and ¨Whatever happened to aunt Alice ? (1969)¨by Lee H Katzin with Geraldine Page and Ruth Gordon, among others.
The motion picture is professionally directed by Eugenio Martin or Gene Martin. He's a horror movies expert(Hypnosis, A candle for the devil, The fourth Mrs Anderson) and Spaghetti Western(Pancho Villa, Bounty hunter, Bad man's river). Rating : Acceptable horror movie, well worth watching. This macabre movie thriller that commits viewers to sit chewing their fingernails for more than ninety minutes will appeal to Euro-horror fans.
Aka A Candle For The Devil
maeander25 March 2016
Every movie is made up of a series of edits to what the filmmaker originally shot. This can turn a good film to bad and vice versa. The most famous is the very different versions that exist of Orson Welles' "Touch Of Evil". "Night And The City" and "Mad Wednseday"/"The Sin Of Harld Diddlebock" exist in two different version of the same source material. That is also true with "It Happened At Nightmare Inn" and "A Candle For the Devil". It is sad that IMDb does not see the difference in these very, very different cuts of the same source material. But the versions are all different from their counterparts.
"It Happened At Nightmare Inn" is not very good. The more sexually charged "A Candle For The Devil" is far more interesting. In 1973, "Candle" probably could not be shown in the U.S. The theme of sexual repression caused by religious fervor is very different from a couple of crazy ladies who like to kill young women.
Pass on "It Happened At Nightmare Inn". "A Candle For The Devil" is worth a look.
"It Happened At Nightmare Inn" is not very good. The more sexually charged "A Candle For The Devil" is far more interesting. In 1973, "Candle" probably could not be shown in the U.S. The theme of sexual repression caused by religious fervor is very different from a couple of crazy ladies who like to kill young women.
Pass on "It Happened At Nightmare Inn". "A Candle For The Devil" is worth a look.
It's like some recent horrors, but the 70s, with a Spanish touch. . .
Dragoneyed3631 February 2009
I couldn't help but think of Hostel, Frontière(s) and Vacancy after watching this film. It's not that this film is a rip-off or anything, how could it be? It was made 30 years before all of them, but it just inspires thoughts towards those similar titles because I saw them first, even though Frontière(s) and Vacancy were way better.
It Happened At Nightmare Inn was overall a very satisfying and fun film. It's about two sisters who run a family inn and they are secretly murdering everybody who they believe to be bad influences and or just bad people because of their religious beliefs, the sisters' beliefs, I mean. It's not the most profound plot, but who really cares about that with this kind of movie? The movie keeps you interested and it definitely entertains. The characters were good, plot was decent, acting was perfectly fine and the movie's atmosphere gave it that creepy, yet corny B-Movie touch that I felt comfortable with because I had felt this atmosphere before. This movie is pretty good for a low budget slasher and as a movie itself it is very enjoyable. Watch it when you get the chance, though don't be expecting too much and don't be too harsh on it if you have seen other, better, similar films.
It Happened At Nightmare Inn was overall a very satisfying and fun film. It's about two sisters who run a family inn and they are secretly murdering everybody who they believe to be bad influences and or just bad people because of their religious beliefs, the sisters' beliefs, I mean. It's not the most profound plot, but who really cares about that with this kind of movie? The movie keeps you interested and it definitely entertains. The characters were good, plot was decent, acting was perfectly fine and the movie's atmosphere gave it that creepy, yet corny B-Movie touch that I felt comfortable with because I had felt this atmosphere before. This movie is pretty good for a low budget slasher and as a movie itself it is very enjoyable. Watch it when you get the chance, though don't be expecting too much and don't be too harsh on it if you have seen other, better, similar films.
First seen on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater in 1979
kevinolzak20 August 2011
Warning: Spoilers
"It Happened at Nightmare Inn" aired 4 times on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater, initially giving out the title as "Nightmare Hotel," further airings actually leaving off the title ("Una Vela Para del Diablo" or A Candle for the Devil in Spain). For British actress Judy Geeson this came in between 1972's "Fear in the Night" (with Peter Cushing) and 1974's "Diagnosis: Murder" (with Christopher Lee), her top billed character taking a necessary back seat to the two sisters, played by 48 year old Aurora Bautista and 38 year old Esperanza Roy, who run an inn in a rural section of Spain in a morally agitated state. While Aurora, the epitome of steely, cold hearted hypocrisy, bitterly remembers how her husband-to-be abandoned her at the altar for a younger woman, the mild mannered Esperanza, easily dominated by her older sibling, carries on a secret love affair with their young handyman, each displaying full frontal nudity in their bedroom scenes. Unfortunately, all pretty young women staying at the inn are frowned upon as scandalous whores, and are quickly dispatched by the sisters (even the divorced mother, cruelly stabbed in the back as she tries to save her baby). The real busybody of the village is named Beatriz, who tells Aurora that the young mother doesn't know who the father is, when the audience clearly heard the girl say she didn't know WHERE he is. Fortunately, the evidence that reveals the gruesome truth about the psychotic pair makes Beatriz quite ill (they foolishly stashed the corpses in a wine vat). The butchered TV print ran about 70 minutes, minus the abundant nudity and much of the blood (there's even a sequence which would never be shot now in these politically correct times, with Aurura spying on preteen boys skinny dipping). Speaking of naked, Esperanza Roy was described as a 'near old age pensioner' by another reviewer, but this commentator was duly impressed by her 38 year old assets (the lads today would describe her as a cougar). Just another fringe benefit of seeing a beloved classic from those long ago days of late night hysteria in all its frank, uncut glory.
Pert, pretty British tourist turns up at a small Spanish inn to be with her sister who is nowhere to be found. She then confronts the two loony sisters who run the establishment and know more than they let o
verna5514 September 2000
Though obviously inspired by PSYCHO, this truly deranged Spanish shocker features several gruesome sequences which makes the film way ahead of its time. The atmosphere is quite sinister and very threatening. Judy Geeson(of TO SIR, WITH LOVE fame) does well in her role as the pretty blonde heroine, and Aurora Batista and Esperanza Roy are indeed the most menacing inn-keepers since Mr. Norman Bates. In fact, the film's only real drawback is the poor dubbing that makes it resemble one of those cheesy Euro-Hercules flicks. Available on video for the longest time only in an old edited television version, the missing footage has finally been restored to home video. The video title of the film is: IT HAPPENED AT NIGHTMARE INN.
