Rojo sangre (2004)

Truly Dreadful Film

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

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.

Rojo Sangre (2004) is a magnificently morbid film as such, and a wonderful tribute to its star, one of the true icons of European Horror/ Exploitation cinema, the glorious Paul Naschy (aka. Jacinto Molina). Personally, I've been a fan of the Spanish Horror deity for years now, and I really don't know what made me wait so long to watch this, more recent Naschy-film. "Rojo Sangre" was written by Naschy himself and directed by Naschy's son Christian Molina, which makes it obvious why this film is such a great tribute to Naschy's career, and, at the same time, such a great film of its own right.Like hardly another film, "Rojo Sangre" allows an aged Naschy to show what a great actor he actually is. Naschy plays Pablo Thevenet, a fallen, formerly successful stage- and screen-actor whose career was destroyed after a personal tragedy, and who now has to struggle through life and apply for jobs in advertising, which he finds humiliating. He then gets an offer he cannot refuse: a bunch of very sinister people are to pay him a large sum of money for impersonating serial killers such as Giles de Rais and Jack the Ripper in front of an exclusive nightclub. Though he hates the idea of being a living statue, Thevenet accepts. His new job, however, also raises murderous desires in Thevenet, particularly against those he makes responsible for his downfall, but also those who deny him the respect he deserves...The role of Pablo Thevenet is perfect for Paul Naschy. The character is (partly) a loving tribute to Naschy's roles from the past, and, at the same time, an incredibly interesting character as such. There is no doubt that this role (and film) was written specifically for Naschy and there is no greater tribute imaginable. Actually, this is probably the best performance by Naschy I've seen, and the proof that he isn't only a cult-icon and Exploitation-multi-talent, but actually a great actor beyond that. As in many of his old roles, Naschy plays a character that is likable, even though demented, and, this film's elaborate script and higher production values allow him to make it a very deep, intriguing character. The film's delightfully morbid storyline is wonderfully photographed in nice Gothic settings, the characters are entirely demented. Bloody, demented, witty, and absolutely wonderful, "Rojo Sangre" is a film that every lover of European Horror and Exploitation cinema should enjoy, and an absolute must-see for my fellow Paul Naschy fans. Not to be missed!

Well, apart from the fact that Christian Molina never did any film school whatsoever, and paired to the fact that he has worked most of his life on commercial work (TV commercials), it is no surprise when you walk out of the theater feeling sick of yet another cliché spit from a bad rehash of any of the classic horror films so ingeniously put together.If spending 12 bucks doesn't hurt your pocket then attend this exemplary work on "What never to do when shooting a horror film" or better put: "Read the manual before operating a cinema camera".Mr. Molina (Christian), stick to commercials, spare us while we have some faith in Horror movies just yet.

Paul Naschy, star of an innumerable amount of Spanish exploitation classics (including the "Hombre-Lobo" cycle) returns in this wondrously bizarre and imaginative film that premiered at the International Festival of Fantasy Films. I'm pretty convinced that "Rojo Sangre" won't be very successful and that's a damn shame because it finally is a truly odd and eccentric Spanish horror effort again, and the fans have seen far too few of these recently. The premise is a variant on the legendary "Faust" tale but, as much as every other aspect in this film, it's a very VERY demented take on Goethe's classic story. Naschy shines as the veteran actor-in-low-water Pablo Thevenet. He despises the young generation of actors and actresses for being untalented and he's frustrated about the fact that new and arrogant casting directors don't know him. Desperate for work, he accepts a job as a living sculpture in a fancy brothel ran by extravagant people. But something seems to have snapped in Pablo's head and he starts a violent killing spree, focusing on those who were responsible for artistic downfall. The plot really gets complex when Pablo's employers turn out to be unworldly and ultimately messed up. The story doesn't make much sense half of the time (and the other half is downright confusing) but still you love what you see because it's so vivid and nostalgic. You fancy yourself back into the glorious days of euro-exploitation and that's a feeling I personally missed enormously. "Rojo Sangre" features a lot of old-fashioned sleaze, good music and adorably insane characters (a transsexual business lady or a millionaire snuff-fanatic, anyone??). The dialogues are exceptionally well-written and the cinematography is astonishingly beautiful!It actually doesn't look leak a cheap exploitation film at all, as the camera-work is ingenious and the visuals are very creative. The gore and make-up effects aren't as outrageous as I expected (or hoped!) them to be, but there certainly are a couple of marvelous gruesomeness-highlights, including nasty images of a cut up corpse, multiple stabbings and professionally slit throats! Despite the devastating material, the screenplay also makes room for genuine black comedy and a couple of very comical anecdotes. The film opens with one, when Pablo gives a detailed description of his bizarre sexual fetish! That sequence is hilarious and you already consider "Blood Red" a success before it even properly begun! Paul Naschy is brilliant as Pablo Thevenet (it might even be his best performance ever) and maybe that's because he really feels related to his character's situation. No worries Paul, I can assure you that the godly Paul Naschy is still worshiped by a limited group of cult-lovers! Watch "Blood Red" when you've got the chance!