Inferno Carnal

Despite underrated, this is one of the very best movies by José Mojica Marins. Curiouly, here he does not play neither a fictionalized version of himself, nor his classic icon and signature character Coffin Joe, as in most of his films. It is the story of a rich scientist named George Medeiros, who is researching a new powerful acid. I do not consider it a horror; indeed, itnis more approapriate to consider it as a dramatic thriller. In the film, Count of Montecristo meets Le Chien Andalou and Beauty and the Beast. It is eye for an eye. The black widow meets an opportunist gambler who spends much money with prostitutes. Can we say there is a moral lesson? Atmospheric, well paced and well edited movie.

Hellish Flesh is a slightly more conventional horror tale from Brazilian madman José Mojica Marins. In it Marins plays a scientist who spends too much time in his lab. His wife conducts an affair with a mutual friend. The pair then concoct a plan to kill the hapless husband. The wife pours acid on his face and her lover sets fire to his lab. But the scientist survives albeit with a creepy burned face, while the wife suffers a bad life as her lover is a good-for-nothing gambler and womaniser. But things only get even more complicated.

At its heart this is a simple revenge tale. Although given that it's a Marins movie it isn't a typical one. He still manages to incorporate some surreal elements such as the scenes with the mysterious young woman. Her lover is but a shadowy silhouette, á la Nosferatu. There are also a couple of shock moments; one being the acid attack scene which does look quite fake and another being the eye surgery scene which unfortunately is quite genuine, and very unpleasant indeed. Also, the parts with Marins facially deformed scientist were nice and creepy. But mostly Hellish Flesh is a fairly straightforward affair. The twist at the end is kind of good though and rounds off the film on a satisfyingly macabre note.

Brazilian director José Mojica Marins is renowned by cult movie fans for his surreal, gory, bizarre and frequently incomprehensible Coffin Joe movies in which he plays sadistic undertaker Zé do Caixão. Hellish Flesh doesn't feature Zé and is one of the film-maker's more conventional efforts, but I don't mind: it's nice to be able to understand what the hell is going on for a change!

Marins plays Dr. Jorge Medeiros, a scientist so caught up in his experiments (or 'experience' if you have the poorly subtitled Anchor Bay DVD) that he neglects his beautiful wife Raquel. A little too trusting, he is happy for Raquel to go to dinner with his friend Oliver while he tends to his test tubes; unsurprisingly, the pair are at it like rabbits behind his back.

Fed up with keeping their affair a secret, the deceitful couple plan to rid themselves of Jorge and claim his fortune. While working one night, Raquel goes into his laboratory and throws acid into her husband's face; Oliver goes one step further and starts a fire, leaving Jorge to burn to death. Miraculously, Jorge survives his ordeal and spends months in hospital receiving reconstructive surgery (cue some nauseating real-life eye surgery footage); meanwhile, Oliver and Raquel are quickly working their way through what cash they have, unable to lay their hands on Jorge's money.

Strangely, when Jorge leaves hospital, he doesn't go to the police; on the contrary, he regularly gives Raquel money, most of which is squandered by Oliver on gambling and, unbeknown to Raquel, on numerous skanky hookers (fat women, women with bad teeth, women with five o'clock shadows: he's not fussy!). When Raquel learns of Oliver's dalliance's with these women, she rushes to confront him, but is hit by a car (she needn't have bothered: his last hooker had stabbed him to death).

Once again, Jorge comes to his wife's rescue, paying for the surgery necessary to help her walk again. Indebted and wracked by guilt, Raquel returns to her husband, and, on seeing his scarred visage, declares her love and throws acid into her own face, wanting to be disfigured just like Jorge. After unsuccessful plastic surgery, Raquel returns home and once again declares her love for Jorge, at which point her husband… well, that would be telling, suffice to say that as acts of revenge go, this one is pretty sweet!

6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.

"Hellish Flesh" is not an Coffin Joe entry but an average horror tale of revenge. A scientist (Marins) gets his face destroyed with acid by his young cheating wife. She then spends his money on a playboy/lover, meanwhile Marins is lurking around them with a scarred face. The end has nice twist but like "Perversion" it's too straightforward compared to his unique surreal Coffin Joe epics. The print from Something Weird Video is pretty worn but it's properly the only way to get this rare film. Only for fans of this Brazilian genius.

"Inferno Carnal," a 1977 Brazilian film directed by José Mojica Marins, is an intriguing yet flawed entry in the erotic horror genre. The film attempts to blend elements of supernatural horror with explicit eroticism, a combination that, while ambitious, often feels disjointed. The narrative centers around a man who returns from the dead to exact revenge on those who wronged him, a premise ripe with potential for both chills and thrills. However, the execution leaves much to be desired, as the film struggles to maintain a coherent tone and pace.

One of the film's strengths lies in its atmospheric cinematography. Marins, known for his work in the horror genre, effectively uses shadow and light to create a sense of unease. The eerie settings and haunting visuals contribute to a palpable sense of dread that permeates the film. Unfortunately, this strong visual style is undermined by a lackluster script and uneven performances. The dialogue often feels stilted and unnatural, detracting from the overall immersion and making it difficult for the audience to fully engage with the story.

The erotic elements of "Inferno Carnal" are both a highlight and a hindrance. While the film does not shy away from explicit content, these scenes often feel gratuitous and disconnected from the main narrative. Instead of enhancing the horror elements, the eroticism sometimes feels like a distraction, pulling the viewer out of the story rather than drawing them deeper into it. This imbalance is a significant factor in the film's inability to fully realize its potential as a cohesive and compelling piece of cinema.

Ultimately, "Inferno Carnal" is a film that falls short of its ambitions. While it offers moments of visual brilliance and an intriguing premise, the inconsistent storytelling and uneven performances prevent it from achieving greatness. Fans of José Mojica Marins and those with a particular interest in the intersection of horror and erotica may find some value in this film, but for the average viewer, it is likely to be a frustrating experience. With a rating of 5/10, "Inferno Carnal" stands as a testament to the challenges of blending disparate genres into a harmonious whole.