Alucarda, la hija de las tinieblas – 1978
They gave their souls to Hell… but the Devil wanted MORE!

Director
Juan López Moctezuma
Writer
Alexis Arroyo
Sheridan Le Fanu
Juan López Moctezuma
Yolanda López Moctezuma
Producers
Max Guefen
Juan López Moctezuma
Eduardo Moreno
Cast
Claudio Brook – Dr. Oszek & hunchbacked gypsy
David Silva – Father Lázaro
Tina Romero – Alucarda’s mother & Alucarda
Susana Kamini – Justine
Adriana Roel – Sister Germana
Martin LaSalle – Brother Felipe
Tina French – Sister Angélica
Lili Garza – Daniela Oszek
Beatriz Martínez – Nun (as Betty Catania)
Manuel Dondé – Wagon driver
Birgitta Segerskog – Mother Superior (as Birgitta Azkenazy)
Rosa Furman –
Tito Novaro – Monk
Victorio Blanco – Monk
Agustín Isunza – Monk
Edith González – Village Girl
Kleomenes Stamatiades –
Juan López Moctezuma – Monk

Review by Sven Soetemans

A true masterpiece…or should I say Mastersleaze!,
The pre-credits intro of this seventies film makes you think you’re about to watch another uninspired and cheap exploitation-effort (from Mexican guys, this time) but that’s an entirely inaccurate feeling! Right after the atmospheric, religiously themed credits you’re served to a constant series of terrific sequences and highly memorable events.

“Alucarda” is a truly diabolical and pitch black horror-highlight that expands the (around that time) popular sub genre of nunsploitation. The title character is a wicked 15-year-old girl that has lived in the same convent her entire life. With the arrival of a new orphan girl (the very beautiful Justine), she gets more and more intrigued by the satanic way of living and she drags the poor Justine with her. During a gypsy ritual, Justine and Alucarda’s souls become “possessed” by the Devil himself and the girls bring terror and blasphemy into the convent.

The screenplay isn’t entirely waterproof and contains quite a few holes, as well as the 70s film itself that suffers from a lack of continuity and sometimes even a messy elaboration. Yet you couldn’t care less about these flaws, as “Alucarda” unquestionably is one of the most amusing and imaginative stories ever unleashed upon cult-loving audiences. Every character is wicked and every death scene is mesmerizing. Thanks to dared, experimental camera-work and atmospheric set pieces, the value of this production goes far beyond the standards of similar films in the 70’s decade. The 70s film contains an overload of magnificent dialogues and monologues black as the night itself, introducing occult words I never even heard before. These sublime speeches are interfered by some of the most outrageous gore-sequences you’ll ever see.

“Alucarda” is quite a nauseating blood bath at times and features very professional make-up effects. Be advised that several of these sequences are quite shocking, blasphemous and certainly not fit for sensitive viewers The multiple, rather explicit amount of sleaze (orgies, lesbian action…) fall under this warning too… What really made this film special for me are all the little but highly ingenious details! Like the bizarre convent habits where nuns and priests flagellate themselves as some sort of purification rite! Or the eerie goat-faced gypsy (the Devil in the flesh??) who appears and disappears out of nowhere!

In case I haven’t made myself clear yet, “Alucarda” is a unique surreal tale with surprisingly good acting and a solid directing-job by Juan Lpez Moctezuma. The only real letdown is the climax that immediately reminds you too much of Stephen King’s “Carrie”. Actress Tina Romero (who plays Alucarda) even shamelessly copies Sissy Spacek’s devilish grimaces here. Nevertheless, this movie is an absolute priority for exploitation lovers and, without a doubt, the greatest naughty-nuns adventure alongside Ken Russell’s “the Devils” (still the film that started it all) and Flavia The Heretic.

A seventies film to savour.