MEXICO MACABRE: FOUR SINISTER TALES FROM THE ALAMEDA FILMS VAULT 1959-1963
BLACK PIT OF DR. M (Fernando Méndez, 1959)
THE WITCH’S MIRROR (Chano Urueta, 1961)
THE BRAINIAC (Chano Urueta, 1962)
THE CURSE OF THE CRYING WOMAN (Rafael Baledón, 1963)
Release date: 29 May 2023
Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set (World Blu-ray premieres)
Pre-order here
These four macabre titles from the vaults of one of Mexico’s best-known film companies offer uniquely Mexican takes on the ghosts, witches, and monsters familiar to fans of horror cinema and fiction.
Fernando Méndez’s Black Pit of Dr. M (Misterios de ultratumba) sees a doctor make a pact with his dying colleague in order to learn the secrets of the afterlife. In Chano Urueta’s The Witch’s Mirror (El espejo de la bruja), a murderer is tormented by the ghost of his dead wife, whilst in Urueta’s The Brainiac (El barón del terror), a nobleman executed for necromancy returns in diabolical form to eradicate the lineage of his killers... by sucking out their brains! Finally, in Rafael Baledón’s The Curse of the Crying Woman (La maldición de la Llorona), a young bride visits her aunt's Gothic mansion, where she finds that she is the descendent of one of Mexican folklore's most terrifying figures.
With their star-studded casts, beautiful photography, eerie production design, and bone-chilling atmosphere, these films have terrified audiences for decades, and are now available in this strictly limited, individually numbered Blu-ray box set, which includes an array of new extra features – including four new audio commentaries, and rare English-language dub tracks – as well as a set of art cards and a fully illustrated 100-page book.
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY BOX SET SPECIAL FEATURES
• High Definition remasters for Black Pit for Dr. M, The Witch’s Mirror, The Brainiac, and The Curse of the Crying Woman
• Original Spanish mono audio
• Optional English mono audio dub tracks for The Witch’s Mirror, The Brainiac and The Curse of the Crying Woman
• Audio commentary with Abraham Castillo Flores, film programmer and curator specialising in the preservation of Mexican horror cinema, on Black Pit of Dr. M (2023)
• Audio commentary with David Wilt, film historian and Mexican-cinema specialist, on The Witch’s Mirror (2023)
• Audio commentary and brain nibbling with Keith J Rainville, publisher of From Parts Unknown and screenwriter of Los campeones de la lucha libre, on The Brainiac (2023)
• Audio commentary with Morena de Fuego, doctor in film studies and LatAm horror specialist, on The Curse of the Crying Woman (2023)
• Daniel Ripstein on the history of Alameda Films and his grandfather, producer Alfredo Ripstein Jr (2023)
• Author Eduardo de la Vega Alfaro on director Fernando Méndez (2023)
• Author Eduardo de la Vega Alfaro on director Chano Urueta (2023)
• Author Eduardo de la Vega Alfaro on director Rafael Baledón (2023)
• Memories of a Villain (2018): TV UNAM special on actor Carlos López Moctezuma
• Mondo Macabro: ‘Mexican Horror Movies’ (2002): episode of Pete Tombs and Andy Starke’s fondly remembered British television series, providing an overview of Mexican genre cinema from the 1950s to the 1970s
• Original theatrical trailers
• Image galleries: promotional and publicity material
• New and improved English translation subtitles
• Limited Edition exclusive 100-page book with new essays by José Luis Ortega Torres, David Wilt and Abraham Castillo Flores, archival articles, and full film credits
• Limited Edition exclusive art cards
• World premieres on Blu-ray
• Limited edition box set of 6,000 numbered units for the UK and US
All extras subject to change
#PHILE381B
BBFC cert: 15 TBC
REGION FREE
EAN: 5060697923414
381-384 Mexico Macabre
Moderator: MichaelB
- MichaelB
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381-384 Mexico Macabre
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Very solid line-up. Hoping we get more Mexican horror sets with El Vampiro, Macario, Even the Wind is afraid and Poison for the Fairies.
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
- Location: Worthing
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Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
As ever, this will be intimately linked to how well this box does.
But these films have been an absolute blast to work on, so I'd be very keen on more.
But these films have been an absolute blast to work on, so I'd be very keen on more.
-
- Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2023 1:36 pm
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
I'm surprised El Vampiro wasn't included in the set as it was released on DVD by Casa Negra, along with the 4 films in this box.
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
As I said, I’m sure they’ll be keen to do more if this one sells as well as last year’s Mexican titles did.
- What A Disgrace
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:34 pm
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Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Carlos Enrique Taboada seems to have such a high profile career in horror films that I could see them releasing a boxed set dedicated to him.
-
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:29 am
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Very pleased for these.
I think there was an English dub for BLACK PIT OF DR M once-upon-a-time as there is an US trailer for it, but the dub never made it to home video that I know of. The old Sinister Cinema VHS was unsubtitled Spanish.
I think there was an English dub for BLACK PIT OF DR M once-upon-a-time as there is an US trailer for it, but the dub never made it to home video that I know of. The old Sinister Cinema VHS was unsubtitled Spanish.
- Matt
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:58 pm
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Well I’m definitely buying this and I hardly buy anything anymore! If there is a second box, I hope you all will consider The Man and The Monster (El hombre y el monstruo), another Rafael Baledón film. It’s a “transformation” film, part Jekyll & Hyde, part werewolf, and it’s surprisingly tender and sympathetic toward the monstrous man. It was probably my second favorite of the beloved and short-lived Casa Negra line.MichaelB wrote:As ever, this will be intimately linked to how well this box does.
