There's
a lot of misinformation about the plot of this movie on the Internet
because most of the reviewers didn't know Spanish (and obviously didn't
have this English subtitled print for reference). The actual story is
loosely adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's Fall of the House of Usher
with a black magic subplot by Alfredo Ruanova, the prolific scripter
responsible for HELL
OF FRANKENSTEIN, PLANET
OF FEMALE INVADERS, NOSTRADAMUS
films, the NEUTRON
series plus 150 more.
Roberto
Ortiz (played by pop actor Enrique Lizalde) has been carrying a torch
for his missing Isabel. She left him years ago to care for terminally
ill brother, Eric. Even though Roberto and Isabel are engaged, he's
heard nothing from her for a long time and is concerned. Roberto decides
to go and bring her back from the Gerard estate [it is unclear why scriptwriter
Ruanova changed the name from Usher to Gerard, but it certainly isn't
the only deviation from Poe's original]. Upon arriving, Roberto learns
that Isabel has also fallen ill, seemingly suffering from a near catatonic
condition. On the other hand, brother Eric seems to be (relatively)
healthy except for acutely painful hearing problems and - of course
- an inhospitable attitude towards guests. He tells Roberto to go away
but the lovelorn traveler demands that he see Isabel first. When the
two meet, she confirms her love for Roberto and he demands that they
immediately make plans to leave. However, Eric demands that she tell
her fiancee the truth of her 'condition' first. Isabel refuses and feigns
exhaustion. A bit later, Roberto is escorted to the basement where he
learns of demonic black magic rituals and is taken on a mausoleum tour.
He is told of the 'Gerard Curse' which manifests in hereditary
insanity coupled with torturous death. But two other secrets are kept
from Roberto. One has to do with Isabel being groomed as a sacrifice
to Satan in exchange for reversing the Gerard curse. The second secret
- perhaps the most consequential [certainly the most unexpected and,
ultimately, illogical] - is not revealed until the house is swallowed
near the film's conclusion.
A
Mexican/Spanish film, with optional ON/OFF English subtitles; uncut 73
min, widescreen,
DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC WORLD FORMAT; extras include selected
trailers.
Sexual
Brutality, Violence, Devil Worship,
for Mature Audiences
