THE GHOST GALLEON (1974) is coming to Blu-Ray!

Vinegar Syndrome has announced the Blu-Ray release of the third of Amando De Ossorio's Blind Dead films and I am thrilled!

Pre-Order here.

 

New Release - EXORCISMO: DEFYING A DICTATOR & RAISING HELL IN POST-FRANCO SPAIN

We are very happy to have been a small part of the generous extras on this amazing set! Robert Monell and I collaborated on a track for the brilliant A BELL FROM HELL and Troy Guinn and I Naschycast-ed our way through THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE DARK. But there are so many great films in this set it is mind-bending, including several that have only been viewable in horribly degraded copies for decades. Cinema fans are living in wonderful times!

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EXORCISMO: DEFYING A DICTATOR & RAISING HELL IN POST-FRANCO SPAIN

Order Link: https://severinfilms.com/.../exorcismo-defying-a-dictator...

SEVERIN FILMS ILLUMINATES FRANCO-ERA/POST-FRANCO SPANISH GENRE CINEMA WITH EXORCISMO COLLECTION

This Release Showcases 19 Feature Films Including Award-Winning Documentary, Plus New 168-Page Book & 21+ Combined Hours of Bonus Features

Having endured decades of strict censorship laws under General Franco’s authoritarian rule, Spain’s entertainment industry fought to liberate cinematic expression before and after the dictator's death in 1975. Faced with an opportunity to subvert the regime’s values and protest the Catholic Church’s rigid restrictions, Spanish filmmakers began to defiantly explore banned themes such as sex, violence and horror. With the post-Franco Clasificada “S” rating, which restricted these films to audiences over 18, this active rebellion marked a shift in the nation and audiences considered this period of cinema to be a cultural ‘exorcismo.’ Honoring the art of resistance-by-cinema, EXORCISMO: DEFYING A DICTATOR & RAISING HELL IN POST-FRANCO SPAIN spotlights 18 films that launched a celluloid revolution, including infamous features directed by Eloy de la Iglesia, León Klimovsky, Javier Aguirre and Eugenio Martín. 

Also included is writer/producer/director Alberto Sedano’s acclaimed 2024 documentary EXORCISMO: THE TRANSGRESSIVE LEGACY OF CLASIFICADA “S”, which explores the history behind the notorious rating that rocked Spanish culture, changed the face of genre films and left its mark on global cinema forever. The 168-page EXORCI“S”MO! features new essays by Alberto Sedano, Alejandro Melero, Álex Mendíbil, Shelagh Rowan-Legg and Daniel Kowalski, plus poster/stills galleries and more. The majority of the titles in this unprecedented collection are Worldwide Blu-ray Premieres scanned in 4K from original camera negatives, with over 21 combined hours of new and archival Special Features.

 

Disc 1: Exorcismo: The Transgressive Legacy of Clasificada "S" / Far from the Trees (Lejos de los árboles)

Exorcismo: The Transgressive Legacy of Clasificada "S" Special Feature:

● Trailer 

Exorcismo: The Transgressive Legacy of Clasificada "S" Disc Specs:

Runtime: 123 mins

Audio: Spanish / English 5.1, Spanish / English Stereo

Subtitles: English For Spanish Audio, English For All Audio

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Far from the Trees Disc Specs:

Runtime: 103 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono

Subtitles: English

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

Disc 2: The Bell from Hell (La campana del infierno) / Creation of the Damned (El refugio del miedo)

The Bell from Hell Special Features:

● Audio Commentary With Kat Ellinger, Author Of Daughters Of Darkness

● Audio Commentary With Rod Barnett, Film Historian And Co-Host Of NaschyCast, And Robert Monell, Writer And Editor Of I'm In A Jess Franco State Of Mind

● Censorship And Curses – Film Scholar Dr. Álex Mendíbil On THE BELL FROM HELL

● Trailer

● LUCIANO (1965) – Short Film Co-Written/Directed By Claudio Guerín, Director Of THE BELL FROM HELL 

The Bell from Hell Disc Specs:

Runtime: 97 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono, English Mono

