Black Pit of Dr. M (original title Misterios de ultratumba “Mysteries from Beyond the Grave”) is a 1958 Mexican horror film directed by Fernando Méndez (El Vampiro) from a screenplay by Ramón Obón. It stars Gastón Santos, Rafael Bertrand, Mapita Cortés and Carlos Ancira.
Two doctors, Dr. Masali (Rafael Bernard) and Dr. Aldama (Antonio Raxel) agree to a macabre mutual pact: The first to die will return to tell the other about the mysteries beyond the grave. Aldama dies, and at a séance he informs his former colleague that if he really wants to carry out the pact, his chance will come in a couple of weeks. Forebodingly, Aldama’s spirit also ominously warns that Masali will have to pay a terrible price…
“Mendez stirs the conventions of melodrama, mad scientist movies and funereal lyricism (especially in the impressive return from the grave sequence) into a confusing mixture which is too heterogeneous to be effective.” The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror
” … another highly conservative Mexican horror film about the bloody havoc that will befall any transgressor who defies the laws of man and the Church. The film has soap opera pacing, a ghost story framework, a demented, melted-faced maniac running around — a little bit of everything. Ramón Obón’s script is short on logic but packed with macabre ideas. The reasonably elaborate production generates a spooky atmosphere of high-contrast horror… ” Glenn Erickson, DVD Savant
“Aside from its acid-scarred madman, The Black Pit of Dr. M is a more reserved gothic horror film compared to The Brainiac‘s brain-sucking alien or German Robles’ impressive cloaked vampiric aristocrat in the El Vampiro films. The black and white photography is wonderfully moody, cloaking Mazil’s asylum in deep shadows. The studio-bound exteriors are reminiscent of old Hollywood horror films (note the impressive torchlit funeral sequence early on).” Eric Cotenas, DVD Beaver
” … a masterpiece of gothic filmmaking that deserves far more attention and praise than it has received.” Bloody Disgusting
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