Mexico Macabre - Four Sinister Tales from the Alameda Films Vault (1959-1963)

[MifuneFan]

Indicator will be releasing a new box set of four classic Mexican horror films from the Alemeda film vault. Release date is May 30th.

Mexico Macabre: Four Sinister Tales from the Alameda Films Vault, 1959-1963 Blu-ray

Synopsis

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 SPECIAL FEATURES

• High Definition remasters for Black Pit of 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 devoted to 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 Balédon (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 US/UK

[Member-222782]

Definite purchase. Will preorder from Orbit DVD as soon as it comes up. Orbit are my new go-to retailer.

[cakefactory]

Hmm. I do have fond memories of The Brainiac, I first saw it on some late night horror show like Ned the Dead or something way back around 2000 and found it hilarious. I have it on some crummy public domain DVD. I wouldn't mind owning it, but not sure if the other three are worth it!

[Gerby]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Hmm. I do have fond memories of The Brainiac, I first saw it on some late night horror show like Ned the Dead or something way back around 2000 and found it hilarious. I have it on some crummy public domain DVD. I wouldn't mind owning it, but not sure if the other three are worth it!

As much as I love The Braniac, it's probably the lesser of the four films. The other 3 are more serious in tone & are terrific gothic horrors.

[Cujo]

The Black Pit of Dr. M is a masterpiece and easily makes my personal top five horror films of the 50s list. The Curse of the Crying Woman is no slouch either. Not a big fan of the other two, would've preferred The Man and the Monster or the Vampire films, but still a positively thrilling set regardless!

[Deciazulado]

Mexico Macabre: Four Sinister Tales from the Alameda Films Vault, 1959-1963 Blu-ray

[MifuneFan]

Pre-order down to $49.99 (38% off MSRP). Pretty good day one price for a 4 film boxset with a a 100 pg book.

[zepol]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Definite purchase. Will preorder from Orbit DVD as soon as it comes up. Orbit are my new go-to retailer.

Why is that instead of Amazon?

[BluBonnet]

Definitely sounds exciting.

Also, reminds me I haven't had a chance to open the Santo set yet.

[formula_nebula]

Originally Posted by zepol

Why is that instead of Amazon?

Orbitdvd will package the set far better than Amazon ever would. Plus, you are more likely to receive the set at an earlier time with Orbitdvd. They tend to somehow get new releases way before street date. They are an excellent, and highly recommend retailer.

[zepol]

Originally Posted by formula_nebula

Orbitdvd will package the set far better than Amazon ever would. Plus, you are more likely to receive the set at an earlier time with Orbitdvd. They tend to somehow get new releases way before street date. They are an excellent, and highly recommend retailer.

But how about price which is cheaper?

[El Sleezo]

Originally Posted by zepol

But how about price which is cheaper?

Orbit has it for 53, but chances are you may not have to pay taxes, so cheaper than Amazon after that. Get any other two items and you’ll get free shipping as well.

[zepol]

Originally Posted by El Sleezo

Orbit has it for 53, but chances are you may not have to pay taxes, so cheaper than Amazon after that. Get any other two items and you’ll get free shipping as well.

No taxes! Cool! I will look into it! Thanks!

[Gosszilla]

Definitely getting this now that it has dropped to $50! Was excited when this was first announced as I have always liked "the Brainiac"! Wasn't this a 3,000 piece limited edition set as well?

[filmlover22]

I got this for $46 from my last indicator order. $49 is a great price. I personally think this will sell out quickly. Not sure how Amazon is for guaranteeing you are copy

[banjo!]

I watched The Brainiac on tubi and didn't really enjoy it. How are the other three compared to that one?

[Telstar]

Amazon now lists this as releasing June 13 but everywhere else still has a May 30 date. Is Amazon right?

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by Telstar

Amazon now lists this as releasing June 13 but everywhere else still has a May 30 date. Is Amazon right?

I got an email from Amazon advising me of a delay. I deleted it almost as fast as it came in but I think it said the delay was a couple of weeks after the original street date (which I don't remember lol).

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by banjo!

I watched The Brainiac on tubi and didn't really enjoy it. How are the other three compared to that one?

I think all the other films are supposed to be serious eerie films. I've seen Black Pit of Dr. M, and that one is certainly quite good. I would say inspired by Poe's work (specifically Facts in the case of M. Valdemar), with some terrific shadowy cinematography.

[WaverBoy]

Just preordered from Amazon. I have these all on CasaNegra DVD but I’m sure they will look way better in this set, though the DVDs were certainly good for their time. Too bad they couldn’t port over the existing commentaries as well; I always hate to lose extras.