Subtitles: English, English SDH

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Creation of the Damned Special Features:

● Audio Commentary With Antonio Lázaro-Reboll, Author Of Spanish Horror Film

● I'm Proud Of My Films – Interview With Director José Ulloa

● Being There – Interview With Camera Assistant Paco Marín

● Trailer

● Still Gallery 

Creation of the Damned Disc Specs:

Runtime: 96 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono, English Mono

Subtitles: English, English SDH

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Disc 3: The Devil's Exorcist (El juego del diablo) / After... Part One: Can't You Be Left Alone? (Después de... Primera parte: No se os puede dejar solos?)

The Devil’s Exorcist Special Features:

● Play Film With Alternate Opening

● Audio Commentary With Shelagh Rowan-Legg, Author Of The Spanish Fantastic, And Film Critic/Educator Simon Laperrière

● A Daring Film – Interview With Actor Jack Taylor

● Horror Comes From The Church – Interview With Cinematographer José Luis Alcaine

● Sound Experiments – Interview With Composer José Nieto

● Trailer 

The Devil’s Exorcist Disc Specs:

Runtime: 84 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono, English Mono

Subtitles: English, English SDH

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

After... Part One: Can't You Be Left Alone? Disc Specs:

Runtime: 94 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono

Subtitles: English

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

Disc 4: The People Who Own the Dark (Último deseo)

The People Who Own the Dark Special Features:

● Audio Commentary With Rod Barnett And Troy Guinn, Film Historians/Co-Hosts Of NaschyCast (Spanish Cut Only)

● Joking On Set – Interview With Actor Antonio Mayans

● A Unique Iconography In Spanish Terror – Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival, On THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE DARK

● Trailer

 

The People Who Own the Dark Disc Specs:

Runtime: 100 mins (Spanish Cut) / 83 mins (U.S. Cut)

Audio: Spanish Mono (Spanish Cut Only) / English Mono (U.S. Cut Only)

Subtitles: English (Spanish Cut Only) / English SDH (U.S. Cut Only)

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 (Spanish Cut Only) / 1.85:1 (U.S. Cut Only)

Disc 5: Battered Flesh (Carne apaleada) / The Priest (El sacerdote)

Battered Flesh Special Features:

● Audio Commentary With Shelagh Rowan-Legg, Author Of The Spanish Fantastic, And Spanish Cinema Professor/Scholar Alejandro Melero

● A Spain To Break – Interview With Actress Sandra Alberti 

Battered Flesh Disc Specs:

Runtime: 99 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono

Subtitles: English

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

The Priest Special Features:

● The Socialist Priest – Interview With Actor Emilio Gutiérrez Caba

● A Provocative Filmmaker – Interview With Actor Martín Garrido Ramis

● EL OTRO LUIS (1975) – Short Film By Eloy De La Iglesia’s Friend And Collaborator Alejo Loren

 

The Priest Disc Specs:

Runtime: 100 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono

Subtitles: English

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Disc 6: Sins of a Nympho (Bacanal en directo) / Dimorfo

Sins of a Nympho Special Features:

● I Regret Nothing – Interview With Assistant Director Alejo Loren

● Trailer 

Sins of a Nympho Disc Specs:

Runtime: 85 mins

Audio: Spanish Stereo

Subtitles: English

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Dimorfo Special Features:

● The Haunted Cartoonist – Spanish Film Scholar Dr. Álex Mendíbil On The Films Of Rodjara

● Alternate Credit Sequences

 

Dimorfo Disc Specs:

Runtime: 95 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono

Subtitles: English

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Disc 7: Bloody Sex (Sexo sangriento) / Morbus

Bloody Sex Special Features:

● Audio Commentary With David Flint, Author Of Babylon Blue: An Illustrated History Of Adult Cinema

● A Bohemian Life – Interview With Producer Gloria Sancho

● Lobby Card Gallery 

Bloody Sex Disc Specs:

Runtime: 82 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono

Subtitles: English

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Morbus Special Features:

