La mansión de la locura (1973) YTS

Reviewed by Wuchak 6 / 10

_Surrealistic sanatorium of lunacy_ In southern France, 1845

**_Surrealistic sanatorium of lunacy_** In southern France, 1845, a journalist returns to his home country (Arthur Hansel) to visit an asylum that, reportedly, uses revolutionary techniques to treat the mentally ill. The head doctor (Claudio Brook) gives him a tour of his vast institution, but will he make it out alive and sane? A Mexican production shot in the summer of 1971, “The Mansion of Madness” is also known as “Dr. Tarr’s Torture Dungeon,” based on a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. It combines the Star Trek episode “Whom God’s Destroy”—which was also no doubt inspired by the same Poe yarn (albeit unofficially)—and mixes it with a standard story set-up of Hammer and AIP horror flicks (a visitor arrives at a remote mansion or castle and learns the horrors thereof, à la Jonathan Harker going to Dracula’s castle). There’s a sequence reminiscent of Fritz Lang’s duology "The Indian Tomb" and "The Tiger of Eschnapur.” I’m talking about Debra Paget’s dance sequence in both films. Yvonne Craig had a similar scene in the aforementioned “Whom Gods Destroy” whereas this movie features Ellen Sherman in the dance episode as Eugenie. While Sherman has a certain appeal, she just can’t compete with either Paget or Craig IMHO. The visuals are superb with vibrant colors and a flair of surrealism. It’s worth seeing just for this. Unfortunately, the first half, which consists mostly of a tour of the fascinating sanatorium, is more compelling than the second, which devolves into lunatic goings-on. I suppose that’s to be expected, given the nature of the tale, but the script needed fine-tuning to make the last act more compelling. "Silent Night, Bloody Night" was filmed six months prior and was more imaginative with the basic plot, not to mention transferring the story to the modern day, but isn’t as visually mind-blowing. Still, it is the superior film IMHO, yet it’s worth seeing both. It runs 1 hour, 24 minutes, and was shot at Estudios America in Coyoacan, Mexico City. GRADE: B-/C+

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Reviewed by Maciste_Brother 4 / 10

Disappointing

I've waited a long time to see DR TARR'S TORTURE DUNGEON and after I watched it, I was really disappointed by it. It's not the Baroque film I expected it to be. The trailer (which I saw on a Something Weird DVD) is much better than the entire film, which is remarkably forgettable. There are almost no stand out scenes in it and the look and feel is interesting but it doesn't even come close to other Baroque styled movies out there, from Fellini or Jodorowsky. The characters are dull and there's almost nothing dramatic going on, even though we see rape, crucifixion, insanity, etc.

The main problem with DR TARR'S TORTURE DUNGEON was the fact that it was a talk-a-thon more than anything else. It was almost like watching a book. I just wanted the film to have moments of silence or mood or something, instead we see/listen to the main characters chit-chat endlessly about dull stuff.

A missed opportunity.

La mansión de la locura

1973 [SPANISH]

Action / Horror

La mansión de la locura

1973 [SPANISH]

Action / Horror

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_Surrealistic sanatorium of lunacy_ In southern France, 1845

Disappointing

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