The Mansion of Madness (1973)

I wrongly expected something similar to Alucarda (1977) because of the similar cover, but Moctezuma’s low budget début is less of a horror movie and more of a surreally absurd comedy loosely based on an Edgar Allan Poe story (The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether). I’d watch almost anything based on Poe, so it wasn't such a crushing disappointment.
It’s visually less interesting than Alucarda, but has better dialogue and some wonderful monologues from the sanatorium staff and inmates; except for Chicken Man, he just clucks. I was beginning to tire as it neared the end, but for the most part it was entertaining and unique.

2 peculiar inclinations out of 5

Alucarda (1977)

It begins like a Hammer film, with similar production values and a similar visual look, but Hammer didn't take things this far into the extreme world of flagellating nuns, full nudity, blasphemy, lesbianism, diabolical possession and vampirism. As the film progresses it becomes more expressionistic and surreal, dragging you into its twisted world.
There’s some dodgy acting and some overly theatrical acting; it’s the latter that helps it transcend the realms of bad B-Movie into something that fans of Jess Franco, Ken Anger, Alejandro Jodorowsky and especially Ken Russell should get some jollies from. In the realm of low budget horror, Alucarda is a classic of style over substance.

3 bloody habits out of 5