● Sex And Horror – Interview With Director Ignasi P. Ferré

● A Well-Deserved Recognition – Interview With Actress Carmen Serret

● THE EVIL FACES OF VĺCTOR ISRAEL (2010) – Archival Documentary 

Morbus Disc Specs:

Runtime: 87 mins

Audio: Catalan Mono

Subtitles: English

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

Disc 8: Faces (Rostros) / Triangle of Lust (Desnuda ante el espejo)

Faces Special Features:

● An Unclassifiable Movie – Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival, On FACES

● Trailer 

Faces Disc Specs:

Runtime: 93 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono

Subtitles: English

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

Triangle of Lust Special Features:

● Audio Commentary With David Flint, Author Of Babylon Blue: An Illustrated History Of Adult Cinema

● Extended/Alternate Scenes 

Triangle of Lust Disc Specs:

Runtime: 91 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono, English Mono

Subtitles: English, English SDH

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Disc 9: That House in the Outskirts (Aquella casa en las afueras) / Supernatural (Sobrenatural)

That House in the Outskirts Special Features:

● A Very Strong Character – Interview With Actress Silvia Aguilar

● Trailer 

That House in the Outskirts Disc Specs:

Runtime: 101 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono

Subtitles: English

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

Supernatural Special Features:

● Audio Commentary With David Flint, Editor Of Desperate Living

● Supernatural Effects – Interview With Actor Máximo Valverde

● English Title Sequence

● Trailer

● TV Spot

 

Supernatural Disc Specs:

Runtime: 90 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono, English Mono

Subtitles: English, English SDH

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

Disc 10: Poppers / After... Part Two: Tied Up and Tied Up Well (Después de... Segunda parte: Atado y bien atado)

Poppers Special Features:

● A Bold And Delirious Movie – Interview With Art Director Javier Fernández

● A Film Like No Other – Interview With Assistant Director Eduardo Campoy

● Trailer

 

Poppers Disc Specs:

Runtime: 83 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono

Subtitles: English

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

After... Part Two: Tied Up and Tied Up Well Disc Specs:

Runtime: 103 mins

Audio: Spanish Mono

Subtitles: English

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

 

Leon Klimovsky's I HATE MY BODY (1974) Comes to Blu-Ray!

I HATE MY BODY (1974)

Director Leon Klimovsky; Spain/Switzerland, 1974

100 minutes; 1.85:1, color

English/Spanish audio choice/optional English subtitles

Starring: Alexandra Bastedo, Narciso Ibáñez Menta, Gemma Cuervo, Manuel Zarzo, Eva León, Manuel de Blas, Blanca Estrada, Byron Mabe

Lecherous businessmen Ernest and Peter go out for an evening of fun with two girls from work. There’s a lot of drinking and dancing and more than a little suggestion of frolics to follow, particularly when Ernest has the idea they swap partners. The two men set off in their cars with their respective dates. Ernest, in no fit state to be behind the wheel, roars with laughter as they speed off into the dark night. Momentarily distracted as he glances at his attractive passenger, he loses control of the car. They crash into the side of a bridge and the vehicle bursts into flames.

The bodies are rushed to the nearest hospital where both Ernest and his passenger are certified dead on arrival. However, the hospital’s surgeon, Dr. Adolf Berger - a former medic in a Nazi death camp - discovers that Ernest’s brain is still intact. Encouraged by his female assistant, Lydia, Berger decides to try out his long-cherished experiment- transplanting a brain from one body to another. However, the only body available is that of a young woman, Leda Schmidt, also technically dead in the hospital morgue. Casting aside all scruples, Berger begins the operation...

This outrageous film, which now has much contemporary relevance, was directed by horror specialist Leon Klimovsky the man behind Paul Naschy’s Werewolf and the Vampire Woman and numerous other Spanish “fantaterror” classics. The disc includes many exclusive extras and the feature has been fully restored.

