The Vampire's Coffin

The Vampire's Coffin (El Ataud Del Vampiro) (1958)

Runtime: 81 minutes

Directed by: Fernando Mendez

Starring: Abel Salazar, Ariadna Welter, German Robles, Yerye Beirute, Alicia Montoya

From: Cinematografica ABSA

Here is a random Mexican horror film which is on Netflix Instant. It's thankfully fine. I explain why below: 

This is a motion picture I only recently discovered was on Netflix Instant, and as they now rarely have movies that are this old or older, I figured I should give it a whirl, and I do say it's worth seeing. I do wish that I could see the film known in Spanish as El Vampiro (The Vampire) and this film is a sequel to that and two of the main characters of Vampiro reprise their roles here... as that can't be found on Netflix nor the other streaming sites... I am SOL there. It's OK with me, as there are reviews on the Interwebs which explain the plot of The Vampire. Basically, it's set at a rural home where a doctor named Enrique meets up with a young lady named Marta and her family house happens to be right next to a vampire. Don't you hate it when that happens?

In this movie, you see that the climax of Vampiro must have involved having a stake driven through his heart and being placed in a coffin, as that is where you see him in the very beginning; his grave is actually robbed. It's done by another doctor, who wants to research the corpse for SCIENCE. Well, the stake is removed, and you can figure out what happens next. Vampiro goes after Marta as Enrique tries to protect her, and hypnotism is involved. That is fairly standard as it comes to the vampire mythos. I am not sure about how Vampiro can disappear and reappear at will.

The movie is on the silly side. After all, the strings are easily seen whenever a bat flies around, and multiple gunshots are fired in a hospital room and no one else hears it. Yes, like in Halloween II a decent amount of the movie takes place at a seemingly almost abandoned hospital. Other settings include a graveyard and a wax museum which so happens to have a macabre display up. I can still say the movie is fine, partly because it does set up atmosphere and mood with its settings.

It is also decently directed and the cast does a swell job, especially German Robles as Vampiro, who is appropriate as a suave yet menacing character, which is perfect for that role. Thankfully the movie is watchable and while it is cheesy, it should still be acceptable for fans of vampire pictures.