Are you sure you are ready to enter The Mansion Of Madness? An unreal trip into your worst nightmares. Think of all things calm and comfortable. Now tear the boundaries down and consider yourself doomed. Now laugh about it since you are tripping on LSD. Well, I’ve pretty much summed up all the emotions felt while watching this Mexican trip into the unknown and debauched. A tale of black humored madness.
Juan Lopez Moctezuma was plain and simple, a cult director. He might have not of thought so but his experimental take on the Mexican social ethics at the time where way behind in his times. Obviously, for the period of the late 60’s and on to the late 70’s, drugs was a big influence on the culture. The bands that spawned were of slow, and psychedelic nature. Hence long hair and acid induced experiences. Those were good times, and Juan was aware of the situation. Also working with Alejandro Jodorowsky
(El Topo, Santa Sangre) seemed to give his movies an edge also. Juan was best known for his 3 consecutive horror films of that era. La mansión de la locura being the first in 71‘, Mary Mary, Bloody Mary in 74‘, and Of course the ever so savage Alucarda: la hija de las tinieblas in 75’. All way out of their league in terms of commercial standard.
Claudio Brooke (Dr. Maillard) from such classics as Alucarda and Cronos is seen here as a lunatic on the fringe of mindless cruelties. Or is he already? He runs the intuition where all insane dwell. They are roaming free to try a new way of behavior control. Let them Rome and do what they please. A fellow is sent to investigate and report for a newspaper (this all take place in the 1800’s) about the concepts of Milliard. What becomes, pretty much the rest of the film is a constant downward spiral into undeniable psychosis. One scene of madness into the next. As the movie flows, so does the intensity. More patients of childlike behavior begin to run rampant as we finally get to see some action. Not really a horror but I guess it would be best to label since the director played on a dark and dreary concept, but with a sense of happy blackness. I especially loved the musical score by Nacho Mendez (el Topo, El Sexo De Las ricos). If this wasn’t a Mexican released film then I would say Robert Fripp or King Crimson did the really far out wanderings of euphoric melodies. A flute really gets in the nerves in a soothing way. Listen to In The Court Of The Crimson King and get back to me.
I personally enjoyed the film but it seemed to drag in some parts. Sure there were some crazy happenings but to much talking and not enough derangement. I know it’s kooky enough to stand on its own 2 feet but you need something to do while one whacko passes the camera by, one after another. Some laughs and all dark humor.
Extras include a documentary on the films director. Interview with Guillermo Del Toro since he is native to Juan. Also a slew of head tripping extras. A really good time on drugs. Take it from the cannibal, you’ll dig it.
-Cannibal Cam
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