Beware NEW DVD 2005, heavily edited!
djrobc20036 September 2005
I just was dumb struck when I received "It Happened at Nightmare Inn" on DVD, it was packaged as a double feature with "Legacy of Blood". This IS NOT the theatrical version, it is in fact ONLY 67 minutes long!! The distribution company on this one is a bunch of liars and crooks, I do not believe in selling product that advertises something which is not true. The running time for both features is listed in total of 3 hours and 30 minutes. If "It Happened at Nightmare Inn" is only 67 minutes long, then that means that "Legacy of Blood" is close to 2 hours and 30 minutes (which in fact is not the case) Regardless, please do not waste your money or rental dollars on this version released under the title of a "Blood Soaked Cinema" release called "Back to the Grave" With the running time only being 67 minutes, then this must be the television version that played in a 90 minute time slot. It sucks!! There are scenes that just end, characters that just react to nothing, no blood, no anything! Entire scenes are missing and what is left is just talk! I can not even begin to mention how terrible the sound is on this, and they have the nerve to list Dolby 5.1 as an option..the sound is so terrible that I thought my speakers were going to burst! Can I say anything positive? No...the movie is unwatchable, the story is torn to pieces, it makes no sense, and PLEASE do not be suckered by this like I was.
Not bad as these things go
highwaytourist7 November 2007
Back in my youth, I was a big fan of late night horror flicks, particularly from back in the late 1960's to early 1970's. Judy Geeson was something of a regular in them and again gives a credible performance. So I caught this on a very late Friday or Saturday night, and rather enjoyed it. It was nothing great, and the dubbing wasn't good, but it was watchable and moderately scary. It's about this old hotel in Spain whose owners prosper from foreign tourists, but who are also offended by many of the tourists' morals. The actresses playing the two sisters/inn keepers gave performances worth watching. Aurora Bautista was genuinely frightening as the more fanatical and violent one, and Esperanza Roy was alternately scary and moving as her younger sister, who is conflicted about their crimes. It also delivers a convincing atmosphere of an old Spanish village which is torn between its seemingly simple past and the free-wheeling modern amorality. I say it's worthwhile for ardent fans of this kind of entertainment.
New British DVD in 2008
dtaylor-3621 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
An apparently new version of this obscure 1970s psycho-thriller is being issued on DVD in the UK in 2008.
Unfortunately this version is likely to further confuse anyone trying to identify a definitive version of the film.
Problems arise from the moment the title card appears on screen, with the title A Candle for the Devil, which clearly bears a production date of 1973 - three years later than many sources claim for the film, including the IMDb.
Neither does the film resolve the wild discrepancies in the film's reported running time. The IMDb states 120 minutes, the most common TV versions seem to clock in at 67 minutes, but various incarnations of the film have been described as being 82 minutes and 95 minutes. The new UK DVD version runs for 83 minutes; taking into account the compression differences between the theatrical and PAL versions, that would make the actual running time approximately 87 or 88 minutes. (A check with the British Board of Film Classification confirms that the DVD version was passed without cuts, thus represents the complete version presented to the censors - the theatrical version released in 1974, for the sake of comparison, ran to almost 84 minutes but with an unspecified number of cuts)
In terms of content, the DVD does seem to include all of the nudity and violence that was excised from some versions (and presumably the original UK theatrical release) small spoiler here! - including the still quite shocking scene of a mother being murdered in front of her baby.
On a personal note, I find it hard to believe that the film could have run any longer than the version presented here. The film already seems padded with extraneous travelogue sequences around the town where it is set, set to truly awful rinky-dink music. I certainly can't think what could possibly be included in a 95 minute version of the movie, let alone an 120 minute cut!
But if all this spurs you to seek out the new UK DVD, be warned: the print of the film is badly worn and obviously hasn't undergone any sort of digital cleaning or remastering at all. Nor is it an anamorphic disc: it plays at the 4:3 screen ratio, albeit letterboxed - which, in this day and age, is unforgivable!
Unfortunately this version is likely to further confuse anyone trying to identify a definitive version of the film.
Problems arise from the moment the title card appears on screen, with the title A Candle for the Devil, which clearly bears a production date of 1973 - three years later than many sources claim for the film, including the IMDb.
Neither does the film resolve the wild discrepancies in the film's reported running time. The IMDb states 120 minutes, the most common TV versions seem to clock in at 67 minutes, but various incarnations of the film have been described as being 82 minutes and 95 minutes. The new UK DVD version runs for 83 minutes; taking into account the compression differences between the theatrical and PAL versions, that would make the actual running time approximately 87 or 88 minutes. (A check with the British Board of Film Classification confirms that the DVD version was passed without cuts, thus represents the complete version presented to the censors - the theatrical version released in 1974, for the sake of comparison, ran to almost 84 minutes but with an unspecified number of cuts)
In terms of content, the DVD does seem to include all of the nudity and violence that was excised from some versions (and presumably the original UK theatrical release) small spoiler here! - including the still quite shocking scene of a mother being murdered in front of her baby.
On a personal note, I find it hard to believe that the film could have run any longer than the version presented here. The film already seems padded with extraneous travelogue sequences around the town where it is set, set to truly awful rinky-dink music. I certainly can't think what could possibly be included in a 95 minute version of the movie, let alone an 120 minute cut!
But if all this spurs you to seek out the new UK DVD, be warned: the print of the film is badly worn and obviously hasn't undergone any sort of digital cleaning or remastering at all. Nor is it an anamorphic disc: it plays at the 4:3 screen ratio, albeit letterboxed - which, in this day and age, is unforgivable!
