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(1953) Jose Maria Linares-Rivas, Miroslava, Carlos Nivarro, Fernando Wagner, Alberto Mariscal. One of the best South-of-the-Border horror films ever. The Monstrous Dr. Crimen looks and plays like a Universal chiller of the ‘40s. It’s got a mad scientist; a beautiful dame who falls into his evil clutches; a ghoulish assistant; a Ken Strickfadden-style lab scene; a man-made monster; a crumbling old cemetery; an atmospheric gothic castle filled with wax statues of the mad doctor’s previous victims, and to top it off, the film boasts a terrific music score, not unlike those that H. J. Salter wrote for movies like Night Monster and The Mad Ghoul. The plot concerns a hideously ugly scientist who plots revenge against the woman who wronged him. The plot has similarities to a several classic horror films, including Frankenstein, Mystery of the Wax Museum, and Phantom of the Opera. The use of light and shadow are as good as anything you’ll see in any classic U.S. horror film. The finale features a crazed-monster-vs.-mad scientist-showdown. Great fun throughout! The script has its failings, but these are side-stepped by surprisingly fine performances. The stunning Miroslava is especially good. With English subtitles. 35mm.
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