Disco rojo

In this thriller/drama there is action , eroticism , pursuits , exploitation , discoteque scenes , violence and some sensationalism that undermine verisimilitude . A member of the jet-set dies in Lisbon, due to a car accident , but he was drugged . His father (Antonio Casas) attempts to know the cause of his death , as he hires a journalist named Enrique (Antonio Vilar) to find out the homicide . The latter attempts to figure out the tracks heading him to a race car pilot (Hugo Blanco) who at the same time leads to a drug smuggler ring leader (Paul Naschy) . Enrique very soon finds himself becomes involved into a dangerous criminal organization drawing him to a spiral of risked and perilous events .

Rafael Romero Marchent's thriller is compellingly directed with well staged intrigue , thrilling events and plenty of startling visual style . In the film there are various nasty and peculiar roles , such as villain drug barons , gorgeous femme fatales , dilettante macho men and young druggies . There's a look at youngsters life and badness in the margined side with junkie youthful with tragic overdoses , letting the story flow quick and being realized in realistic style with a group of drugged people , but sometimes lacking credibility enough . This is a decent thriller where the twisted intrigue , tension , suspense appear threatening and lurking here and there. The best scenes of the film result to be when the spectacular car races take place and some violently staged fights . This one is predominantly a Spanish film rather than a Portuguese one , though the Portugal participation is important , including gorgeous sightseeing from Portuguese locations . Stars Antonio Vilar giving an acceptable acting as a hard-nosed investigative journalist who's gruesomely embroiled into a surprising investigation resulting in fateful and unexpected consequences . His career began as a newspaperman but soon entered in movies as a makeup artist first, sound technician, production designer and director's assistant. His first role was in Portuguese film A Severa (1931) and developed his film career as a leading man and character actor in Portugal and Spain in the forties. Later on , he also produced several films. Most remembered for his role in Spanish production "El Judas" (1952) , and others as ¨El deseo y el amor¨ , ¨Don Juan¨, ¨El príncipe encadenado¨, ¨Mare Nostrum¨, ¨El duende y el rey¨ and ¨Alba de América¨. Here appears a lot of Spanish secondaries , ordinary players in Paella Western , Spanish horror and thrillers , such as : Mara Cruz , Hugo Blanco , María Elena Arpón , María Kosty , Eduardo Calvo, Ramón Centenero , Beni Deus , Eduardo Calvo and Carlos Romero Marchent who used to play films of his brothers Rafael and Joaquin Romero Marchent . And special mention for Paul Naschy or Jacinto Molina as a ring leader who is acting with such impunity by using extremely violent means.

It contains an exciting and jazzy musical score by Anton Garcia Abril . Atmospheric cinematography by Miguel Mila , though being necessary a alright remastering because of the film copy is worn-out , being shot on a lot of locations in Aranjuez, Torrelodones, Madrid, Spain and Estoril, Cascais, Lisbon, Portugal . The motion picture produced and written by Antonio Vilar himself was professionally directed in his own personal style by Rafael Romero Marchent . Rafael Romero Marchent was born on May 3, 1926 in Madrid, Spain. He is a director and actor, known for Garringo, Un Dolar de Recompensa , or Manos Torpes . Rafael Romero Marchent was brother of Joaquin Luis Romero , who was the first to shoot Westerns in Spain . At first, Rafael Romero began in films as an actor, but when his career began to wane, he preferred to spend time behind the camera . Rafael is an expert writer and director of Spaghetti Western as proved in ¨Two crosses on Danger Pass¨, Cry for revenge¨, ¨Two guns for two twins¨ and ¨Sartana Kills Them All¨ or ¨Un par Asesinos¨. While his brother Joaquin Marchent is deemed the Paella Western's best director , his first film was ¨El Coyote¨ and the sequel titled ¨Revenge of Coyote¨ shot in Mexico ; after that , he filmed ¨The shadow of Zorro¨ and ¨Revenge of Zorro¨, he went go directing Western as ¨ Riding to death ¨ , ¨Adventures in the West¨ , ¨Three good men¨, ¨Sabor Venganza ¨ and the most popular and violent ¨Condenados a Vivir¨ . Plus , he wrote for his brother Rafael Romero Marchent the followings Western : ¨Manos Torpes¨, ¨Ocaso Un Pistolero¨ , ¨Garringo¨ , ¨Dos Cruces en Danger Pass¨ and ¨Sartana Kills Them All¨. Rating : 5,5/10 . Passable and acceptable , though contains some flaws and gaps ; however , resulting to be entertaining enough . Worthwhile watching for Spanish thriller aficionados.

While, perhaps, one of the mercurial horror stars less documented works, his intriguing Gialli/Euro-crime hybrid has much to recommend it to avid Euro-cult fans, not least being the beautiful sun-hazed Portuguese setting, its surprisingly serviceable plot proving quite absorbing and the inimitable Naschy creates another memorably nefarious villain in the menacing, barrel-chested guise of drug-trafficking Henchmen Sergio Meleter who is tasked to oversee and forcibly increase the volume of narcotics sold, covertly utilizing the plentiful bars and nightclubs to proliferate the iniquitous trade of his mercenary boss.

The sudden, tragic overdose of a young playboy dilettante racecar driver draws the hard-nosed investigative journalist Enrique (Antonio Vilar) into this altogether murky milieu of murderous drug barons, vulpine femme fatales and the mucho-macho world of motor racing, and he very soon finds himself gruesomely embroiled with Meleter's rather unsubtle approach to brusquely deterring his investigations!

Rafael Marchent's boisterous B-Movie 'Disco Rojo' isn't as gratuitously violent or sleazy as a Sergio Martino/ Umberto Lenzi offering from the same era, yet the capable director credibly maintains the intrigue to the film's not unexciting, twist-laden conclusion. It would nonetheless be fair to say that Disco Rojo's greatest appeal would lie in macabre maestro Paul Naschy's more ardent fans keen to see his brooding, sinister charm being utilized so splendidly by director Rafael, who seems aware of the actor's myriad strengths and cannily makes notable usage of them! 'Disco Rojo' is an above average 70s Grindhouse thriller with some wickedly groovy sounds by master music-maker Antón García Abril and once again the luminous presence of Iberian icon Paul Naschy adds some not inconsiderable lustre to this undeservedly neglected celluloid obscurity.