DISC FEATURES

Region Free

Brand new 4K restoration from the original negative

Interview with actor Manuel de Blas

Interview with Spanish film expert Ángel Sala about the film

Victor Matellano on actor Narciso Ibanez Menta

Audio commentary by Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn of the Naschycast

Trailer

LIMITED EDITION FEATURES

Reversible sleeve with original ad art on both sides; 24 page booklet by Spanish genre film expert Ismael Fernandez; 1000 numbered copies in the usual red case.

Link to Mondo Macabro's order page
 

THE BLOOD SPATTERED BRIDE (1972) Poster Art

 

Beyond Naschy #37 - THE SADISTIC BARON VON KLAUS (1963)

 

In this episode the Naschycast crew takes a deep dive into Jess Franco’s THE SADISTIC BARON VON KLAUS (1963) while hoping we can avoid the deadly quicksand. Bob Sargent returns and joins Troy and I to discuss this krimi-like murder mystery. It even has a little comedy relief. Luckily, very little of that!

 

This film seems to be less well thought of among fans of Uncle Jess’ black & white output and I’ve never understood why. It has a great cast with Howard Vernon leading the way as the most obvious suspect when young women in an Austrian town start turning up dead. Is there anything to the legend of a Von Klaus ancestor who reincarnates every few decades to terrorize the locals? Or is there a much more human reason that lovely ladies are wise to not venture out after dark? And just how sadistic will the film be allowed to go to depict the amoral depths of the killer’s lustful urges? Pretty far, it turns out!

 

If you have any comments or suggestions naschycast@gmail.com is the place to write the show. Thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon. 

Poster Art and Lobby Cards for FRANKENSTEIN'S BLOODY TERROR

The first Waldemar Daninsky film!

 

DANZA MACABRA VOL. THREE: THE SPANISH GOTHIC COLLECTION

I'm very excited about this set! And not just because I'm on it. CROSS OF THE DEVIL is an amazing film and I've wanted to be able to introduce people to it for years. 

4 RESTORED CLASSICS.

8+ HOURS OF SPECIAL FEATURES.

LO MEJOR DEL HORROR GÓTICO ESPAÑOL.

 

Spain’s tradition of Gothic Horror – particularly during the Franco dictatorship – was characterized by daring concepts, lush visuals, extreme sexuality and a startling aesthetic all its own. These four classic shockers from the 1970s represent the genre at its most audacious: In NECROPHAGOUS, the debut feature by writer/director Miguel Madrid, a fractured family in a crumbling castle conceals a grisly graveyard secret. The anthology film CAKE OF BLOOD – never previously available outside of Spain – presents a quartet of supernatural tales by four young filmmakers. Hammer Films director John Gilling brings his inimitable style to the occult thriller in CROSS OF THE DEVIL. And a terminally ill woman is enticed by eternal life in León Klimovsky’s vampire masterwork, THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD. Each film in this collection has been scanned from its original negative – with over 8 hours of Special Features – for the first time ever in America.

 

Disc 1: NECROPHAGOUS (1971)

 

The most misunderstood Spanish gothic shocker of the early ‘70s can now be reassessed like never before: A young nobleman (Bill Curran) returns to his crumbling family castle, only to learn that his wife has died giving birth to their stillborn child. But why is her coffin empty? What follows is a uniquely told shocker of grief, lust, dark secrets and the hungers of the grave. Frank Braña (PIECES), Victor Israel (THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED) and Beatriz Elorrieta (BLOOD HUNT) co-star in this debut feature by writer/director Miguel Madrid (THE KILLER OF DOLLS) – also known as THE BUTCHER OF BINBROOK and released in America by Independent-International as GRAVEYARD OF HORROR – now scanned in 4K from the recently discovered negative for the first time ever.