The Scissor Sisters
Bezenby24 January 2018
Two sisters run a hotel in some village in Spain, preparing meals for their guests, being hospitable and friendly, and killing young women whom they perceive as slutty, a perception that seems to include 99% of their young female guests, save for Laura, a conservatively clothed lady who is looking for her sister.
That'll be the sister who was accidentally killed for sunbathing topless on the roof of the hotel a mere five minutes prior to Laura arriving. The sisters tell Laura that her sister left early that day, which is an excuse she'll be hearing often regarding other guests. Slowly, Laura starts to figure out what's going on, but it could be that she's already too late to save herself...
This one has a kind of run of the mill plot but is saved by having two interesting murderers. One sister is a timid type who has a clandestine relationship with the young man who helps out at the hotel, while the other is the more aggressive type, constantly judging others while barely repressing her own sexual feelings, while her frustration manifests itself in murderous ways. There's a bit more depth to the two of them than just maniacal killers.
The major problem is not with the film itself, it's with the various presentations of it you'll potentially stumble over. Under the name of It Happened At Nightmare Inn the film runs for about 70 minutes, and it's recommended that you watch it under the name of Candle For The Devil, but there version I watched of that is also heavily cut. The Spanish version seems to be the most complete, because without that you'll have practically no idea of what's going on as such a hack job has been done on the film. While not over the top in terms of gore, you're still missing out on all the nudity and gore, so what's the point? The most shocking murder of the film is cut out almost completely, which harms the impact of the film greatly.
I've read somewhere that this is some kind of political allegory on the Franco regime, but I wouldn't have figured that out myself.
That'll be the sister who was accidentally killed for sunbathing topless on the roof of the hotel a mere five minutes prior to Laura arriving. The sisters tell Laura that her sister left early that day, which is an excuse she'll be hearing often regarding other guests. Slowly, Laura starts to figure out what's going on, but it could be that she's already too late to save herself...
This one has a kind of run of the mill plot but is saved by having two interesting murderers. One sister is a timid type who has a clandestine relationship with the young man who helps out at the hotel, while the other is the more aggressive type, constantly judging others while barely repressing her own sexual feelings, while her frustration manifests itself in murderous ways. There's a bit more depth to the two of them than just maniacal killers.
The major problem is not with the film itself, it's with the various presentations of it you'll potentially stumble over. Under the name of It Happened At Nightmare Inn the film runs for about 70 minutes, and it's recommended that you watch it under the name of Candle For The Devil, but there version I watched of that is also heavily cut. The Spanish version seems to be the most complete, because without that you'll have practically no idea of what's going on as such a hack job has been done on the film. While not over the top in terms of gore, you're still missing out on all the nudity and gore, so what's the point? The most shocking murder of the film is cut out almost completely, which harms the impact of the film greatly.
I've read somewhere that this is some kind of political allegory on the Franco regime, but I wouldn't have figured that out myself.
A CANDLE FOR THE DEVIL (Eugenio Martin, 1970) **1/2
Bunuel197614 August 2008
A lackluster Spanish horror flick with an unimpressive British star in Judy Geeson is rendered moderately interesting by making the murderous acts of two seemingly benign old maids/hoteliers a direct result of their sexual repression brought on by Catholic hypocrisy. The murder spree starts accidentally but progresses steadily, even if the recurring episodes of hotel guests going missing get repetitive after a while.
The denouement about body parts of the victims ending up on the clientele's menu is hardly original either while the corpses being dumped in huge wine jars in the hotel cellar is less a Shakespearean nod than a practical act by the two murderous sisters. Incidentally, having a not unattractive middle-aged woman getting it on a couple of times with her hunky handyman completely in the buff is something of a first, I suppose, in this type of film (and even the vengeful older sister gets an inkling to 'dirty' herself up a' la Kathleen Byron from The Archers' BLACK NARCISSUS [1947] at one point)!
The film is known by various monikers (including IT HAPPENED AT NIGHTMARE INN and NIGHTMARE HOTEL which are perhaps more fitting than the original title, since there are no occult forces at work here!); apparently, it's also available in a number of versions whose length run between 68 and 120 minutes! for the record, the copy I watched ran for 83 and there's even a discrepancy regarding A CANDLE FOR THE DEVIL's year of release (either 1970 or 1973!). Actually, the print utilized for this transfer soft, grainy and alternating between Full-Frame and a faux-Widescreen ratio throughout did the camera-work by Jose F.Aguayo (a Luis Bunuel regular, no less!) a general disservice!
Finally, this was my fourth film from director Martin following another (albeit superior) horror title HORROR EXPRESS (1972) and a couple of minor Spaghetti Western efforts i.e. BAD MAN'S RIVER (1971) and PANCHO VILLA (1972).
The denouement about body parts of the victims ending up on the clientele's menu is hardly original either while the corpses being dumped in huge wine jars in the hotel cellar is less a Shakespearean nod than a practical act by the two murderous sisters. Incidentally, having a not unattractive middle-aged woman getting it on a couple of times with her hunky handyman completely in the buff is something of a first, I suppose, in this type of film (and even the vengeful older sister gets an inkling to 'dirty' herself up a' la Kathleen Byron from The Archers' BLACK NARCISSUS [1947] at one point)!
The film is known by various monikers (including IT HAPPENED AT NIGHTMARE INN and NIGHTMARE HOTEL which are perhaps more fitting than the original title, since there are no occult forces at work here!); apparently, it's also available in a number of versions whose length run between 68 and 120 minutes! for the record, the copy I watched ran for 83 and there's even a discrepancy regarding A CANDLE FOR THE DEVIL's year of release (either 1970 or 1973!). Actually, the print utilized for this transfer soft, grainy and alternating between Full-Frame and a faux-Widescreen ratio throughout did the camera-work by Jose F.Aguayo (a Luis Bunuel regular, no less!) a general disservice!
