Julissa Movies
One of four low-budget Mexican horror productions to star an ailing Boris Karloff in a supporting (but top-billed) role, this odd little number features the horror legend as the dying forebear of an eccentric family, whose heirs descend like vultures on his palatial home when they learn of his impending demise... which apparently occurs shortly after their arrival. Little do they realize that their plucky patriarch has laid some elaborate traps for them, employing his collection of life-size automatons. The cast wanders about through dimly-lit sets for what seems like an eternity before being slain by the wind-up robots in a variety of gory ways, but the violent, bloody climax comes far too late to rescue viewers from the endless drudgery. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
This Spanish language film focuses on a private-eye investigating a series of murdered females in a rural area. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1968
An undercover spy uses a rock band as a cover for his operation in this Spanish film. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
A brilliant geologist sends a team to search the depths of the earth in an effort to learn the origin of some strange signals they've been picking up on their equipment. They discover a rock formation with an interior life that can communicate telepathically. They bring the mass to the surface and determine that the entity is "pure crystallized intelligence," and they believe many of the secrets of existence can be answered by studying the stone. However, the only message the mysterious rock is forthcoming with is what kind of food it needs, namely a particular chemical that can only be produced by the bodies of people in the throes of terror. To this end, Dr. Mantel (Boris Karloff) devises something called the Fear Chamber, where kidnapped prostitutes are frightened out of their wits with spiders, snakes, and faked Satanic rituals in order to obtain this precious chemical. Though the scientist and his assistants take pains not to physically harm their subjects, the weird living rock begins growing tentacles and soon learns how to capture its prey and extract the fluids itself, leading to the death of a lady burglar. The scientists realize what a deadly force they've unleashed on the surface world, though efforts to destroy the creature are complicated by its ability to control human minds and generate its own electricity. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Boris Karloff, Julissa, (more)
The inhabitants of a small, remote island have been practicing voodoo rites and worshipping an evil priest named Damballah for years, but the local law officials generally turn a blind eye to this death cult's bizarre activities. Captain Labesch (Rafael Bertrand) arrives from the mainland, determined to crack down on the island's lawlessness and clean up the ineffectual, hard-drinking police force. He appeals for assistance from wealthy plantation tycoon Carl Van Molder (Boris Karloff), who owns nearly half of the island and wields a great deal of influence over the population. Van Molder has made the study of parapsychology his life's work and believes in the secret powers of the mind. He warns Labesch not to interfere with this forgotten island's ancient ways. Also visiting is Van Molder's niece, Annabella (Julissa), a temperance crusader who wants her uncle to help fund the International Anti-Saloon League. She falls in love with handsome police lieutenant Andrew Wilhelm (Carlos East), despite his fondness for rum. Meanwhile, beautiful native girls are being transformed into zombies, and a sinister snake dancer named Kalea (Tongolele) leads them to attack and devour any meddling policemen who get too close to their unholy rituals. When Annabella is kidnapped and prepared to be the cult's latest human sacrifice, Labesch and Wilhelm have to infiltrate their ranks to save her, and they finally learn the secret identity of the all-powerful Damballah. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide
Based on the authentic Mexican legend first filmed in 1933 as La Llorona, this film begins with a flashback to a gruesome railway murder, setting up the legend of the wailing woman. In the present, a couple (Abel Salazar, Rosita Arenas) travels to a spooky mansion where evil Rita Macedo is trying to revive the mummified La Llorona. Macedo, the wailing ghost, and a deformed caretaker (Enrique Lucero) terrorize the central couple in fairly standard, ho-hum fashion, but director Rafael Baledon uses some interesting techniques to build atmosphere, and Arenas is solid as the imperiled heiress. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
Based on Caridad Bravo Adams' novel, this is the story of a man who eventually falls in love with a woman he had previously wanted to kill. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 1968
This Spanish only film tells the age old story of a young woman falling for an older man. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1966
A couple on the verge of getting married gets mixed up with a gang of thugs in this routine crime drama that underscores the socio-economic disparity in the Mexican culture. The upper-class couple rides along with Indians who go club-hopping and resort to petty thievery. After their adventure, the couple questions whether or not they are right for each other. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julissa, Enrique Alvarez Felix, (more)
- 1980
Set in 1934, and meant to dramatize social injustices, this melodrama examines an official's attempt at land reform. The landowners are against any reform and are also not interested in ending the exploitation of their workers. On the opposite side of the fence, the Native Americans have almost no way to better their living conditions or to fight oppression. They are also plagued by "superstition," which leads to some misguided actions that only make things worse. Violence and sexual encounters are interspersed throughout the story. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julissa, Manuel Ojeda, (more)
- 1967
Highly symbolic and allegorical, this drama takes the search of a son for his father in the chaotic times of the Mexican Revolution and the early 1900s as its basis. Stereotypical (or archetypal) figures from early Mexican cinema appear from time to time, and the violence of the revolutionary period is not glossed over. As the son searches for the father, scenes of the father and his earthy way of living are screened. Given that it relies so heavily on knowledge of Mexican history and Mexican cinema in addition to being something of an art-film, non-Mexican viewers will need to be both erudite and patient. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ignacio Tarso
- 1947
A young man faces outlaws when he attempts to clear his name of a stolen gold shipment. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1932
Santa was based on the incredibly popular novel by Mexican author Don Federico Gamboa. So beloved was the original novel that audiences were predisposed to adore the film, whether it was any good or not. The story concerns the romantic travails of the homely pianist (Carlos Orellana) of a seedy house of "ill repute." The hero harbors a seemingly hopeless love for the house's prettiest inhabitant, played by the curvaceous Lupita Tovar. When the girl is injured in an accident, the pianist sacrifices his all to finance a life-saving operation -- but will his grand gesture turn out to be futile? Santa represented the first directorial effort of Spanish film idol Antonio Moreno. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carlos Orellana, Mimi Derba, (more)
- 1965
In this Mexican supernatural drama, a bereaved mother is granted three wishes after she makes a pact with the devil. Her first wish is to bring her son back from the dead. Unfortunately things don't turn out as well as she'd hoped they would. The story is based on The Monkey's Paw. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
A secretive street magician finds his life forever changed after being reminded of the past he once walked away from in director Jamie Aparicio's inspirational redemption drama. Tadeo used to be a famous photographer, but these days he earns a living by dazzling people on the city streets. Assisting Tadeo in his popular performances is a blind vagabond who proves the only friend this lonely magician has left. When Tadeo makes the acquaintance of a young neighbor, a life altering revelation gradually pulls the sensitive magician out of isolation. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernando Gonzalez, Maya Zapata, (more)
One family's love of soccer divides the household by pitting brother against mother and husband against wife in this classic comedy drama from Mexican director Icaro Cisneros. Small-town mother-of-two Flora is proud that her two soccer-playing sons have joined the successful Guadalajara team, but her excitement is short-lived when she learns that love-interest Felipe has a son that plays for the American team. Though the loving couple is willing to set their differences aside long enough to exchange wedding vows, the announcement that one of Flora's sons intends to marry Felipe's daughter threatens to turn a friendly rivalry into an all-out war! ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