 

Disc Specs:

 

Runtime: 87 mins

English Mono, Spanish Mono / Closed Captions

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

 

Special Features:

 

Audio Commentary With Andy Marshall-Roberts, Host Of The Nasty Pasty Podcast

Something You've Never Seen – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival

The First Horror Film Festival In The World – Remembrance By Maria Pilar Rafáles, Daughter Of Sitges Film Festival Founder Antonio Rafáles

Trailers

Disc 2: CAKE OF BLOOD (1971)

 

With Spanish cinema still under the oppressive Franco regime, four filmmakers banded together to create a horror anthology that examined classic themes through transgressive perceptions: Directed by José María Vallés, TAROT stars Julián Ugarte (ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK) in a grim tale of fanaticism set in the Middle Ages. Eusebio Poncela (THE CANNIBAL MAN) and Marisa Paredes (ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER) star in VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN, a unique take on Mary Shelley’s classic directed by Emilio Martínez-Lázaro (THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BED). TERROR AMONG CHRISTIANS, directed by Francesc Bellmunt, is a jolting vampire allegory set during Roman times. Jaime Chávarri – co-writer of VAMPYROS LESBOS and future icon of New Spanish Cinema – directs the twisted ghost story THE DANCE OR EMOTIONAL SURVIVALS starring Luis Ciges (THE CREATURE). Never available outside of Spain, CAKE OF BLOOD is now scanned in 4K from the original negative for the first time ever.

 

Disc Specs:

 

Runtime: 90 mins

Spanish Mono / English Subtitles

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

 

Special Features:

 

Audio Commentary With Rod Barnett Of NaschyCast And The Bloody Pit, And Dr. Adrian Smith, Co-Author Of Norman J. Warren: Gentleman of Terror

My Generation – Interview With Actress Marisa Paredes

I Just Wanted To Have Fun – Interview With Co-Director Jaime Chávarri

To Whoever Wants To Watch – Interview With Actor José Lifante

An Arthouse UFO – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival

Disc 3: CROSS OF THE DEVIL (1974)

 

In the early ‘70s, Spanish horror icon Jacinto Molina (aka Paul Naschy) wrote a screenplay for a Knights Templar film to compete with the popular BLIND DEAD series. Meanwhile, Hammer Films director John Gilling – whose hits for the UK studio included THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES and THE REPTILE – had retired to Spain. Molina shared his script with Gilling, who took over the project without Molina. The rarely seen result is a sumptuous tale of supernatural horror in which a writer (Ramiro Oliveros of THE PYJAMA GIRL CASE) plagued by violent nightmares investigates the murder of his sister by an ancient occult order. Carmen Sevilla (NO ONE HEARD THE SCREAM), Emma Cohen (THE CANNIBAL MAN) and Eduardo Fajardo (THE KILLER MUST KILL AGAIN) co-star in Gilling’s final film as director, now scanned in 4K from the negative with English subtitles for the first time ever.

 

Disc Specs:

 

Runtime: 97 mins

Spanish Mono / English Subtitles

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

 

Special Features:

 

Audio Commentary With Kim Newman, Author Of Anno Dracula, And Barry Forshaw, Author Of Brit Noir

Fascinated By Bécquer – Interview With Screenwriter Juan José Porto

The Real Templar Knights Movie – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival

Fantasy And Imagination: The Legacy Of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer – Video Essay By Xavier Aldana Reyes, Author Of Spanish Gothic: National Identity, Collaboration And Cultural Adaptation

Disc 4: THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD (1975)

 

Though best known for his collaborations with Spanish horror star Jacinto Molina/Paul Naschy, Argentinian director León Klimovsky also crafted several of Spain’s finest vampire films of the ‘70s, especially this “magnificent” (Taliesin Meets The Vampires) 1975 gothic classic: In a 19th century village ruled by superstition, a vulnerable young woman (Emma Cohen of HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB) is seduced into an aristocratic family of the sensuous undead. Carlos Ballesteros (José Ramón Larraz’ THE VOYEUR) and Barta Barri (THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE DARK) co-star in this sexy/stylish/violent shocker – also known as STRANGE LOVE OF THE VAMPIRES and ripe for rediscovery after decades of edited prints and bad transfers – now scanned in 2K from the negative for the first time ever.

