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Title: El Vampiro (The Vampire) & El Ataud del Vampiro (The Vampire's Coffin) - 2 Disc Special Edition (2006) |
Review of El Vampiro (The Vampire) & El Ataud del Vampiro (The Vampire's Coffin) - 2 Disc Special Edition
- The Greatest Mexican Vampire Film Classics, Together in a Special 2-Disc Set
The Vampireaka:El Vampiro
Described as "Dracula on a hacienda," The Vampire chronicles the journey of young Marta (Ariadna Welter) who learns that her family is under the demonic control of Count Luvad (Germán Robles). As he feeds on the blood of the locals and aims to raise his brother from the dead, Marta and the mysterious Dr. Enrique (Abel Salazar) threaten the Count. The wrath of The Vampire then reigns down upon them, and an all-time horror classic plays out with unforgettable eeriness and excitement.
The Vampire's Coffinaka:El Ataúd del Vampiro
You can’t keep a wicked bloodsucker down, as proven in The Vampire's Coffin, the follow-up to The Vampire. Marta (Ariadna Welter) and Dr. Enrique (Abel Salazar) battle Count Luvad (Germán Robles) anew, after he has turned the grave-robbers who accidentally resurrected him into zombie servants. Bent on vengeance and clamoring for the blood of beautiful women, Count Luvad proves to be one of horror’s most indelible villains, and The Vampire’s Coffin is a spooky, thrilling classic every bit on par with its renowned predecessor.
Special Features/
• Original Uncut Versions
• Both Films Completely Re-Mastered Picture & Sound from Newly Restored Vault Elements
• Bilingual Menus in English & Spanish
• Audio Commentary by Robert Cotter, Author of The Mexican Masked Wrestler & Monster Filmography
• Photo Essay: Fear a la Mexicana! Mexican Horror Cinema, 1953 to 1965
• DVD ROM: Complete 1976 French Photo Novel of The Vampire’s Coffin
• The Original U.S. Theatrical Release Radio Spots
• Exclusive CasaNegra Loteria Game Card
• Abel Salazar’s 1995 Obituary from The Boston Globe
• Cast Biographies
• Extensive Poster and Stills Gallery
Description
- Hooray, Casanegra, for the re-release of El Vampiro, and its sequel, El Araud del Vampiro, two beautiful, early vampire films. Dramatically lit close-ups of El Vampiro's eyes and neck biting, as well as special effects illustrating his morphing into a bat or vanishing through walls and fog compete with American versions of Dracula starring Bela Lugosi. Originally from ABSA Horror Productions, these two movies directed by Fernando Méndez and imported into the U.S. by K. Gordon Murray, most clearly influenced the Hammer films starring Christopher Lee, who borrows in look and manner from El Vampiro's Count Duval (German Robles). In El Vampiro, the Count has come from Hungary to Los Sicomoros, a luxuriant Mexican hacienda, to revive his dead vampire brother who is buried there and to reinstate what was once the House of Luvad (Duval backwards). As the current residing family is torn apart by vampirism, visiting niece, Marta (Ariadna Welter), is forced to fight the Count's decision that she is his chosen one. Another houseguest, Dr. Enrique (Abel Salazar), plays the scientist/sleuth protecting Marta's safety. In the sequel, Dr. Enrique and his partner unearth the Count's corpse to scientifically study it, with disastrous results. Vampire clichés are cinematically rendered with great results, such as the repeated use of mirrors to show vampires' reflections as either disappeared or as skeletons. In one scene, Marta's vampire aunt and Count Duval communicate telepathically. The shadows cast by these vampires recall early monster classics like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari or Nosferatu, in their black-and-white, chiaroscuro effect. The complete lack of blood in these films makes them conservative compared to later films in the genre. Audio commentary by Robert Cotter and a photo essay on Mexican Horror Cinema (1953-1965) add purchasing impetus for collectors. With less psychedelic tendency than the Brazilian Coffin Joe trilogy, but the same amount of latent sexual innuendo, El Vampiro and El Araud del Vampiro have stood the test of time for the sheer sexiness of their subject matter. --Trinie Dalton
Amazon.com
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Comments for El Vampiro (The Vampire) & El Ataud del Vampiro (The Vampire's Coffin) - 2 Disc Special Edition
- Posted on 2008-11-02
Quaint but Slow
Having little acquaintance with Mexican horror films, I was curious to try one of the more highly-regarded ones to see what it was like. Certainly it is a well-produced movie, especially by current-day direct-to-video horror standards. The lighting and sets of the hacienda are marvelously atmospheric, and a number of the supporting players are quite capable character actors. Unfortunately, German Robles is not that effective as the vampire count. He seems more stiff than courtly, and in the climactic fight scene he looks like a kid who's ready to burst into tears. The pacing is also sedate almost to the point of somnolence. El Vampiro will have some value to genre buffs but is not truly a very outstanding movie.
Score: 3
- Posted on 2008-09-09
Excellent !
Excellent set of two DVD. This is our original Mexican vampire from 50 years ago !. The main actor, the Spanish Germán Robles is still alive.
Don't miss this classic horror Mexican film is a treasure that shows special effects of that time and not as modern as the new releases. I hope you will enjoy it.
Score: 5
- Posted on 2007-06-18
Gothic Classic from South of the Border
It is definitely the equivalent of Gothic eye candy to finally have "El Vampiro" and even "El Ataud Del Vampiro" finally released together on DVD. I remember seeing stills and photographs of "El Vampiro" in various books and on websites, and these simply whet my appetite to see this Mexican cult classic.