Finally, this was my fourth film from director Martin following another (albeit superior) horror title HORROR EXPRESS (1972) and a couple of minor Spaghetti Western efforts i.e. BAD MAN'S RIVER (1971) and PANCHO VILLA (1972).
shots of locals seemingly truly amazed at the scantily dressed invaders
christopher-underwood13 August 2008
I have no idea where the English title comes in and the movie is a little heavy handed and obvious but so very enjoyable. Moves at a good pace and if Geeson is a bit weak, the same could not be said of the killers or the kills. Set in a small Spanish village two sisters run modest hotel and take exception to the influx of mini skirted and hot panted 'dollies' from England. Murder seems a bit of a harsh reaction but with God on your side and the Catholic church much can be justified. Excellent performances by the mature sisters who seem harmless enough initially but then we learn one has secret liaisons with a youngish boy and the other takes to spying on boys bathing in the nude. So carried away does the most villainous sister get watching the kids splashing about that when she finally begins her return to the hotel there is an amazing scene where she is caught running through rough vegetation and she becomes almost ecstatic under the self imposed flagellation. Excellent stuff with time for shots of locals seemingly truly amazed at the scantily dressed invaders.
Suspenseful, enjoyable, much better than I was lead to believe...
Musidora-419 September 2009
Just finished watching IT HAPPENED AT NIGHTMARE INN, and though I'm thinking I saw one of the heavily cut versions--this distributed by Cheezy Video--I still thoroughly enjoyed this film. Judy Geeson's character was smarter than usual for these sorts of films, the sisters were truly frightening, and the small town hypocrisy added dimensions to the narrative that I was not expecting.
I'm not sure where or when I'll find a near-definitive version of this film, but I'll certainly be on the look out for one. Good to see Geeson in this film, too. She was believable and sympathetic. And now I'm just blathering on to meet the idiotic, arbitrary IMDb 10 line review requirement, but I do recommend this film. Great for Saturday night viewing.
I'm not sure where or when I'll find a near-definitive version of this film, but I'll certainly be on the look out for one. Good to see Geeson in this film, too. She was believable and sympathetic. And now I'm just blathering on to meet the idiotic, arbitrary IMDb 10 line review requirement, but I do recommend this film. Great for Saturday night viewing.
Bed, Breakfast ... and Deadly Purification!
Coventry8 February 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Bad girls go to hell, that's a commonly known fact, but not before having spent one last vacation in the exaggeratedly puritan and deadly guest house pension run by two sisters in a remote little Spanish town. This obscure exploitation effort directed by Eugenio Martin (who clearly had a lot less money and acting talent at his disposal than with "Horror Express" released the same year) definitely boosts a couple of wannabe shocking themes (even including cannibalism) and perverted undertones, but the script is too predictable, the supposedly horrific effects too tame and the budget too non-existent for Martin to really accomplish something memorable. The opening sequences are promising enough and the last half hour also holds a few morbid surprise twists in stock, but generally speaking "It happened at Nightmare Inn" is a sadly passable and lackluster film. Veronica and Martha are two middle aged spinster sisters running a pension in a small town were tourism increased severely over the past couple of years, and lately a lot of their guests are young, luscious, liberate and single girls. Particularly the oldest sister has a problem with the free-spirited mindset of these girls, because years ago her fiancée stood her up at the altar and ran off with a younger girl. The other sister is a lot less stern and even has a secret lover in town, but she fears her sibling and acts docile. When Martha kills one of her guests for sunbathing topless, she claims it was an act of God and assures Victoria that He will protect them. They process the body into the pension's daily menu and continue with their jobs. But other beautiful young wenches of loose nature arrive at the pension, including the sister of the first victim, who doesn't really believe that she just left unexpectedly early. I honestly can't be too harsh on "It Happened at Nightmare Inn", since I have a soft spot for these early 70's Euro-exploitation flicks, but unfortunately I also can't deny this film is largely a failure. The main problem here is undeniable the tempo. I swear if the pacing were any slower, the tape in the VCR would automatically have started rewinding! Every character in this film talks slow, acts slow, reacts slow and even kills slow! Have you ever seen an angry mob move towards the house of a vicious killer at a speed slower than tortoise steps? Well, here's your chance! Luckily enough, there's at least some nudity to enjoy and the actual killing and storekeeping of the lurid girls is a reasonably macabre process. The music is catchy, the filming locations are enchanting and the acting performances are overall satisfying. Judy Geeson (as the investigating sister) and the two deranged siblings are likable, whereas the other female cast members simply have to parade around scantily dressed. Judging by the glazed staring of the elderly male extras, they more than succeed in their jobs.
An Unappreciated Gem?
lazarillo24 March 2006
Two Spanish sisters run a hostel which they use to knock off the promiscuous (and, interestingly enough, mostly English)female tourists that come to stay there. The older sister is a truly deranged religious fanatic while the younger is simply very weak-willed (and, unbeknownst to her sister is herself carrying on with a man in town). The "star", English actress Judy Geeson is the one who finally solves the mystery of the missing boarders (although it should have been pretty obvious to anybody), but she is, curiously enough, relegated to the status of pretty minor character.
This is perhaps a very clever movie about the reactionary and conservative nature of rural Spain at the time, fed by Catholic idolatry and rural small-mindedness. Juxtaposing these two Spanish sisters against all these promiscuous English tourists might also be some kind of comment on hedonistic Swinging London (although most people today don't associate the English with loose behavior and free-wheeling sexual attitudes). I didn't know quite what to make of the ending though which is either intentionally very ambiguous (possibly suggesting the whole town is in on what the sisters are doing) or is merely incompetent. Given the impressive track effort of director Eugenio Martin ("La Ultima Senora Anderson", "Horror Express")I suspect the former, but this is a kind of cheap effort and perhaps not up to the standards of the director's other films.
Apparently, there are also some heavily edited versions floating around. The one I saw had A LOT of nudity and violence, including the disturbing murder of the mother of a young baby (who the sisters mistakenly believe was born out of wedlock). I would find this longer version (about 95 minutes)if you want to see this, but I would also be interested in just seeing this again in a better-looking DVD version. It may be an unappreciated gem in the Euro-horror genre, but it's kind of hard to tell.
