Mansión de la Locura, La (1973, MEX/USA) C-84m. **½ D: Juan López Moctezuma. Starring Claudio Brook, Arthur Hansel, Ellen Sherman, Martin LaSalle, David Silva, Mónica Serna. Oddly fascinating drama about a researcher (Hansel), who travels to an insane asylum somewhere in the woods. The doctor in charge (Brook) explains his therapy of soothing and shows him around in the facility. Hansel starts doubting his methods, when a woman is about to be treated cruelly. A performance film, and as such a veritable 70s time capsule, this feels like it was made by a commune or a troupe of artists. Despite familiar trappings, this is not a horror film. Impressive settings seems to be an abandoned factory. Recommended to fans of Alejandro Jodorowsky, who was a close friend of director Moctezuma. Based on a short story by Edgar Allen Poe called "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Feather". English titles: THE MANSION OF MADNESS, DR. GOUDRON'S SYSTEM, DR. TARR'S PIT OF HORRORS, DR. TARR'S TORTURE DUNGEON, and HOUSE OF MADNESS.



© Ron Altman