 

Disc Specs:

 

Runtime: 88 mins

English Stereo, Spanish Stereo / Closed Captions, English Subtitles

Region Free

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

 

Special Features:

 

Audio Commentary With Kat Ellinger, Author Of Daughters Of Darkness

A Deadly Invitation To Another Dimension – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival

Leo's Signature – Interview With Writer Juan José Porto

Dead Man Walking – Interview With Actor José Lifante

Spain's Cinematic Vampires – Video Essay By Xavier Aldana Reyes, Author Of Spanish Gothic: National Identity, Collaboration And Cultural Adaptation

Alternate Spanish Credit Sequence

 

Naschycast #74 - WEREWOLF VS THE VAMPIRE WOMAN (1971) with Robert Kelly

Troy and I are joined by fellow podcaster Robert Kelly, host of Record All Monsters and author of Record All Monsters: the Book of the Essays from the Podcast. Don’t worry – he eventually explains the book’s title and his fascination with kaiju films.  

Robert came to his love of Naschy in a very different manner than either of your Naschycast hosts, getting an unexpected full-strength version of WEREWOLF VS THE VAMPIRE WOMAN (1971) as a gift at far too young an age. The ways in which this may have warped his movie loving mind come under discussion as well as his more adult thoughts about the werewolf as a monster. We use the recent Vinegar Syndrome Blu-Ray as a reference to compare some of the differences in the Spanish and English dubs with crazy Pierre getting attention once again. The conversation ranges from odd spots in the narrative to random details that stick in our minds so don’t expect a coherent march through a synopsis. We were much more interested in picking each other’s brains about Naschy’s werewolf films and other favorites from his career. If you have half as much fun as we did you’ll completely enjoy yourself!

If you have any comments or questions naschycast@gmail.com is the place to write. We do plan to record an email episode in the near future so now is the time. Thank you very much for listening and we’ll be back soon.

 

 

NaschyCast #73 - Blu-Ray Round Up!

The Naschycast returns for a brief overview of the Paul Naschy Blu-Rays that are currently available in Region A. Troy and I decided to record this show to give our North American listeners an indication of the wealth of high-definition offerings still on retail shelves – as long as you search the right retailers! Consider this also a warning that these wonderful discs don’t stay available forever and, in many cases, when they’re gone they are gone for good.

We tried and failed to do a chronological rundown of the Blu-Rays that have come out over the last eight years or so with nods toward some blank spots in Naschy’s career we’d like to see filled with HD glory. The individual companies that have been releasing these Spanish horror classics have been doing us all a good service and let’s hope the releases continue past next year’s long awaited DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLF MAN!

If you have any comments naschycast@gmail.com is the place to send them. We hope that you have had a good 2023 and that 2024 will be even better! Thank you for listening.

Retro Review - I HATE MY BODY (1974)

Philandering husband Ernest is out partying in a nightclub with some co-workers one night. He gets in his car to take one of the secretaries home for the evening for a little mattress bounce but has overestimated his ability to drive while drunk. One crash later the secretary is dead and he is on an operating table breathing his last. Enter mad scientist/doctor of insane medicine Adolph who is pressed by his nurse into continuing his concentration camp experiments on poor Ernest. A gleeful Adolph takes the fellow’s brain out of his dying body and pops it into the body of Leta. It seems that she’d had a terminal brain tumor but her body is in fine shape so it’s a perfect match- right? You would think so - especially if you were a Nazi doctor hell-bent on proving his mad theories to the world.

Of course if you’re a super macho man suddenly placed inside a woman’s body you might think otherwise. Ernst is shocked at his transformation and disgusted by the attention he/she gets from men. He’s still the same old pussy hound with the same old womanizing urges and the idea of sex with a man is just not going to work for him. (Alternate titles - Creation of a Lesbian!; Night of the Lesbian; The Lady Wears a Tie; Is That a Boobie in Your Bra or Are You Just Happy to See Me?) 

