Michael_Elliott

(2012-04-29 22:20:13)

Witch's Mirror

Witch's Mirror, The (1962) *** (out of 4) Mexican horror film from director Chano Urueta about a husband whomurders his wife so that he can marry his mistress. Unfortuantly forhim, he kills her in front of a witch's mirror, which allows her spiritto come back for revenge. The first thirty minutes of this film aregreat due to Urueta making the most of his small budget. The openingsequence is brilliant and there's some great atmosphere and artdirection but things start to unravel in the final act. The first halfof the film certainly isn't original but the second half seems like amix between Eyes Without a Face and The Hands of Orlac.

ferbs54

(2012-04-29 11:35:51)

A Bona Fide Find From South Of The Border

I was surprised to learn that "The Witch's Mirror" came out a yearBEFORE director Chano Urueta and producer Abel Salazar released theirmore-well-known cult horror film "The Brainiac" (1961), as this earliereffort by the same team strikes me as a much more polished, effectiveand professionally made piece of work. "The Brainiac" had almost seemedthe result of a Mexican Ed Wood making his first film while on acid,whereas "The Witch's Mirror" turns out to be a bona fide find; one ofthe best horror films I've seen in a while. The picture can be seen astwo distinct stories, actually, cleaving fairly evenly down the middle.The first half tells of the revenge that a witch, Sara (who reminded meof Dr. Joyce Brothers, of all people!), takes on the man who poisonedher goddaughter, as well as on this man's replacement bride. This firsthalf has a positively Gothic feel and could easily take place anytimeduring the last 200 years. The second half of the film veers offsuddenly into "Frankenstein" and "Eyes Without a Face" territory, witha more modern-day vibe. The film offers up some strikingly composedshots, beautiful B&W photography, some eerie moments and, mostsurprising, some shocking gross-out elements. The FX are, for the mostpart, very well done (those crawling hands excepted, perhaps), and thepicture winds up most satisfyingly indeed. I'm not sure that Debra's(wife #2's) ultimate fate is deserved, but whatcha gonna do? This IS ahorror picture, after all, and quite an excellent one at that. Mythanks to Casa Negra for rescuing it from relative oblivion. All horrorbuffs, I feel, should pounce on this one.

Zombie_CPA

(2012-04-28 17:07:47)

A Visual Treat

This movie exemplified the best of the era. It was visually stunningfrom the cemetery, to the house, to the disfigured wife.The story also sucks you in from the start. It is about a man whomurders his wife and her ghost seeks revenge with the help hergodmother witch. This movie reminds me of several great movies of theera including Eyes Without A Face and Black Sunday. In my opinion, itexceeds both of them.The acting was first rate and the directing wonderful. This is a gemfrom Mexico and it is nice that it finally comes to DVD.A must see for fans of 1960's atmospheric horror.

HEFILM

(2012-04-28 05:23:23)

not especially good, but rarely dull either.

There are some nice visual moments in the film involving the mirror,but more often you have to give the filmmakers credit for trying thingsthat don't quite work. Like a "detached" hand that is obviously someone wearing a black cleave so you won't see the black cleave but youdo.Characterizations and the acting and the dubbing are all pretty flatand one dimensional and that's what really sinks it.Still it's fairly lively and though cheaply made decently producedespecially for the time and place where it was made. Never dull, justnever takes off either. Decent photography. Uneven special effects.Could really use more music to add atmosphere.