El caminante

I'm not a massive Paul Naschy fan, he is enthusiastic and has produced numerous and fairly varied films, always on the edge but equally always with limited budgets which sometimes shows more than one would wish. But here's a surprise, one I'd never even heard of and its great! Bawdy, blasphemous, cynical and funny, it is also very well constructed, with decent dialogue and persuasive performances. Basically, our director plays the lead (of course) and represents the devil on earth giving himself a break from his normal duties and getting his hands dirty closer to the action, as you might say. Some scenes are more cruel than others but none of it is very nice, as you might expect, if the very devil himself, is leading the way. Lots of deceived ladies and robbed dignitaries and much fun along the way. Naschy has a glint in his eye throughout and when the most terrible (or best) bits are about to unfold, his face glows devil red. Really! Great entry point for non Naschy fans, an absolute must for existing fans and generally good, bad taste fun for all.

El caminante (1979)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Tomas (David Rocha) is a young man who is befriended by Leonardo (Paul Naschy) who promises him a great adventure, which will lead to wealth. What Tomas doesn't realize is that Leonardo is actually the Devil who has come to Earth to see what man is like.

EL CAMINANTE, also known as THE DEVIL INCARNATE, is considered by many to be Paul Naschy's masterpiece. Naschy will always be remembered for the various horror films that he appeared in but we all know his most famous character was playing the werewolf in a string of movies that made him a horror legend. EL CAMINANTE is a lesser known picture and that's a real shame because it's a perfectly entertaining black comedy that really has a lot going for it.

When this film was originally announced I wasn't familiar with it but after some research it became clear that many considered it Naschy's best. Usually this type of hype ends up in disappointment but that actually wasn't the case here because I thought the film was extremely good and I'd agree that it was the best film from Naschy. Not only is it the best screenplay I've seen from him but I'd also argue that his direction was spot-on throughout and even his performance was quite great.

Basically what happens is that we see the Devil character going from one scene to the next where he encounters a wide range of people and all of them fall for the temptation that he offers them. This leads to some extremely funny scenes and I must admit that I was shocked to see how well Naschy handled the comic timing. Not only in his performance but the way, as a director, he builds up the scenes and the laughs. I thought Naschy was superb in the role of the Devil and he really fit the part perfectly and delivered.

The film offers up plenty of sex, violence and nudity so fans of EuroSleaze will be really happy. That's especially true in regards to the nudity as there are a large number of beautiful ladies who strip down. EL CAMINANTE is certainly a highly entertaining film that mixes laughs with a bunch of sleaze and in the end the picture really delivered the goods.

Paul Naschy plays The Devil in human form,who walks among morally corrupt mankind.He destroys lives of all people with whom he met.Naschy uses temptation and mischief to achieve as much sexual pleasure and money as he can.His loyal acolyte is named Tomas."El Caminante" was written and directed by Paul Naschy himself.The film plays more like black comedy and morality tale than horror movie.It's loaded with sleazy nudity and moral decay.Lying,cheating,stealing and manipulating.Everything is permitted to obtain money and sexual pleasure.There is truly disturbing footage from Second World War when Tomas has a vision of the future.The acting of Pauly Naschy is excellent and the film is rich in atmosphere.8 amoral vices out of 10.

The walker is undoubtedly a very peculiar and personal film within the filmography of Paul Naschy, Jacinto Molina, as here appears accredited.

And personal because the already mythical actor reflects his obsessions and personal tastes for marginal characters, fantastic elements, metaphysical reflections and eroticism.

Set like another of his best Inquisition films, in the Spanish Golden Age, Naschy shows us the adventures of a despicable and rude vagabond, a traveler whose lack of scruples make him a true devil on earth. Said demon in turn will take a young apprentice who will be responsible for transmitting all their malevolent wisdom while walking the roads of the Castilian lands leaving its sad and sinister wake.

The film has a magnificent rhythm accompanied by a very accurate photograph of Ulloa. Naschy manages to transmit all the force and evil energy that distills his character through the entire film with a more than acceptable performance.

There are also plenty of nudes and risqué scenes so typical of this director, although it must be understood that in that Spain just outside the dictatorship there was a great demand from the public to enjoy female nudes.

It is a deep, unhealthy, coarse and reflective film about human nature, how men create their own hell in paradise and how man and the devil walk together on earth in a circle of endless sin.

Highly recommended

'El Caminante is grimly set in doomy medieval times, and the sublimely talented writer/director Paul Naschy appears to be having a devilish good time playing an itinerant, mesmerisingly mysterious, traveller Leonardo (Paul Naschy). A darkly enigmatic, murderously philosophical rogue, which, unsurprisingly, appears tailor-made for someone with Naschy's bravura, almost preternatural talent for creating fascinatingly larger-than-life villains. His exemplary acting prowess, ably matched by a no less conspicuous talent for compelling, fear-festooned filmmaking!

Observing this perverse pilgrim's progress, it becomes obvious that, Leonardo is a far from righteous individual. His motivations are mercenary, perhaps, even satanic in nature! Along with his young eager-to-please acolyte, the fornicating, exquisitely eerie epicurean finally finds himself stripped of all his nefariously acquired wealth. Retreating to a bordello wherein his lustful propensity for evil percolates to ever more profane levels of ignominy and foul licentiousness! His degeneracy culminating in a grisly, theologically intriguing, blood n' thunder climax that certainly gives the viewer much more to ponder on than the soporific recycled junk of today. 'El Caminante' is arguably one of the more diabolically intriguing occult offerings from the Iberian iconoclast, and remains a must-own title for all avid Naschy fans!