This is perhaps a very clever movie about the reactionary and conservative nature of rural Spain at the time, fed by Catholic idolatry and rural small-mindedness. Juxtaposing these two Spanish sisters against all these promiscuous English tourists might also be some kind of comment on hedonistic Swinging London (although most people today don't associate the English with loose behavior and free-wheeling sexual attitudes). I didn't know quite what to make of the ending though which is either intentionally very ambiguous (possibly suggesting the whole town is in on what the sisters are doing) or is merely incompetent. Given the impressive track effort of director Eugenio Martin ("La Ultima Senora Anderson", "Horror Express")I suspect the former, but this is a kind of cheap effort and perhaps not up to the standards of the director's other films.
Apparently, there are also some heavily edited versions floating around. The one I saw had A LOT of nudity and violence, including the disturbing murder of the mother of a young baby (who the sisters mistakenly believe was born out of wedlock). I would find this longer version (about 95 minutes)if you want to see this, but I would also be interested in just seeing this again in a better-looking DVD version. It may be an unappreciated gem in the Euro-horror genre, but it's kind of hard to tell.
It Happened at Nightmare Inn. 'It' being murder!
BA_Harrison10 June 2016
In an inexplicably popular tourist spot (a remote, one-donkey Spanish village), two deranged sisters, Marta (Aurora Bautista) and Verónica (Esperanza Roy) run a busy boarding house where they are very particular about their female guests: those that they deem immoral wind up dead and dismembered, body parts thrown into a wine vat in the cellar. When Laura Barkley (Judy Geeson) turns up at the house looking for her sister May (Loreta Tovar), the murderous proprietors say that she has checked out of the establishment, when in reality she has fallen foul of the twisted innkeepers. After other female guests also 'leave' the boarding house without notice, Laura begins to suspect foul play and decides to investigate.
Beware of the severely edited version of this film that comes as part of Mill Creek's Pure Terror box set: it is missing key scenes (most notably, the death of May), some bloody violence, and all the nudity that usually goes with the territory—all of which makes the truncated film a rather frustrating experience (I could tell as I was watching my copy that it was missing the good stuff). Thankfully, YouTube has once again come to the rescue and filled in the blanks for me, and I can now report that, if you can find it, the full film is definitely worth a go for fans of trashy Euro-horror, director Eugenio Martín delivering a satisfyingly sleazy time that sticks it to the strict censorship-happy political regime of early '70s Spain.
Geeson doesn't take off her clothes, but her on-screen sister does, pushed down a flight of stone steps after sunbathing topless. Both of the killer sisters show some flesh, Veronica romping naked in bed with houseboy Luis (Charley Pineiro), and Marta's blouse falling open to reveal some blood-drenched boobage whenever she gets cray-cray. Martin even delivers some very exploitative full frontal male nudity from a group of young lads who get Marta all worked up by skinny dipping. The violence/gore includes a bloody stabbing, a young mother being killed in front of her infant son, a severed head in the vat of wine, and—get this—a woman's eye accidentally being served up to a paying guest in her lunch. But remember, you can only see ALL of this trashy stuff in the uncut version (or by paying YouTube a visit).
6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb (this rating being for the full version of the film).
Beware of the severely edited version of this film that comes as part of Mill Creek's Pure Terror box set: it is missing key scenes (most notably, the death of May), some bloody violence, and all the nudity that usually goes with the territory—all of which makes the truncated film a rather frustrating experience (I could tell as I was watching my copy that it was missing the good stuff). Thankfully, YouTube has once again come to the rescue and filled in the blanks for me, and I can now report that, if you can find it, the full film is definitely worth a go for fans of trashy Euro-horror, director Eugenio Martín delivering a satisfyingly sleazy time that sticks it to the strict censorship-happy political regime of early '70s Spain.
Geeson doesn't take off her clothes, but her on-screen sister does, pushed down a flight of stone steps after sunbathing topless. Both of the killer sisters show some flesh, Veronica romping naked in bed with houseboy Luis (Charley Pineiro), and Marta's blouse falling open to reveal some blood-drenched boobage whenever she gets cray-cray. Martin even delivers some very exploitative full frontal male nudity from a group of young lads who get Marta all worked up by skinny dipping. The violence/gore includes a bloody stabbing, a young mother being killed in front of her infant son, a severed head in the vat of wine, and—get this—a woman's eye accidentally being served up to a paying guest in her lunch. But remember, you can only see ALL of this trashy stuff in the uncut version (or by paying YouTube a visit).
6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb (this rating being for the full version of the film).
"It Happened At Nightmare In". OK little Horror shocker, that's actually quite decent, with some creepy moments, and solid performances!
callanvass22 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This is an OK little Horror shocker, that's actually quite decent, with some creepy moments and solid performances!. All the characters are decent, and the story is good enough, plus Aurora Bautista is very chilling as the Psycho. It's actually somewhat creative, and I know this has been said before, but it clearly looks like it was influenced by Pscyho, plus those expecting a lot of gore, will be very disappointed. The only thing that really bothered me was that it sounded like the actors were dubbed, and it had some bad dialog here and there, plus the ending was completely unexpected as I didn't see it coming at all. Judy Geeson is great as the heroin, and I got this in a Horror DVD set called Back From The Grave, along with a bunch of other Horror films, plus it's decently made and written as well. One of the most shocking moments for me is when Marta and Veronica, kill a mother just because, she wasn't married, and deceived them, and I was quite surprised by how watchable it was, as their were only a couple of dull moments, plus I liked the setting too. This is an OK little Horror shocker, that's actually quite decent, with some creepy moments, and solid performances, worth the watch. The Direction is decent. Eugenio Martín does a decent job here, with good camera work, using a good setting and keeping the film at a watchable pace. The Acting is pretty good actually. Judy Geeson is good as the heroine, she was quite cute, very likable,was vulnerable, and just made a great heroine, I liked her lots. Aurora Bautista is chilling as the Psycho, she was very creepy, unlikable, cruel, and I absolutely loved it, she gave a memorable show. Esperanza Roy is good as the innocent sister I liked her. Rest of the cast are alright. Overall worth the watch. **1/2 out of 5
Mierda from Spain
soulexpress21 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
In the Spanish countryside, sisters Marta and Veronica run a small hotel. They also murder any guest who doesn't live up to their strict, fundamentalist moral code. Because God. Didn't he also say something about not killing? Well, whatever.