But these films have been an absolute blast to work on, so I'd be very keen on more.
- brundlefly
- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 12:55 pm
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
I'm in and am again hoping a Mexican noir box is in the works. Much rather they wound up here than eeked out slowly at Flicker Alley or stamped at VCI.
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Thrilled to hear that Indicator are open to even more Mexican horror sets. Just waiting for Grindhouse's pre-orders to go live.
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
You actually don't have to import this (or the Ormond). They're also getting US/Canada releases!
- ryannichols7
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:26 pm
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
the best place to get the US releases though is through one of "the big 3" importers though, Finch is really partial to Grindhouse like I am for Orbit. many go for Diabolik! as long as no one is going for Amazon, I think we're good. Barnes and Noble previously was a good place to get the US Indicator releases, but they seem to have abandoned that pretty quickly and sell them at a higher MSRP than usual, not to mention they're largely downsizing their in store selection. a shame, really as I felt that got Indicator some great exposure here in the US, but by all accounts they seem quite popular here across the various disc buying channels I see (not to mention the releases sell out at Orbit pretty often, I'm sure Diabolik as well)
anyway this is a really exciting release. I've said elsewhere that I think it's great Indicator found a new niche with these Mexican titles. I can't see any other label in the UK (and not really the US, excluding VCI) working as hard as the Powerhouse team has to really carve out an exciting new avenue like this. there's lots of names in the extras here I haven't heard of before and I know MichaelB mentioned his excitement towards some debutant commentators and essayists alike. in fact, I'm pretty sure aside from Abraham Castillo Flores, who appeared on La Llorona and The Phantom of the Monastery, everyone here hasn't appeared on an Indicator release, though maybe I missed someone. these seemed to have drummed up a good amount of interest, and given how fast the previous Mexican titles sold out (in the UK, at least), I probably wouldn't wait to preorder these. excited to see more in the pipeline before we even see a release!
anyway this is a really exciting release. I've said elsewhere that I think it's great Indicator found a new niche with these Mexican titles. I can't see any other label in the UK (and not really the US, excluding VCI) working as hard as the Powerhouse team has to really carve out an exciting new avenue like this. there's lots of names in the extras here I haven't heard of before and I know MichaelB mentioned his excitement towards some debutant commentators and essayists alike. in fact, I'm pretty sure aside from Abraham Castillo Flores, who appeared on La Llorona and The Phantom of the Monastery, everyone here hasn't appeared on an Indicator release, though maybe I missed someone. these seemed to have drummed up a good amount of interest, and given how fast the previous Mexican titles sold out (in the UK, at least), I probably wouldn't wait to preorder these. excited to see more in the pipeline before we even see a release!
- therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Ryan, I believe MichaelB used to post informal low stock alerts, which were helpful for prompting some of us who thought we had time to wait for a merchant sale to jump on buying a release earlier from third parties, but I'm not sure if that's still happening
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
I just repost what Indicator themselves post on Twitter. And if you subscribe to their newsletter you’ll get regular monthly low stock alerts.
- Telstar
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:35 pm
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Assuming you order enough to pass the free shipping threshold, isn't ordering directly from Indicator/Powerhouse still the least expensive way to go (particularly with the current 10%-off bundle promo for Mexico Macabre and Ormonds)?ryannichols7 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 24, 2023 8:51 pmthe best place to get the US releases though is through one of "the big 3" importers though, Finch is really partial to Grindhouse like I am for Orbit. many go for Diabolik!
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Probably, if you exceed their high free shipping threshold
- Telstar
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:35 pm
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Wondering if there might be any interest here for a US mini-group buy of just Mexico Macabre and Ormond Family. Powerhouse site only allows you to order 3 copies of each title, but that would be enough to exceed the free shipping threshold, and with the current BUNDLE promo code MM would be roughly $39 and Ormonds $45.50 (plus whatever the cost might be for domestic shipping to group-buyers).
- Cash Flagg
- Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:15 pm
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Wouldn’t DD during a 15% sale be the cheapest option?
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- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 6:28 am
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Sending you a pmTelstar wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 5:50 pmWondering if there might be any interest here for a US mini-group buy of just Mexico Macabre and Ormond Family. Powerhouse site only allows you to order 3 copies of each title, but that would be enough to exceed the free shipping threshold, and with the current BUNDLE promo code MM would be roughly $39 and Ormonds $45.50 (plus whatever the cost might be for domestic shipping to group-buyers).
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Rafael Baledón's name is spelled three different ways in the specs for this box
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
All fixed. I take full responsibility for the first flub.
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Well, more concerningly, they're wrong on pH's website. I trust you had just C+Pd from there
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Amazon pre-order for $49.99
PA tax figured in, it still makes it slightly cheaper than every other US retailer where you still have to add shipping. Sometimes Bezos's evil empire is good for something.
PA tax figured in, it still makes it slightly cheaper than every other US retailer where you still have to add shipping. Sometimes Bezos's evil empire is good for something.
- Matt
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:58 pm
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
Counterpoint: It’s the same price at Diabolik and their shipping is only $5. It’s worth it to me to support a small specialty business.
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: 381-384 Mexico Macabre
I have Prime and no shipping included. I get your point about supporting Diabolik and other smaller businesses but in this particular instance, Amazon's offer was too good for me to turn down. Diabolik would have worked out at a slightly higher price than Orbit and Grindhouse, even. Have given those three my business on other titles and happy to do so on future occasions.