By Melissa Antoinette Garza
I decided that I’m still in the mood to watch some Jesús Franco films so I’m delving a few years forward to 1981 and the German/Spain film BLOODY MOON (1981).
The film opens with disfigured Miguel (Alexander Waechter) who is very self-conscience about his appearance. He attends a costume party and sees a couple about to make love. He steals the guy’s Mickey Mouse costume and finds a girl interested in the other guy. They begin messing around but things don’t’ fare as well as they did for Lewis in REVENGE OF THE NERDS (1984). The girl strips him of his mask and becomes horrified. He doesn’t take the rejection well and stabs her to death with scissors
Miguel has a history of unhealthy sexual behaviors as he and his sister Manuela (Nadja Gerganoff) are in an on again/ off again sexual relationship that they keep quiet. Manuela at times is resistant to it and then other times is not claiming that their relationship is misunderstood. Pretty creepy, Franco; but again – that’s the point. This is a horror film, so KUDOS Franco!
Years later, Miguel is released into Manuela’s custody. The doctors tell Manuela to provide a loving environment that isn’t reminiscent of the night he went mad. It doesn’t start well. On the train home, Miguel notices Angela (Olivia Pascal) a little too closely. Manuela tells him to stop staring when the lights go out. She panics thinking Miguel did the worst when she hears Angela scream. Thankfully just a false alarm, the siblings take their seats.
The duo work at a boarding school operated by their disabled and loud Aunt Maria (María Rubio). Maria hounds Manuela about everything making Professor Alvaro (Christoph Moosbrugger) scold the wheelchair-bound elderly Countess. Maria tells Alvaro that Manuela only wants her money. She warns the teach that Manuela is playing him and that’s she all about greed. Later, Maria is burned alive in her bed. Maybe, next time that old biddy won’t open her big mouth! (I kid! I kid! It’s tragic. Really!)
Meanwhile, Miguel is turning the weirdo vibe up a bit as he follows Angela around town and home. He breaks into her house and watches her. She catches a glimpse of him and recognizes him from the train. He bolts without hurting her and returns home to have some uncomfortable scenes with Manuela who easily manipulates him by denying sex and blaming others for the denial.
Angela begins a relationship with the arrogant but sweet groundskeeper Antonio (Peter Exacoustos) just as murders begin to pile up at the school. He’s kind of a douche though. When Angela tells Antonio that she saw a dead body, he acts like an ass and as if it is all in her imagination. He’s not intentionally gaslighting her, but still – what a prick!
In class, Angela is listening to a language recording to learn Spanish and a voice comes over threatening death that would make Billy from BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974) proud. When she reacts and Prof. Alvaro comes to check, the recording seems to be fine.
In the end, the reveal isn’t that shocking but the delivery and execution is marvelous. Once again, Franco delivers on all fronts.
The tone is odd and dark as if a 70s Giallo film and an 80s American slasher had a baby. The production has some fantastic atmospheric moments complimented by intriguing and absorbing dialogue. It’s not depressing nor does it encompass much grit, but it’s still daring and strange. The story itself is a compelling one for any fan of whodunits. The characters are captivating and the acting is sensational. There are a few sexy moments, a few genuinely unsettling moments and some rather intense ones as well. It’s played far more straight than camp, but it wears it very well.
It’s currently free on YOUTUBE so watch it before the copyright cops take it down.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7/10