Now, in finally viewing the film, it truly delivers on what those stills and photos promised; wonderfully eerie and atmospheric black and white cinematography, with some ominous fog beautifully embracing all that it hovers over. What's also significant is that this film, though Mexican, can be seen as a bridge between the classic Universal horrors and the soon to come, Technicolor, blood dripping Hammer Horror remakes of the Dracula and Frankenstein monsters. For instance, this Count has taken lessons from the Deane/Balderston school of vampires in being well groomed and suave, and can easily mingle with society; this is the type of vampire immortalized by Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula. However, when preying on victims, the Count tosses aside such surface civility and, with mouth wide open, proudly displays his large incisors when going in for the bite. This is a shadow of the more raw and animalistic portrayal of Dracula from Christopher Lee (who was influenced by Roble's portrayal).
The film concerns a young girl, named Marta, returning to her home in the Sierra Negra, or Black Sierra Mountains after one of her Aunts has been said to pass away. The funeral procession itself is a creepy visual highlight as all present pass through the old church with a mournful bell in the background, and then on through the ominous and fog drenched forest to where she is entombed in the family crypt. At the same time, Marta, accompanied by Dr. Enrique (Abel Salazar) enter the town through the same fog shrouded forest with the sense that they're being followed. She returns home and all does not seem as it was. From here, secrets within the family grow, haunting singing is heard throughout the hacienda, and (Marta begins seeing "visions" of her just buried Aunt.) Also, there's something strange about Marta's other Aunt who is consistently dressed all in black for starters, and has strangely not aged since Marta last saw her as a young girl. And, all in her household seem to be in the grip of an eerie nobleman who visits from time to time and may have his own designs on everyone. To add to the chilling and foreboding atmosphere, there is a night stalker preying on victims, coming out of the fog to attack them on the road, or in their bedrooms as they sleep. Could it all be related?
As the vampire, Count Lavud, German Robles is an excellent combination of suavity in evening clothes iconized by Bela Lugosi in Dracula and to be associated as the classic image of the vampire for a long time. However, he balances that well with the remorseless psychopathic killer baring a pair of some of the largest incisors in vampire film history. He was beaten out recently in the movie adaptation of Stephen King's "The Night Flyer" amongst others. German Robles is supported by a good ensemble cast with the film's producer, Abel Serrera, as the doctor/hero of the film, as well as the heroine, Marta, portrayed nicely by Ariadna Welter. Yes, some of the effects are silly, but retain a childlike sense of wonder in their simplicity of execution.
In the sequel, "El Ataud Del Vampiro," while bringing back some of the main characters from the prior movie, there is simply not the same amount of atmosphere that the first one held, as much of it takes place in a dull hospital setting. From there, the film moves into more modern surroundings, while including a wax museum which doesn't seem to fit the flow of the piece. It all seems forcefully pasted together and goes by the numbers save for a few moody sequences that take place during the beginning with grave robbers attempting to break in and steal the Vampire's corpse for the purposes of medical study.
Though the second film is somewhat tepid, German Robles competently carries it along, with Abel Salazar returning as the well-meaning doctor, and all involved give decent performances. Both films were produced by Abel Salazar, and both were directed by Fernando Mendez. It is truly a treat to have both films with commentary by Mexican film buff author, Robert Cotter, included amongst other items of interest in one DVD.
Score: 5 - Posted on 2007-04-12
Great Mexican Horror!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i am greatful for casanegra release of these wonderfully made films
from mexico. i have never seen them before. they are wonderful.
i hope they release some of the nostradamas vampire films as well
starring german robles.
Score: 5 - Posted on 2007-01-21
Like finding a lost treasure
Like other reviewers here, I was raised on the classic Universal monsters, as well as the more colorful offerings of Hammer Films from the 50's to the 70's. So it was with great delight I discovered this pair of Mexican horror films.
El Vampiro was clearly inspired by Universal's Dracula, although it is in almost every way a superior production. German Robles as Count Luvad is quite a commanding figure, and compares favorably with Christopher Lee in Hammer's HORROR OF DRACULA (released the year after El Vampiro). The film is set primarily in a crumbling hacienda, effectively punctuated with swirling mists and cobwebs. Throw in an eerie and occasionally surprising music score and some primitive but effective special effects, and you've got a real winner.
El Ataud Del Vampiro (The Vampire's Coffin), released the following year, picks up where its predecessor ended. Most of the cast and crew returned, as the resurrected Luvad stalks the first film's heroine (the lovely Ariadne Welter), intent on making her his bride. Producer Abel Salazar encores as the nominal leading man, Dr. Enrique. Although most viewers seem to feel the film is not nearly as good as El Vampiro, I have to disagree. The finale in a theatre, in which Luvad frustrates Enrique by constantly changing form, is particularly exciting.
In addition to pristine prints of the two films, there is an informative if amaterish audio commentary on El Vampiro by author Robert Cotter. Both films offer a choice of original Spanish language (with optional English subtitles) or English dubbing. The Spanish track is far superior, as the English dubbing is not only often inaccurate, but spoils the suspension of disbelief necessary to this type of film. There are also extensive promotional materials, and a colorful "Casa Negra Loteria Game Card."
I admit, this was my first Casa Negra DVD, and my first real exposure to Mexican horror cinema. I can hardly wait to discover other such treasures! Meanwhile, THE VAMPIRE COLLECTION is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys atmospheric horror.
Score: 5
