La invasión de los vampiros

Nothing new to add as to the quality of the movie--the reviewers here have summed it up quite well. After seeing "Bloody Vampire" I just had to see its sequel and, as Count Cagliostro would say of vampires--a DVD of this movie actually exists!

After an on-line search, I found that it's available in DVD-R format, which, they claim is compatible with most DVD players.

I'd never tried a DVD-R and was a bit apprehensive, especially at the price (20 bucks delivered) compared to the 5 bucks Bloody Vampire cost me. But what the heck, I wanted to return with Count Frankenhausen to the Haunted Hacienda so I ordered it.

The picture and sound quality are very good considering it's an old B-movie... I'd say a bit more superior than the Beverly Wilshire DVD of Bloody Vampire.

It is, however, the dubbed version, which gives it that certain comical charm, however, I'd still like to find a subtitled Spanish version some day and see it as the film makers intended. It'd be a fangtastic horror flick!

After "El vampiro sangriento" (Cf.), this tired entry ends Miguel Morayta's vampire diptych in the same hurried fashion as its predecessor, but unfortunately this time there are no surprises: the same bat with donkey ears hanging from nylon threads, more quarrels of Frau Hildegarda with everybody in sight, long sections of dialogs, and not enough action. Rafael del Río plays a fragile-looking and very indecisive disciple of Dr. Cagliostro (absent this time from the story) who arrives in the same region of the previous film, where nobility and charros live in terror because of count Frankenhausen's evil deeds. The young man's mission is to fight the count with a serum made from the flowers of black mandragola. It takes him 89 minutes of 92 to do so, while the attacks persist, the fangs grow bigger, and the number of dead men increases. Credit must be given to Bertha Moss, whose Frau Hildegarda is fun.

The opening scene of La Invasion de los Vampiros sets a wonderfully chilling, Gothic tone which carries through. It's a very effective, creepy movie. Mexican horror is unique. It's not often in a classic horror film you can mix a desert setting equip with blowing sand and tumble weeds with lush atmosphere and vampires. This film very effectively captures the essence of what made great Mexican horror what it is. Although some of these films are often considered campy, one should realize that this is largely due to the infamous English dubbed prints Americans watched in the late 60s, which often times were poorly done and therefore often detracted from the films serious elements. I highly recommend this title as it is as well produced as any other horror counterpart from this era. That is if you can find a decent print of it, which sadly is not easy to do. This film deserves to be re-released properly.

I enjoy some of the supernatural thrillers from south of the border. My favorite Mexican movie may be "The Braniac" with Abel Salazar. In any case, this could be my second favorite.

This supernatural thriller has a lot of atmosphere and suspense as a doctor arrives to investigate a series of terror attacks from vampires. The resolution in which a chemical substance is isolated which eliminates the fiends is quite original.

The background music adds to the overall eeriness of the film. Indeed, it is really quite haunting and combined with the special effects, can really scare the viewers.

8/10 Dan Basinger

THE INVASION OF THE VAMPIRES has a wonderfully dark opening with no dialogue. We watch as a man is led to his doom by a mysterious woman. The macabre atmosphere is set up right away, with howling wind, massive cobwebs, and creaking doors. All within the first few minutes.

Dr. Albarran (Rafael del Rio) has been sent to the small village to study their vampire problem. It seems to be connected to a certain Count Frankenhausen (Carlos Agosti). Unfortunately, things get a bit sluggish, and further bog down when romance blooms. You might find yourself longing for the promised "invasion" to start!

When the onslaught finally begins, we notice that the vampires are all sporting those plastic Halloween teeth that can be purchased at any discount outlet! Of course, The Count is wearing them as well.

Director Miguel Morayta has created an effectively gothic, yet slow tale, with very few actual thrills or chills. Mr. Agosti is perfect as the bug-eyed Count. It's too bad that he gets so little screen time. Most of the deviltry is left for his servant, Frau Hildegarda (Bertha Moss) to carry out.

Extra Points: For the bat, that looks an awful lot like a flying monkey with big ears! The scenes of it flopping around outside the window, and in the laboratory, are particularly rib-tickling!

This movie also contains one of the most anticlimactic climaxes in horror history!...