(Pakistan 1967)
Reviewed By-Kit Gavin Starring: Habib, Rehan, Asad, Yasmeena, Nasseen Directed by: Khwaja Safaraz Released through: Mondo Macabro (United States)What can I say? Well, to be totally honest, the last thing I ever expected to be sitting down and enjoying was a Pakistani VAMPIRE movie. Perhaps it’s a cliché and thanks to the current rise in popularity of Bollywood, and the music, plus together with wondering round Brick Lane and more so Tooting (one of London’s more ethnic Suburbs, I was always under the impression that movies from that part of the world were generally musicals with doe eyed females dancing in sari’s and heroes with frighteningly large moustaches that would put American porno stars to shame for the sheer size of their, ahem, facial adornments.
Mondo Macabro, the company behind this label, or to be precise Pete Tombs (who has written two well received tomes on European and World cinema respectively) and his business partner Andy Starke really have come up trumps once again with this latest (and bizarre) find – gracing the shiny format, and available to the North American and ultimately world market. Naturally, Mondo Macabro, being a small releasing outfit as opposed to the big boys in the field (like Blue Underground and Media Blasters are never quite going to have the budgets (well, hopefully one day), the gloss that certainly the former label has. Yet their menus, extras and love and devotion to their releases shines through, which despite the occasional moan on a web forum here or there (by a fan unfairly contrasting to the higher money bracket labels), continually impress from both their UK and their US branches.
The Vampire movie has been a popular trend for over 80 years now. Every country has produced it would seem it’s own variation on the theme and why, to be honest should India and Pakistan be any different. The film under review does, admittedly owe some credit to it’s occidental influences most prominently the Hammer movies which were (pun intended) currying favor) with viewers around the world. Mixed into that concoction of Christopher Lee sporting prosthetic fangs were the Mexican Vampire movies (of which Mondo Macabro have again, released a couple of oddities to be savoured), the die was cast for imitations a-plenty.
Some of the concepts of the film under review, are unique however, such as the professor taking an elixir of life which results in his personification and genesis of the living corpse of the title. His threads as the eponymous anti- hero, made me slightly snigger, but they are effective. Also mildly amusing that the professor clearly was uncertain that his elixir of life would work 100% so to cover himself and expenses of buying a coffin, he happens to have one downstairs in his basement. Some moments will have you saying "I’ve seen this before", or "That’s familiar".
The film does betray some of it’s roots in quite obvious style for it’s geography, mixing gothic chills with a musical or dance number then returning to gothic. But it also has it’s obvious nods to the films from elsewhere in the world. But it is not a tawdry imitation, though at times the word homage might be on the viewers brain. But no matter, bearing in mind that most in Pakistan at the time are unlikely to have seen the counterparts from around the world. This feel all adds up to a quite an experience, but in all fairness adds to the enjoyment all the more. The film has also been shot in gothic black and white, color almost seems as it would have been too brash for the piece.
The Living Corpse, according to the well written and always fascinating production notes caused something of a stir in it’s native country, which may seem unusual given its relatively tame contrast in terms of horror films that were being made in America and were starting to push barriers and boundaries down in Europe. Do not go into this film expecting gruesome special effects, but enjoy it for what it is – atmospheric, well lit, gothic, funky and most of all unique in it’s own way.
The print, apparently the only one still in existence for the most part looks and sounds good, and is enjoyable to watch in it’s original language and is presented with none too jarring subtitles which seem to synch with what is being said on screen, although, admittedly my Urdu is not up to scratch. There is, sadly some print damage, but an apology is made prior to this, but to be honest, the occasional scratch, wobble and apparent spot of artifacting is to be honest nothing to get overly anxious about, once again, I stress the rarity of the film.
Extras as always are well constructed and the documentaries illuminating and proving that MM will truly travel round this Mondo Macabro to meet the people and interview them to find out more about the films they have under release. Also there is, as always the stills galleries and a trailer which has seen better days but hey, it’s there. Together with the film there is an audio commentary by Pete Tombs and Omar Khan and it is clear that both guys know their field and seem to want to enthuse about the film but never gush about it unnecessarily filling in for film enthusiasts and film historians a fascinating insight into this seldom discussed region of cinema.
Not to every ones taste, agreed, but for those willing to broaden their horizons beyond their usual genre of cinema, as I have, this comes with high recommendation and it’s fantastic to see such a strange film out there. A delight to discover and relish in. Bravo!!
Thanks to Mondo Macabro for the screengrabs!
Film: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS Picture: 3 BITCH SLAPS (considering the above) Sound: 3 BITCH SLAPS (considering the above) Extras: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS Overall: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS For more info on this disc visit Mondo Macabro USA!
