This was a film that I originally didn't think I was going to get the chance to watch. I found a version on YouTube, but it didn't have English subtitles. There is a website, the DVD Lady, that I've used to source films like this. It did come with subtitles as well. Now I'm not fully sure if there was an issue with how I tried watching this, but they didn't work great. I still was able to get a gist of what I was watching. This is also my Voyage through the FiVes Featured Review for Journey with a Cinephile.
Synopsis: a doctor carries out strange experiments, assisted by his son. They embark on an expedition to the jungle. Eight years later, Dr. Forti (Carlos Villarías) returns without his son but strange things start to happen in the old house where they live.
We start this in a cemetery. There are two doctors who are lamenting about the latest victim of a mysterious illness. We then shift inside of the home of Dr. Galdino Forti. His laboratory is also housed here. He's trying to cure whatever is killing the villagers, but there's an ominous feel. His staff are unnerved by the moans and screaming coming from the lab.
His housekeeper is Dona Ingracia (Natalia Ortiz). She's one of the people mentioned about being uneasy. Dr. Forti works alongside his son, who's also a doctor or is in training, Pablo (Joaquín Busquets). I should include here that Dr. Forti seems obsessed with finding this cure. It is the point where he makes people uncomfortable around him.
He decides that he'll take Pablo and they're going on an expedition. Since everything he's tried so far has failed, he's searching for a more holistic approach by studying Indigenous medicine. Pablo is sad as he's leaving behind his fiancée, Angelica (Beatriz Ramos). It does seem that she's willing to wait for him.
Much like the synopsis said, eight years later the doctor returns. He breaks the news to Angelica that Pablo got sick and passed away. There is an odd thing here where Dr. Forti and Luis Montes (René Cardona) convince her to live in the manor that belongs to him. I get the idea that she's become friendly with him while Pablo's been away. It is from this point that she believes she's haunted by the ghost of Pablo. Dr. Forti returns with a masked individual, but she is seeing in places that shouldn't physically be possible.
Luis tries to calm Angelica down, while also trying to get to the bottom of what is happening in this manor. Plus, we learn the truth of who the masked man is. Dr. Forti's hidden depths of madness threaten everyone, suggesting that appearances are deceiving.
That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start would be that this is one, I think I'll need to give another chance to at some point. The subtitles weren't working great and plus I watched it on a Sunday night, when I was exhausted. I had to look up a synopsis to ensure that I remembered everything that happened. Just thought I should include this disclaimer that I didn't see it under ideal conditions.
Now that I have that out of the way, there are interesting elements here. This is an early Mexican mad scientist film. I like that the ailment that is at the heart is real. It didn't click that they're dealing with leprosy. This is something that terrifies me if I'm honest. Now Dr. Forti and Pablo go to a far off place where there's a colony of people living with this. I love that place is referred to as 'land of the pale faces'. There is this opening image of the mask that the person wears later. That was eerie. Even the mask was as well. Credit for these aspects for sure.
I also thought that Villarías was solid as this 'mad scientist'. Dr. Forti isn't out to hurt people. He's driven to madness by failure. That starts in the opening section where he cannot cure these villagers. They're dying and it seems like he's almost torturing them in finding a cure. Then when he's away with Pablo, the loss of his son was the breaking point. It is from there that he comes off more aggressive. He's dismissive which causes him to gaslight Angelica when she inquires or tries to get people to believe what she's seeing. Despite my ultimate feelings here, Villarías' performance was good.
What didn't help keep my interest is that this is boring. It is dialogue heavy, which doesn't help when your subtitles aren't working properly. Then being tired, it was difficult to keep my eyes open, which doesn't help either. For the most part, we get a few actors who interact and it just isn't as exciting as it could be. I'm hoping for a second watch I'll be wrong about this assessment.
Let's then just finish out discussing the rest of the film making. I do love the setting of this modern home. I get the vibe that it's by a village which adds an interesting dichotomy. Then, going along with that, we have Dr. Forti find that modern medicine is failing so he is using a fresh approach. He needs a new way to look at this ailment. It is interesting though what happens in the process there as well. There are limited sets used. The cinematography was fine. The framing was good to build these scares later with this masked individual. This is restricted in the effects used. I'll say again the mask was creepy. The soundtrack was fine as it fit what was needed.
All that is left then would be the acting performances. I've already said that Villarías was good in his role. I thought that Ramos was solid as this woman who is being tormented by seeing this masked man. I do feel bad the more we learn about that. Ortiz works as the housekeeper. Cardona adds an interesting element as being interested in Angelica. Manuel Noreiga is solid as Justo, this almost henchman for Dr. Forti. He gives her support and believes what she's telling him. He does laugh it off a few times though as well. I'll also say that Busquets works in his role as well as he's more important than originally thought.
In conclusion, this film has good elements to it. I do like seeing an early mad scientist film from Mexico. It is also a different take on than the common one. The experiments started in a way to help people, but as Dr. Forti descends into madness, it takes on a darker path. There's almost a gothic feeling here when Angelica believes she's being stalked. The acting was solid with Villarías and Ramos leading the way. I do think that this is made well enough. The framing, cinematography and look of the mask were good. This is dialogue heavy and a bit too slowly paced to work fully. I do want to revisit this though to see if maybe I wasn't in the right mood for the movie at that time. Not one that I can fully recommend unless you're trying to explore the origins of the genre, fan of early Mexican cinema or of the director, Oro.
My Rating: 6.5 out of 10.
