ramonmercado
CyberPunk
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2003
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- 58,275
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- Eblana
Santa Sangre (1989): Jodorowsky’s El Topo has been described as an acid western, wellm Santa Sangre could be classified as a peyote horror film. Fenix (played at different ages by Jodorowsky’s sons Adan and Axel) become a murderer-by-proxy for his mutilated mother. He was traumatised by witnessing his father cutting his mother's arms off and then committing suicide. After years in an institution he escapes and becomes his mother's arms in her stage act. Whenever he becomes close to other women, his mother (Bianca Guerra) forces him to kill them. That's the bare bones of the plot.
But there is a lot more going on, Fenix was a boy magician in a circus, his assistant was the deaf-mute Alma whose cruel stepmother, the Tattooed Lady (Thelma Tixou) seduces his father, the Ringmaster (Guy Stockwell) and the violence results. We have colorful circus parades, a solemn circus parade for an elephants funeral. The tusker's corpse is subsequently devoured by shanty-town dwellers. Cultist's revere a girl who lost her arms in an attempt to fight off her attackers. They battle with police who want to enforce the demolition of their church. Clutches of clowns are everywhere as is Fenix's faithful dwarf companion. Some great scenes of Fenix's nightmares where he wrestles with a boa-constrictor and his victims rise zombie like from their graves.
How reliable a narrator Fenix really is comes into question as the film unfolds. All of the above meshes into a coherent narrative as the tale moves towards it's explosive finale. Directed and co-written by Alejandro Jodorowsky’. 9/10.
But there is a lot more going on, Fenix was a boy magician in a circus, his assistant was the deaf-mute Alma whose cruel stepmother, the Tattooed Lady (Thelma Tixou) seduces his father, the Ringmaster (Guy Stockwell) and the violence results. We have colorful circus parades, a solemn circus parade for an elephants funeral. The tusker's corpse is subsequently devoured by shanty-town dwellers. Cultist's revere a girl who lost her arms in an attempt to fight off her attackers. They battle with police who want to enforce the demolition of their church. Clutches of clowns are everywhere as is Fenix's faithful dwarf companion. Some great scenes of Fenix's nightmares where he wrestles with a boa-constrictor and his victims rise zombie like from their graves.
How reliable a narrator Fenix really is comes into question as the film unfolds. All of the above meshes into a coherent narrative as the tale moves towards it's explosive finale. Directed and co-written by Alejandro Jodorowsky’. 9/10.