The Beasts' Carnival

A hit man working for the Yakuza double crosses his employers and flees with a cache of diamonds from the latest heist. Injured and hiding in the mountain regions of Spain, with Japanese assassins in hot pursuit, he takes refuge in the home of a local doctor and his two daughters, who nurse him back to health and hide him from his pursuers.

Mirek Lipinski writes that this film is "one of Naschy's most intimate cries that something was wrong with humanity." Naschy himself wrote that at this point in his life he "didn't believe there were many things worthwhile in this filthy rotten world." This perfectly explains the mindset that went into writing and directing this film.

An unusual blend of mystery, action, crime and horror, the one unifying theme of the movie is that no one is to be trusted and man is always ready to prey on his fellow man. For those viewers who like to have a character they can be sympathetic with, this film may have you searching in vain. Our "hero" is a double-crossing hit-man and thief. His saviors have their own agenda. The house servant is unfaithful to her lover. The only one who is arguably a good person is Meiko, who is justified in tracking down the man who wronged her. But even here, when we first meet her, she has orchestrated a jewel heist.

Though not one of Naschy's better-known films (at least in America), it has some moderate star power. The two daughters are played by a former beauty contest winner and a former model, who were no doubt beloved in Spain. The cinematographer is Alejandro Ulloa (1926-2002), who may be known for "Horror Express" or Orson Welles' "Chimes at Midnight". The score even has a track from Ennio Morricone, albeit a recycled one from a much earlier film.

Scream! Factory has included this film as part of their 5-movie Paul Naschy Blu-ray set. Interestingly, of the five films this one has the fewest special features. This is a shame, as a commentary would have been nice or better still an interview with star Eiko Nagashima, who could have added a great deal of knowledge about the production.

The video transfer is very good. While not the most crisp and clean picture you will ever see, it is probably the best that could be achieved from the source material and looks exceptional. The only drawback is that Spanish (or Castilian) subtitles are embedded on the screen when characters speak Japanese. The sound, unfortunately, is not spectacular. While this is no doubt the way the original was and no fault of Scream, the vocals tend to fade in and out and the music is not as clear as it could be.

So ad not to end on a negative note, this is still well worth seeking out. For those who only know Naschy from his werewolf movies, this will be an eye-opening experience and really showcases his versatility for various genres.

An Asian crime syndicate enlists the aid of Paul Naschy in a diamond heist, a choice they come to regret when he violently betrays them. He kills the syndicate leader, the father of a girl he's been feigning romance with. She shoots Naschy in a vengeful rage, but he escapes into the wilderness. Critically wounded, he slips under, only to awaken in the personal care of an eccentric doctor and his two sexy daughters. At this point, the film switches gears, and what began seemingly as an action/crime film suddenly shifts into a hybrid mystery/lurid revenge story, culminating in a weird but satisfying finale in the flavor of classic EC horror comics.

All things considered, it's a likable little dish of a very different flavor. 5.5/10.

While the movie is little more than excuse to show us some decent female nudity and while the movie's low budget is clear as day, "El carnaval de las bestias" is a decent entry in the genre which won't scare you, but it will entertain you if you are fan of the genre. It has to be said that the movie is very rare, but I managed to find it on archive.org. This is not a movie for a casual. This is a movie only for people who don't have hight standards and know what to expect from Euro 80-s horror jank. Luckily, Naschy is great as the movie's antihero and beautiful women appearing throughout the movie will make watching it an easier job it would have otherwise been. I give it 6/10, but I recommend it only to hardcore fans.

Paul Naschy is Bruno, who double crosses his girlfriend Mieko (Eiko Nagashima) and an Asian gang to steal some diamonds. They are hot on his trail while he holes up with a kind doctor (Lautaro Murúa).

Of course, the doctor has two beautiful daughters (Silvia Aguilar & Azucena Hernández) and a hot maid (Roxana Dupre). It remains to be seen who ends up with Bruno.

Meanwhile, there are some very strange and gruesome things going on in the house. including an apparition (Julia Saly).

But, the real goings on don't come until the end. One suspects something, but you are not sure until the end.

A good Naschy film.

This time Naschy is turned into a criminal mercenary who deceives ,steals and kills and goes on a murderous rampage until to terminate in the ¨Texas massacre house¨. The story starts in Japan on the lake Hakone near mount Fujiyama . Bruno Rivera (Paul Naschy) a tough mercenary is hired by an organization of fanatic idealists to carry out a hold-up on a valuable stash of diamonds. Bruno double-crosses his pregnant Japanese girlfriend and the criminal group and returns Spain. There he is located , taking place a chase and exciting pursuit nearly an old monastery . Being wounded , he is healed by the medic Simon (Lautaro Murua) and his daughters Alicia (Azuzena Hernandez)and Monica (Silvia Aguilar) . He takes shelter in their mansion but his former love interest Mieko (Eiko Nagashina) swears vengeance and is relentlessly looking for Bruno . Finally Bruno decides to escape until a creepy and surprising finale .

The picture is full of perverse images , sadism , morbidness and some nudism .It packs a crossover between noir cinema , gangsters genre and horror . Also displays acceptable photography , and Nazi iconography as usual in Naschy films. The film is narrated by means of flashbacks with Bruno's nightmares , developing Japan events and actual deeds when Naschy lives in the house of the rare family. The pig scenes of Ridley Scott's ¨Hannibal¨ seem to be taken from this film .

Jacinto Molina ,under pseudonym Paul Naschy turns out to be the continental Europe's biggest horror with his classic character , the unforgettable Waldemar Daninsky and frightening to viewer. He played as El Hombre Lobo for the umpteenth time . Jacinto Molina Aka Paul Naschy ,who recently passed away, was actor,screenwriter and director of various film about the personage based on fictitious character, the Polish count Waldemar Daninsky. The first film about Waldemar was ¨The mark of the Wolfman (1967)¨ by Enrique Eguiluz , after that ¨Night of Walpurgis¨, ¨Fury of the Wolfman¨ , ¨Doctor Jekill and the Wolfman¨ ,¨The return of the Walpurgis¨, ¨Howl of the devil¨, ¨The beast and the magic sword(1982)¨ that is filmed in Japan and finally ¨Licantropo(1998). After ¨The craving¨ it was such a box office disaster that Jacinto was bankrupt. He was forced to turn to Japan for making artist documentaries, as he filmed ' Madrid Royal Palace and Museum of Prado' and he gets financing from Japanese producers for ¨The human beasts¨, the first co-production Spanish-Japan and followed ¨The beast and the magic sword¨. Both of them are lavishly produced for the Paul Naschy standards. As the Atrezzo and gowns were well manufactured and exterior shot on both countries .

It's a B series entertainment with abundant sensationalistic scenes and a Naif style.The movie has a bit of ridiculous gore with loads of blood similar to tomato and is occasionally an engaging horror movie full of slashing, beheading, and several other things. This time Paul Nashy/Jacinto Molina exhibits little breast but he was a weightlifting champion . Pretty slow going and some flaws and gaps , but hang in there for the incredible and unexpected ending . In the picture appears habitual secondaries from Naschy films as Luis Ciges , Pepe Ruiz , Rafael Hernadez and other known supporting cast as Tito Garcia and Ricardo Palacios .Good cinematography by Alejandro Ulloa (Horror express and The return of the Wolfman )is accompanied by a correct remastering and filmed in Japan , Madrid , Valley of Lozoya and surroundings . The motion picture is professionally directed and played by Jacinto Molina , a slick craftsman and mediocre actor.The flick will appeal to Paul Naschy fans and terror genre enthusiasts. Rating : 6, passable and entertaining.