This was a film that I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to see. I don't recall if this was available streaming. Being that it is from Mexico, I'd need subtitles. I was able to find this on the DVD Lady's website so I picked up a copy. This was another one where the subtitles weren't great, but I was able to get a gist of what was happening. I came into this one blind as well.
Synopsis: a medical student and his professor invent a machine capable of seeing the last image in the retina of a dying man's eyes. In this way, the two helped the police solve a complex homicide that threatened to go unsolved.
We start this off by seeing the outside of a building before shifting to Eduardo Molina (Julián Soler) writing a letter to his girlfriend, Marta del Castillo (Amelia de Ilisa). He then goes into another room with guys he goes to school with. They're having a debate about experiments. What we'll learn is that they're getting fed up with their professor, Jiménez (Manuel Noriega), and what he's teaching. It is to the point where they're walking out on his lecture due to his wild beliefs.
Marta is delivered this letter by her maid, Doncella Maria (Aurora Cortés). The reason is that her father is strict, Ricardo (Miguel Arenas). We see later that he catches the maid, scolding his daughter and demanding that she never see Eduardo again.
Then shifting over to the synopsis of what happens here. Eduardo is the only student who believes in Prof Jiménez. Along with Simon (Isidro D'Olace), they need to find subjects for their experiments. They believe that when someone dies, the last image they have is imprinted on their retinas. They need to create a machine and I believe a solution in order to get the image. Simon is able to get a heads up when there's a body from a hospital switchboard operator. They show up in an ambulance to steal the body for experiments.
This then draws the attention of Comandante Garcia (Gilberto Gonzáles). He sets a trap to catch whoever is doing this. It leads our duo heading into it and sacrificing their lives in order to prove their theory for science.
That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start would be that this film has a similar concept to Dario Argento's Four Flies on Grey Velvet. It makes me wonder if that horror maestro saw this film at some point. It is just interesting that both are using this pseudo-science. It also pops back up in Wild Wild West. Regardless though, both use it as a plot point where the film here revolves around Prof Jiménez and Eduardo proving it.
Now something that is interesting is that Prof Jiménez is mocked by his students. It is to the point where they get up and leave the class. I will say here, the subtitles that my copy had weren't great. I'm not sure if there were religious issues with what he's suggesting or just that they don't believe it is possible. It is only Eduardo that believes and wants to prove it. The professor saying this in class does get his superiors upset with him. Again, I'm not sure if their issues are him straying from the curriculum or not believing it possible. It is to the point where they're ready to let him go so he's forced to prove his theory. That was good to build tension.
Another aspect is that this feels like it is borrowing from the Burke and Hare events. In order for them to prove that whatever we last see is burned on to our retinas and can be reproduced, they need recently dead bodies. I get the idea that because of the nature of their experiments, no one is going to allow them to do this. Even more so in a Catholic or just more religious area of Mexico. They are then committing crimes for science. It is against the law, nonetheless. This does make them grey characters. I also cannot fault the police as they don't know why the bodies are being taken so they're trying to put a stop to that. This makes for an interesting story to tell.
That should be enough for the story, let's then shift to filmmaking aspects. Where I'll start is by stating that if this was made today, it wouldn't be a horror film. It is dark in nature. There are elements of mad scientists with this experiment, but Prof Jiménez is doing that to help. Body snatching though is adjacent so that keeps it in. I'll say that cinematography and framing were fine. It is still early into cinema so the technology does limit it. Other than that, the soundtrack was fine without necessarily standing out. It fits what was needed.
All that is left then would be the acting performances. I'll go ahead and say that Noriega works in his performance as this professor who is breaking the law to prove his theory. I like that Soler is this student that is thinking for himself, wanting to help. De Ilisa isn't given much to work with except as a love interest for Eduardo. She does add stakes though that her father won't let them be together. His experiments put it even more into jeopardy. D'Olace works in his smaller role as a helper. Gonzáles and the police also build tension there as well. The acting is fine across the board.
In conclusion, I went a bit shorter in my recap in part due to not having great subtitles. This is another interesting mad scientist film from Mexico. It is interesting that it borrows elements from Burke and Hare as well as using an idea that will be repeated over the years. The acting is fine. Soler and Noriega lead the way with the rest of the cast directing them to where they end up. Filmmaking aspects were solid as well. The cinematography and framing were fine for the era. Not one that I can recommend to everyone. If you can read Spanish, then I think you'll enjoy this more. One that I'd say to see if you want to do a bit deeper of a dive for the year or era.
My Rating: 6 out of 10.