The film is available in different versions, running between 67 and 120 minutes. I have the 67-minute version, and boy does it feel cut! Scenes just stop, characters react to nothing, there's no blood and gore to speak of . And what's left is rather dull and not at all original: the murdered guests end up on the hotel's menu, their remains are stashed in wine vats in the cellar, and one of the obnoxiously religious sisters is sexually involved with the hotel's handsome young caretaker. Certain characters' motives and actions are never explained either, though that may be due to the chainsaw- like editing job.
Though marketed as a horror film, it's neither scary nor suspenseful. There's nothing to keep us guessing, as we know from the start exactly who is killing those young women. The acting is passable but, as often happens with these low-budget productions, the dubbing stinks.
Unlike the most watchable Eurotrash, this film is nowhere near sleazy or exploitative enough to hold a viewer's interest. I'm glad I only subjected myself to 67 minutes of it.
The film is available in different versions, running between 67 and 120 minutes. I have the 67-minute version, and boy does it feel cut! Scenes just stop, characters react to nothing, there's no blood and gore to speak of . And what's left is rather dull and not at all original: the murdered guests end up on the hotel's menu, their remains are stashed in wine vats in the cellar, and one of the obnoxiously religious sisters is sexually involved with the hotel's handsome young caretaker. Certain characters' motives and actions are never explained either, though that may be due to the chainsaw- like editing job.
Though marketed as a horror film, it's neither scary nor suspenseful. There's nothing to keep us guessing, as we know from the start exactly who is killing those young women. The acting is passable but, as often happens with these low-budget productions, the dubbing stinks.
Unlike the most watchable Eurotrash, this film is nowhere near sleazy or exploitative enough to hold a viewer's interest. I'm glad I only subjected myself to 67 minutes of it.
Spanish Gothic Shocker
parkerbcn24 August 2021
The second horror film by Martín after the success of "Horror Express" the previous year is a very different beast. While the latter was more elegantly filmed, this one is kind of a mess, but the peculiarities of this Spanish Gothic Shocker, a little in the style of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", are worth noting; with an interesting social commentary of the moral repression of the dictatorship years. Also, sleazy and erotic, if you watch the uncut version.
A distinctly average - and derivative - Spanish mood piece
Leofwine_draca21 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I was inspired to watch A CANDLE FOR THE DEVIL simply because I'm a big fan of Eugenio Martin's other Spanish terror flick, HORROR EXPRESS, so I wanted to see what he'd achieved here. I have to say I was disappointed, because I realised halfway through that this is a mood flick and I'm no big fan of mood flicks. By that I mean, it's all about (admittedly creepy) atmosphere, without a whole lot else going on. There are four or so murders but they're all spread out so thinly that I was half asleep waiting for the next one. The film itself concerns the doings of a couple of crazy sisters, whose religious repression is hinted at but never fully explored in the same way as in a movie like ALICE, SWEET ALICE.
It's a shame, because these are two very interesting characters. The actors playing them, Aurora Bautista and Esperanza Roy, are both accomplished and fine in the parts, giving subtle turns despite the film's frequent descent to melodrama. Most of this film just sort of goes by out of your notice... there's a bit of talking, a sex scene, more talking, some wandering around in Spanish streets, more characters come and go... and then the movie ends exactly halfway through the climax, leaving you scratching your head and wondering how it ended (although I can appreciate that the freeze frame is effective in itself).
I did want to like this film. Martin has a good sense of visual style, and some shots reminded me of Mario Bava's superior, nightmarish LISA AND THE DEVIL. The set-pieces are well-handled and the murders quite chilling, without being overly graphic. There's a strong focus on exploitation values, as Martin strives to cram in as much nudity as he possibly can, and much of it is outrageous: there are nude pre-pubescent boys, nude corpses, a nude middle-aged woman... no normal cheesecake that I can remember. Judy Geeson is quite ineffectual as the film's supposed heroine, because she doesn't seem to be in it much, and when she is on screen she's not doing anything. In the end, I have to say that A CANDLE FOR THE DEVIL is a very average film, not much we haven't seen before in this PSYCHO derivative sub-genre, and I'm mainly disappointed because it could have been so much more.
It's a shame, because these are two very interesting characters. The actors playing them, Aurora Bautista and Esperanza Roy, are both accomplished and fine in the parts, giving subtle turns despite the film's frequent descent to melodrama. Most of this film just sort of goes by out of your notice... there's a bit of talking, a sex scene, more talking, some wandering around in Spanish streets, more characters come and go... and then the movie ends exactly halfway through the climax, leaving you scratching your head and wondering how it ended (although I can appreciate that the freeze frame is effective in itself).
I did want to like this film. Martin has a good sense of visual style, and some shots reminded me of Mario Bava's superior, nightmarish LISA AND THE DEVIL. The set-pieces are well-handled and the murders quite chilling, without being overly graphic. There's a strong focus on exploitation values, as Martin strives to cram in as much nudity as he possibly can, and much of it is outrageous: there are nude pre-pubescent boys, nude corpses, a nude middle-aged woman... no normal cheesecake that I can remember. Judy Geeson is quite ineffectual as the film's supposed heroine, because she doesn't seem to be in it much, and when she is on screen she's not doing anything. In the end, I have to say that A CANDLE FOR THE DEVIL is a very average film, not much we haven't seen before in this PSYCHO derivative sub-genre, and I'm mainly disappointed because it could have been so much more.
A rather enjoyable if somewhat flawed effort
kannibalcorpsegrinder6 December 2016
Working at a hotel together, a pair of sisters find themselves believing that they've been divinely-bound to dispatch of the undesirable sinners who stay there and begin killing them off while the police investigate the missing people.
