Rojo sangre

Paul Naschy is certainly a big contender for Spain's biggest ever horror star; with a great deal of cult films under his belt, most notably his "Homo Lobo" series. However, since the seventies his fame has dwindled somewhat; but on the evidence of this film, his acting and writing talent certainly hasn't! Rojo Sangre is a strange and wayward film that won't appeal to all tastes; but it's certainly an interesting cult film and the fact that it's a semi-autobiographical film for Paul Naschy makes it all the more interesting. The plot focuses on Pablo Thevenet; a down and out actor with nothing but bad luck. His daughter was murdered and his wife left him, and despite once being a big star; he now can't find any sort of acting work. He gets something of a break when he's offered a job as a 'living statue' at a Stag club, and although he finds the role demeaning; he takes it because the money is good and no other offers are coming his way. His hatred for the modern movie business is overwhelming, however, and it's not long before he begins a murderous tirade against all those that have stopped him from getting work.

The thing I liked most about this film is the way that the plot moves. It's never obvious where the film is going and Naschy's script always allows some surprises. The direction is taken up by Christian Molina, and I'm sure the last name will be familiar to Naschy fans as it's his son! Molina's direction is always assured and he manages several stylish moments. The film is perhaps a little too flashy, but everything in the direction bodes well with the way that the story is presented. The film is bolstered courtesy of an excellent performance by Paul Naschy; perhaps even the best of his career. The fact that the role reflects upon his own career aside, you can't fail but be impressed with Naschy here; he absolutely becomes the central character and you can never doubt him for a second. One of the many subplots of the film features the central character slashing up various people while dressed as historical characters and this provides the film with some of its best moments. The gore is actually quite restrained but it's still nice to see. There's not really a defining point to the film and the ending contains more questions than answers but it does at least bring some closure to the plot. Overall, Rojo Sangre is an excellent swan song for Naschy's career and I'm sure that fans of the great Spanish actor's career will appreciate it.

One of the great Spanish horror actors, Paul Naschy plays the role of Pablo Thevenet as if it is autobiographical, and it may very well be.

He is washed up as an actor. Current directors want only pretty faces and lots of silicone. He lands a job as a doorman that allows him to use his prodigious talents as he was meant to.

It is obvious that Pablo is entering a deal with the devil, but when the devil's assistant looks as good as Bibiana Fernández (Almodovar's Matador & his La Ley del Deseo), who cares? Apparently Pablo had some unpleasant experiences in life besides his downward fall as an actor and he snaps. This is where the horror begins. He is to spill blood copiously to get revenge.

Christian Molina, in his first directorial project has managed to give us a new view of horror in a very stylized way, almost as good as Argento. I am looking forward to seeing his other films.

Paul Naschy for years was among the top John Belushi look alikes in the world. He of course was also a big horror star in Spain and re-edited versions of his best known werewolf films played on chiller theater TV packages as I, and many other horror fans grew up. Most of the stars of 60's horror films are gone sadly and now that horror films are again very popular they aren't around to enjoy a final film. Christopher Lee of course is alive and well, but has so far "only" been in non horror films during this new interest. Vincent Price was in some films for Tim Burton, but these too were small parts in non genre films. And lets not think too hard back a few years to Bela Lugosi going on working for Ed Wood or those last few lousy Boris Karloff Mexican productions.

So congratulations to Paul Naschy for being in what is a very creative horror film and showing that he's a better actor and still a very cutting edge writer all these years later. This is a slick film, gruesome and creative on many levels. It's a good and or better than anything he's ever been in or made. Though he's playing a character somewhat like himself, a former horror icon, there is little trace of self consciousness in his performance.

Naschy had recently been in two American Horror films, but let's admit that they are two lousy films from two lousy filmmakers. He also had a fun small role in a not so bad Spanish film SCHOOL KILLER a few years ago. But for him in his native land to get this film made,let alone for it to be a good film, it's just well almost unheard of triumph.

There is little nostalgia in my thoughts towards this film. It stands on it's own even if you aren't a Naschy fan, or if you think of him as sort of a camp figure from the past. If you haven't heard of him this would be a great introduction.

Most actors could only wish for a comeback film like this in any genre. Let's hope this isn't the final film for Naschy because he shows he's still got it in him to do cutting edge horror.

Rojo Sangre (2004)

*** (out of 4)

Spanish horror film written and acted by the legendary Paul Naschy. In the film, which is semi-autobiographical, Naschy plays a horror legend who finds himself becoming a has been due to how the business is ran these days. He gets a break working in a club where he's paid to perform as various real-life serial killers but one day he starts to take the job too serious and begins to murder off the "new and cool" people of television. This film started out so well, unlike any other Naschy film but the director really blew things in the second half. The second half of the film is incredibly bad but I still enjoyed this for the terrific start. The opening hour is a brutal attack on current fame and current Hollywood, which rings all too true. Seeing the legend Naschy having to beg for work hits home quite strongly and Naschy's performance has never been better. His screenplay for this opening stuff dealing with a forgotten great is also the best he's ever done. The second half of the film really falls apart due to the director trying to be too stylish and there's an incredibly stupid twist in the story that doesn't work at all.

Naschy has stated in interviews that the film is semi-autobiographical and you can't help but feel sorry for the guy (both Thevenet and Naschy). With today's fickle movie audiences and industry, a certain sense of history and respect for the older generation of horror actors seems to be missing. As a young girl bluntly tells Thevenet, "I wasn't even born when you were making films" (to which he replies, "Just remember more silicone helps mask a lack of talent."). It may be a cliché, but Naschy has pretty much done it all when it comes to the horror genre and not a lot of people remember that.

Naschy is awfully angry at that fact and the script (which he penned himself) definitely reflects that. Heck, when Thevenet throws out the titles of some of the films he has made, they are all real Naschy titles! To know that ROJO SANGRE debuted the same year as the miserable Fred Olen Ray/Naschy vehicle TOMB OF THE WEREWOLF is telling. Comparing the two side by side, it appears that Naschy knows all too well the plight of his main character. But it is nice to see this level of bitterness being used as a creative outlet instead of festering in Naschy's mind. If this film had not been made, perhaps Naschy would really have gone on a killing spree.

ROJO SANGRE is a beautifully filmed and stately in terms of scale. Director Christian Molina (no relation to Jacinto "Paul Naschy" Molina) delivers a one of the best horror debuts in recent memory. He has an interesting visual sense that reminds me a lot of a young Russell Mulcahy, Jan Kounen and, to a lesser extent, Dario Argento. Some of his scene transitions are pretty darn clever (unfortunately, some are also a bit distracting) and the editing is first-rate. He is definitely someone whose future projects I look forward to.