Beatriz

(1976) Beatriz (In Spanish with English subtitles) FOLKLORE COSTUME HORROR

Adapted from the short stories by Ramón del Valle-Inclan) co-written and directed by Gonzalo Suárez with Juan (Óscar Martín) as the narrator, beginning with him in the forest spotting the friar before he runs away frightened. And it is not long before he is grabbed by bandits led by Lorenzo el Quinto threatening to kill him unless he were to comply with their demands. And as soon as he tells them the reason he ran away because the friar looked like the devil himself who was seen heading to the bridge, they then said they would let Juan go, if he is telling them the truth. Since Juan had no money or anything valuable with him, they figured they may be able to get something good if they were to rob from the friar. And by the time the friar reached to the bridge, the bandits were already ahead of him, and using one of their own as a ruse to draw him away from the trail, convincing him that one of their own wanted to confess his sins to him since he is dying. And just as they were about to grab and rob him from behind, the friar then ends up defending himself by pulling his sword out killing three, forcing others to run for their lives. Before he leaves, he then cuts the ear of one of the bandits he had killed, as witnessed by Juan himself who was hidden behind the bushes. By the time Juan comes home to tell his mom the countess, Doña Carlota (Carmen Sevilla) and his sisters about what happened, no one appear to believe him. During this was happening, the lowly lady, Basilisa (Nadiuska) who works for the countess as the family maid we then see her pleading to the witch doctor regarding her newborn who is dying. The witch doctor then instructs her to take whatever is presented on the front door step outside and stick it inside of a pillow to a person who is supposed to be holy and pure. That person she chooses to do this too happens to be Juan's sister, Beatriz (Sandra Mozarowsky)- hence the title, to which she sewn the bloody ear inside of Beatrice's pillow. The same ear the so-called friar had cut off from one of Lorenzo's dead bandit's. And throughout the entire movie, little Juan is trying to convince his older sisters and his mother, Doña Carlota about the friar it. No one appear to believe him just because he's a young boy, for the exception of his instructor, Máximo Bretal (José Sacristán). As soon as the family cat takes the ear away that was buried inside Beatriz's pillow, it is her that becomes sick while the baby gets better. Basilisa then pleads to the witch doctor she has felt bad about what she has done and that she may have made a mistake as she does not like to see the way Beatriz is suffering.

Beatriz is Spanish with English subtitles. It takes place in a rural area in an undetermined time period that might as well be the dark ages, except there is a gun. It features a friar, outlaws, religious folk, an old witch-woman, a countess, her children and servants. Everyone believes in black magic, but it doesn't seem like it believes in them. Beatriz is the daughter, who, with the servant woman, are the objects of the men's lust. To a lesser extent, so is the countess. Only the old hermit woman who can't even walk and babbles superstition doesn't have someone hoping to win her heart, though a few of them visit her to ask questions about the things they do not understand. The movie is slow paced for most of its running time. It seems less like a horror movie and more like a European coming of age film.

I just watched this movie on a bluray from Vinegar Syndrome. It deals with witchcraft, possession, banditry and 3 forbidden romances. The most important one being between a friar, coming back from war in the Holy Land, and the title character, a daughter of a Spanish don, who is under a spell casted by a witch who is employed by the beautiful servant who herself is employed by the widow of the deceased Don. The servant is not maliciously jealous of her mistress and Beatriz but just wants to save her infant son from illness.

At the same time, the 20ish servant girl, who is not married, is in love with Beatriz's brother who is no older than 10. Yikes! However, I'm a bit jealous. I wish I had such a beautiful and lusty young woman after me when I was 10.

The 3rd romance is between the widowed dona and a bookish librarian who is employed by her.

Banditry and deviltry dominate the proceedings but it really doesn't descend into exploitation except maybe in the climax when there are attempted rapes. Also, just when you think the movie is going into fullon Exorcist ripoff territory, it backs off and changes storylines. So don't watch this movie if you are expecting that type of horror. Anyway, there are enough Exorcist ripoffs out there for those that want to watch that sort of thing. I include myself in that lot. Lol. This movie was a nice change of pace though.

I'd characterize this movie as a Spanish Gothic period piece that takes place in the late 19th or early 20th century. It is also a bit of slow burner with lots of atmosphere, fog etc. I liked it. I'd give it a 6.5.