This was quite a fun Spanish horror effort. One of the better aspects of this one is the fact that it really manages to get plenty of mileage out of its central premise ensuring that the sisters are just that off-center in their beliefs. This one accurately paints them as being so old-fashioned in their religious teachings that they've become brainwashed into the school of being the morally- sound viewpoint against the modern world and committing far more dangerous transgressions than what they're victims are accused of which makes this fall right in line with the vast majority of such films from that time period as their actions take this into a fun route. Their relentless pursuit against those that defy their viewpoint of righteousness allows for plenty of manic raving about their convictions which are put to use in several rather fun confrontations made all the better for being based on this backwards thinking, from the first encounter in the stairwell to the dealings with the town prostitute and finally the fine brawl that erupts from the battle in the basement with the single mother. The way these develop from their psychosis makes for quite a fun time overall here, and with the film picking up considerably in the action stakes for the final half with the race to bring them to justice leading to plenty of chasing around the property which gives this the kind of high-energy and enjoyable finale. Added together with some nice sleaze and a solid, engaging storyline, there's plenty to like here while there's a couple flaws holding it down. Among the films' few flaws is the fact that, despite it being quite a strong offering of their mental problems, there's just not a whole lot of action in this one. It's quite a while here before anything actually happens as the vast majority of the first half consists of the two debating about their ethical quandary killing off people and what they're doing, which makes this one really drag out and feel really endless as they're attempting to get their stories straight while also managing to feature them engaging in the same type of behavior with her boyfriend so it's not only bland but also hypocritical. That makes it hard to get into this one for quite a while due to this, and when the film spends the majority of the time not featuring many of these action scenes overall it really stands out with a dragged- out pace. The only other flaw here is the other storyline involving the missing woman's sister journeying around the town trying to find out what's happening to their utter cluelessness, which is quite strange with their desire to keep their crimes hidden and her noticeably poking around in their business being left to deal with until the very end which is quite a troubling effort. That really makes it hold itself back for the most part.
Rated R: Violence, Full Nudity and Language.
This was quite a fun Spanish horror effort. One of the better aspects of this one is the fact that it really manages to get plenty of mileage out of its central premise ensuring that the sisters are just that off-center in their beliefs. This one accurately paints them as being so old-fashioned in their religious teachings that they've become brainwashed into the school of being the morally- sound viewpoint against the modern world and committing far more dangerous transgressions than what they're victims are accused of which makes this fall right in line with the vast majority of such films from that time period as their actions take this into a fun route. Their relentless pursuit against those that defy their viewpoint of righteousness allows for plenty of manic raving about their convictions which are put to use in several rather fun confrontations made all the better for being based on this backwards thinking, from the first encounter in the stairwell to the dealings with the town prostitute and finally the fine brawl that erupts from the battle in the basement with the single mother. The way these develop from their psychosis makes for quite a fun time overall here, and with the film picking up considerably in the action stakes for the final half with the race to bring them to justice leading to plenty of chasing around the property which gives this the kind of high-energy and enjoyable finale. Added together with some nice sleaze and a solid, engaging storyline, there's plenty to like here while there's a couple flaws holding it down. Among the films' few flaws is the fact that, despite it being quite a strong offering of their mental problems, there's just not a whole lot of action in this one. It's quite a while here before anything actually happens as the vast majority of the first half consists of the two debating about their ethical quandary killing off people and what they're doing, which makes this one really drag out and feel really endless as they're attempting to get their stories straight while also managing to feature them engaging in the same type of behavior with her boyfriend so it's not only bland but also hypocritical. That makes it hard to get into this one for quite a while due to this, and when the film spends the majority of the time not featuring many of these action scenes overall it really stands out with a dragged- out pace. The only other flaw here is the other storyline involving the missing woman's sister journeying around the town trying to find out what's happening to their utter cluelessness, which is quite strange with their desire to keep their crimes hidden and her noticeably poking around in their business being left to deal with until the very end which is quite a troubling effort. That really makes it hold itself back for the most part.
Rated R: Violence, Full Nudity and Language.
Not Horrible
arfdawg-11 April 2014
Two old maid sisters are running a little family hotel in Spain.
They are very religious and the moral of the foreign tourist girl is too much for them.
They start to kill them.
First of all, 3 minutes into this movie there is hot blonde nudity which in my mind is a great beginning.
Then there is one of the shortest skirts and longest legs I've ever seen.
It's not a bad movie for the genre.
Sort of a cult movie.
They are very religious and the moral of the foreign tourist girl is too much for them.
They start to kill them.
First of all, 3 minutes into this movie there is hot blonde nudity which in my mind is a great beginning.
Then there is one of the shortest skirts and longest legs I've ever seen.
It's not a bad movie for the genre.
Sort of a cult movie.
Glad I bought this
Stevieboy6665 November 2018
A Candle for the Devil. I recently won this on a VHS auction site. Had never heard of it before but the film's title (ACFTD) and cover (British pre cert release on the Vampix label) made it impossible to resist. I wrongly assumed that it would involve witchcraft or Devil worship but instead is a story about two crazy Spanish sisters who kill guests at their village hotel. It reminded me of another Spanish film, Cannibal Man, in that you can see each murder coming, for the most trivial of things, but it's good, even fun, viewing. The deaths are fairly bloody and there's a smattering of nudity (of both sexes). The music is good, as are the rural Spanish locations. Really enjoyed it, given it 8/10 as it deserves better than it's current 5.7
Atmospheric Spanish horror
Prof-Hieronymos-Grost11 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
With Spain beginning to enjoy the benefits of modern tourism for the first time, some areas still find it hard to deal with the liberalism and sexual freedom of those who travel there. Among such people are Marta (Aurora Bautista) and Veronica (Esperanza Roy), two rather unattractive spinster sisters who run a guest-house in a conservative and religious town in the Ronda valley. Marta's guest-house earns her a very steady income, her restaurant has never been so busy, but she would trade it all for quieter times, if the clientèle were of like mind to her. One day while preparing a meal, Veronica and Marta hear a commotion outside, they rush upstairs to find a gang of excited local youths taunting one of their female guests who is sunbathing topless on the roof, this is the final straw for an irate Marta, she physically pushes the girl towards the door, unfortunately the girl falls down the stairs, her head crashes through a stained glass window and her throat is slit by a large shard of glass, Veronica wants to call the police, but Marta studies the shard intently, it is that of a religious sword. Marta takes this as a sign from God, that she has done right in her quest for a greater morality in society, so her death goes unreported.