Pissed at his new lot in life and suffering some decided shock he seethes with anger. Only able to take being locked up in the hospital for a short time he/she starts a distracting fire, shoves Adolph into it and makes an escape. A visit to his ex (?) wife reveals that she’s now sleeping with his best friend/co-worker and living comfortably off the million dollar insurance policy Ernest left behind. Hard up for money Leta/Ernest tries to get Ernest’s old job at the engineering firm. After all - she has the same qualifications. When that doesn’t work (he/she actually calls his old boss a male chauvinist!) she tries to convince a psychiatrist of her predicament but he dismisses her story. Or he does until he realizes that this is the escaped crazy woman who burned old Dr. Adolph to death! At this point Leta decides to visit her new body’s parents for a break. But Ernest soon learns that Leta has a son from a youthful out of wedlock relationship! Oh my. Not just a woman but a mommy! He/she leaves almost as quickly as he/she arrived exiting the old hometown, setting up house in a boarding room and getting a job in a factory. But when this and a bar job don’t work out Leta hits on a much better plan for cash. It’s time to blackmail Ernest’s wife for half the insurance money.

This is a pretty good but not great slice of sleazy trash. A movie like this often teeters on the edge of unintentional humor but for the most part I HATE MY BODY maintains its balance. In the 1970's the idea of a man in a woman’s body is much more likely to be played for laughs than drama and there are some things in this story that are impossible to present without a bit of humor. I laughed out loud at Leta’s reaction to learning about her son. But for every scene that veered toward amusement there was another that pushed things in the other direction. Once Leta starts making her moves on the insurance money she also tracks down Dr. Adolph’s nurse and beats the hell out of her with a whip. And if there was any doubt about how the film was to be taken the downbeat ending should erase all confusion.

This is by far the weakest of director Leon Klimovsky’s movies that I’ve seen. That doesn’t mean its bad at all, but it doesn’t measure up to his better work. It’s well worth a look for the Euro-curious and it’s a shame the only way to get it is the dubbed scratchy print as it deserves a restored release. 

 

NaschyCast #72 - Jon Kitley Visits!

This episode we are joined by Jon Kitley to talk about his love of and history with Paul Naschy! Readers of Horror Hound magazine are aware of his regular column ‘They Came from the Krypt’ but he has also published the book ‘Discover The Horror’ which is part genre exploration and part autobiography. Both Troy and I recommend it. As you might expect from such a conversation, the three of us range all over the place touching on more topics than we could comfortably list.

Suffice to say that we discuss horror conventions (where we all met), non-fiction horror genre books (which we all collect) and our shared fascination with movies and monstrous stories. Of course, we do finally get around to talking about Naschy with Jon falling squarely on my side of the critical Mummy divide! It is about time I had someone to stand with me on that hill! HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB was our guest’s introduction to the great man’s work and it becomes a big part of our chat. As a bonus, the legendary Spanish character actor Victor Israel gets more than a few minutes of glowing examination too. We had a great time talking Naschy and we hope you’ll enjoy listening. 

If you have any comments or question naschycast@gmail.com is the place to send your emails. Thank you for checking out the show and we’ll be back soon.

NaschyCast #71 - INQUISITION with Marc McCloud

 

Marc McCloud drops by the show to discuss Naschy’s tale of the Inquisition in France. Marc is the owner of Orbit DVD and a longtime friend of Troy and I, but this is the first time we’ve ever talked about our mutual love of the films of Paul Naschy. Our guest chose Naschy’s directorial debut as the topic and we were happy to oblige.

Religious hypocrisy is a big part of our conversation and this gets us into the thorny area of what to call the subset of exploitation films of which this is a part. We note the influence of the Catholic Church on the nature of the fears that undergird the horrors of the film and wonder about the connections to the Nunsploitation genre. The villains of the story come under scrutiny with an eye toward how they use their relative places of power to extract their desires from those around them. And we speak a little about the ways that women had to work to accomplish things in the society ruled by male religious leaders. Join us for what I will refuse to call a ‘romp’ through INQUISITION.

We end the show with a short email from Kurt and if you’d like to send us your thoughts naschycast@gmail.com is the address. Thank you for listening! 

Podcast - Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael - Naschy Discussion

Troy Guinn and I were honored to be interviewed recently on an episode of J.G. Michael's Parallax Views podcast, talking about the great man we love so much, Paul Naschy! J.G.'s excellent podcast series covers a really wide range of subject matter, so we hope our discussion will encourage new adventure seekers to dive into the world of Naschy and Spanish horror! Thanks to J.G. for inviting us to share the love!

