Movie | The Hanging Woman | Pass

I enjoyed this, very Hammer-like. It's interesting that Troma got a hold of it for US release. This might be their most technically impressive film in their catalog, to me. While everything is B-grade, the acting is well done, the cinematography is quite good and the direction and editing were excellent. Compared to something modern like Gun Town, it's head and shoulders superior. For me, a movie shot on digital video and actors that have clearly never acted outside of the high school play makes all the difference, which it did in this Spanish horror, with its' talented, committed cast and gorgeous period-perfect, atmospheric filming.

I don't know Paul Naschy's work and I won't pursue seeing a lot more of it, but I can see why they call him the King of Spanish Horror. The director, Jose Merino, is another story. I've seen a lot of his movies, including his other main horror flick, Scream of the Demon Lover. I liked this movie better, also known as La Orgia De Los Muertos and Terror of the Living Dead. His best film in my opinion was Requiem for a Gringo, which almost made it into my book.

The greatest, most enjoyable thing about THW are the classic horror cues. For example, a character opens a coffin in a crypt and off in the distance, a wolf howls. That's awesome.

Thanks for the loan, PW!