Within minutes of the girls death, another girl comes calling at the guest-house, she introduces herself as Laura Barkley (Judy Geeson), the sister of the girl who now lies in a bloody mess upstairs, both sisters tell Laura that her sister left earlier that morning without giving a forwarding address. Laura finds this odd as she was meant to meet her sister there, she decides to wait around. As the days go by, Laura notices other strange goings on at the guest-house, she decides to investigate further the disappearance of her sister, as it would seem her disappearance is not the only one. Both puritan sisters hide a darker side, Veronica is scared of Marta, but it doesn't stop her from stealing some of the takings for her secret amour, she sneaks off most days to enjoy her lustful afternoons with him. Marta, who had been ditched by her husband to be on her wedding day, from which she has never quite recovered, is also shown to have secret lustful thoughts, a trait she despises in her guests, the murder of the girl seems to have triggered greater more evil thoughts in her head, but will she act on them?
Eugenio Martin's film captures rather well the troublesome transition of a society from a puritanical one with no money to an affluent one which has thoughts of compromising its own morals and standards to attain previously only dreamed of financial rewards. Geeson (Fear in the Night)who has claims to being the star is rather underused, mainly as she's off somewhere looking for her sister, but its Roy(Return of the Blind Dead) and Bautista who take the acting plaudits, both give solid performances, Roy convinces as the the sister with a heart, whose heart isn't really in the killings, Bautista is both sinister and rather scary as the overly fanatical elder sister. but its all rather ironic that at first they are both rather unattractive on the eye, seeming older than their years, but as both give in to their carnal and murderous urges they become more attractive and younger on the outside, but colder, more evil on the inside. The rest of the cast are on the whole rather forgettable, Martin's direction is OK, not up to the standards of his Horror Express,but here he builds up a nice atmosphere, with dead bloody carcasses of animals littering the kitchen, a furnace where evidence is routinely burned and a wine cellar where more gruesome things happen adding to the overall affect. the killings though are slow and the gruesomeness is more implied than seen, but thats the way i like these films so its not really a negative for me. The killings could of course have been stopped if someone had just called in the police, but hey we wouldn't have a film then, so i'll forgive this oversight. The ending is rather odd as villagers who have acted on a piece of cannibalistic evidence, lead the police in slow motion to the hostelry, just in time to save our heroine...well maybe? So if you like low budget Spanish horror from this era, this is certainly for you.
Within minutes of the girls death, another girl comes calling at the guest-house, she introduces herself as Laura Barkley (Judy Geeson), the sister of the girl who now lies in a bloody mess upstairs, both sisters tell Laura that her sister left earlier that morning without giving a forwarding address. Laura finds this odd as she was meant to meet her sister there, she decides to wait around. As the days go by, Laura notices other strange goings on at the guest-house, she decides to investigate further the disappearance of her sister, as it would seem her disappearance is not the only one. Both puritan sisters hide a darker side, Veronica is scared of Marta, but it doesn't stop her from stealing some of the takings for her secret amour, she sneaks off most days to enjoy her lustful afternoons with him. Marta, who had been ditched by her husband to be on her wedding day, from which she has never quite recovered, is also shown to have secret lustful thoughts, a trait she despises in her guests, the murder of the girl seems to have triggered greater more evil thoughts in her head, but will she act on them?
Eugenio Martin's film captures rather well the troublesome transition of a society from a puritanical one with no money to an affluent one which has thoughts of compromising its own morals and standards to attain previously only dreamed of financial rewards. Geeson (Fear in the Night)who has claims to being the star is rather underused, mainly as she's off somewhere looking for her sister, but its Roy(Return of the Blind Dead) and Bautista who take the acting plaudits, both give solid performances, Roy convinces as the the sister with a heart, whose heart isn't really in the killings, Bautista is both sinister and rather scary as the overly fanatical elder sister. but its all rather ironic that at first they are both rather unattractive on the eye, seeming older than their years, but as both give in to their carnal and murderous urges they become more attractive and younger on the outside, but colder, more evil on the inside. The rest of the cast are on the whole rather forgettable, Martin's direction is OK, not up to the standards of his Horror Express,but here he builds up a nice atmosphere, with dead bloody carcasses of animals littering the kitchen, a furnace where evidence is routinely burned and a wine cellar where more gruesome things happen adding to the overall affect. the killings though are slow and the gruesomeness is more implied than seen, but thats the way i like these films so its not really a negative for me. The killings could of course have been stopped if someone had just called in the police, but hey we wouldn't have a film then, so i'll forgive this oversight. The ending is rather odd as villagers who have acted on a piece of cannibalistic evidence, lead the police in slow motion to the hostelry, just in time to save our heroine...well maybe? So if you like low budget Spanish horror from this era, this is certainly for you.
Disjointed Assemblage of Film. Poor Casting.
michle5328 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I don't know if it was the dubbed version I watched, but this movie made very little sense. Also, the two female leads (the murderous sisters) were so similar in appearance that they were indistinguishable. I could not tell them apart, which is a real problem when important plot points depend on knowing who is doing what.
For example, in the middle of the movie there is an extremely long sequence where one sister clicks off down the cobbles to make bumpity-plush with her boy toy. Fine. But then the other sister goes clicking off to catch her? Is that what's happening? They look the same. You can't tell what's going on. And then two people are swimming and one of the sisters is being drawn through the thorns. Which sister is it? Who knows? And after enough of this, who cares? I guess only young Geeson knows for sure.
For example, in the middle of the movie there is an extremely long sequence where one sister clicks off down the cobbles to make bumpity-plush with her boy toy. Fine. But then the other sister goes clicking off to catch her? Is that what's happening? They look the same. You can't tell what's going on. And then two people are swimming and one of the sisters is being drawn through the thorns. Which sister is it? Who knows? And after enough of this, who cares? I guess only young Geeson knows for sure.
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