The Bloody Pit #159 - THE HORRIBLE SEXY VAMPIRE (1970)

Cort Psyops returns to discuss THE HORRIBLE SEXY VAMPIRE (1970)! Just how many words in this title accurately describe the film’s contents? Woo boy. Your mileage may vary……

Recently rescued from dodgy video presentations by Mondo Macabro, this Spanish oddity is one of the stranger examples of Euro-Horror. We start our discussion remarking that the story behind the making of the film is probably more interesting than the film itself, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of onscreen elements to puzzle over. While the movie does sport a standard Lugosi-style vampire lurking around gothic places, the majority of the killings are handled nontraditionally. By that I mean that this vampire can somehow render himself invisible! Was this a stylistic choice on the filmmakers’ part or a budgetary one? It hardly matters as it creates one of the more memorable aspects of the movie. Watching victims flail about fighting someone that isn’t there is sure to keep you staring at the screen wondering just how crazy things will get.

Mondo Macabro’s Blu-Ray has a few excellent extras that give an explanation for how and why this film was made. The most interesting information involves the star of the picture and how he started an acting career. This disc proves that any film can be made fascinating the more you know about it. I can only imagine what viewers in the past thought of this bizarre movie with no frame of reference for what went on behind the scenes. This is the kind of thing I live for!

If you have any comments or questions thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Cort and I thank you for your time and attention! Happy Halloween.

Naschycast #70 - HUNCHBACK with Bob Sargent!

Troy and I once again welcome Bob Sargent to the Naschycast! This time we discuss one of our favorite of Paul Naschy’s horror tales, THE HUNCHBACK OF THE MORGUE (1973).

This film’s inspired madness is certainly worth talking about and we find some fresh areas to explore. For instance, the relative ease that Naschy’s poor hunchback Gotho has kidnapping women for the mad doctor’s experiments is a topic of some debate. Also, the fact that several characters have some knowledge of what is going on but they never compare notes well enough to raise the necessary alarm is something puzzled over. We notice that it doesn’t help that the local cops can’t seem to find a clue when it’s sitting right in front of them lying straight to their faces! Seriously – how suspicious does Orla have to be before you follow that nutcase around just to check up on things?

Bob brings up some interesting questions that we’ve never examined before including the presence of some very odd decorations in a certain apartment. I think I’ve solved one of them but the other is still a mystery. Maybe you can help us out.

If you have any comments or suggestions or if you have a guess about what that strange hanging object in Rosanna Yanni’s place might be naschycast@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening! 

 

Naschycast #69 - AGONIZANDO EN EL CRIMEN (1968)

Bob Sargent returns to the show to discuss a very early Paul Naschy screen appearance. Rescued from relative obscurity by the online fan-subbing community AGONIZANDO EN EL CRIMEN (1968) is a strange crime story centered on a serial killer obsessed with medical professionals - and their hands! This one is not easy to see but is it worth seeking out? Boy, do we have a lot to say.

Troy, Bob and I dig into the production of the film and how Naschy’s original job on this project was behind the camera. We spot a few interesting locations including a very familiar set of steps that are a big part of Naschy’s cinematic legacy. The film’s writer/star comes under scrutiny with Naschy’s pointed comments about the fellow leaving no doubt about why these two men never worked together again. On the other hand, this movie’s director, Enrique López Eguiluz, played a major role in making Jacinto Molina into the horror movie star we know and love to this day.

We take our time and really pull this one apart with occasional sideroads into the Hammer Dracula films and the on-set shenanigans of Klaus Kinski. It can’t be helped! We have a lot to say about the Juan Logar’s wide-eyed, maniacal but still somehow detached performance. We chuckle over the casual 1960’s style of misogyny and the silly idea that a woman might become a surgeon. Madness! And it all circles round to an embarrassing discussion of how best to hide a murder boner. We are a strange trio.  

We end the episode with a few new pieces of mail sent to naschycast@gmail.com and if you have anything you’d like to tell us, that is the place. Thank you for listening to the show and we’ll be back soon. 

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