The Witch's Mirror (El Espejo de la Bruja)
by Chano Urueta
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Armando Calvo, Carlos Nieto, Dina de Marco, Isabela Corona, Rosita ArenasDirector: Chano Urueta
Cinematographer: Jorge Stahl Jr.
Editor: Alfredo Rosas Priego
Producer: Abel Salazar
Writer: Alfredo Ruanova
Writer: Carlos Enrique Taboada
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC, Original recording remastered
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 75 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-06-27
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Casanegra
Movie Reviews of The Witch's Mirror (El Espejo de la Bruja)
Movie Review: WHOA! WHAT"S THIS ALL ABOUT!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is Mexican Horror. It's funny, but I've been a wandering fan of horror films all my life, and I'd thought I'd seen just about all the classic horror cinema that was worth watching since I was a kid, Italion Giallo and Zombie films, The Universal Horror cycle, the British Hammer Horror, the AIP cheepies, some of which are absolute gems. Then suddenly comes along "The Witch's Mirror", which I read about on a website that said this was an absolutely wonderful horror film, with a great story, and dripping with atmosphere. I'd always thought Mexican Horror was supposed to be cheesy and hokey. But I've got to tell you, except for a few things limited by the budget that this little gem had, there isn't much cheese here, folks. This is a very well made horror film, and yes it is dark and atmospheric. It is old world horror, dredged up from folklore and given a classy coming out party.
The story is a simple, yet layered story of revenge. Take the basic premise of a husband whose tired of his first wife and having an affair with another woman, who by the way doesn't know he's still married, and he decides to kill his wife so he can marry the woman he loves.
Now add in some satanic black magic. A godmother who is a full-blown powerful witch, who prays to Satan to let her protect her goddaughter (the wife) from the impending murder, only to have the big red cheese say "No!" And he absolutely means NO! So the murder takes place, the witch decides on revenge, which of course satan agrees whole-heartedly with. In todays shallow scripted horror vehicles, that would be enough. Witch gets horrific revenge-Beautiful, innocent "other woman" becomes horribly scared by fire. The end.
Wait a minute though! The husband is a brilliant surgeon and scientist who views everything scientifically (except himself, apparently) and he comes up with a surgical procedure to graft the skin of dead people onto his wife's face and arms to restore her to her former beauty. Boom! Now the witch is really ticked.
The film takes elements from gothic horror and mixes them with the meat-grind medical horror that would not become popular for another whole decade,the 70's, and creates a creepy double-whammy of science and sorcery horror. From the gothic country mansion, to the basement laboratory of the doctor, to grave robbing and resurrected ghosts, this is a movie that loves its audience, and we love it. You need to watch the film in its original Spanish with English subtitles, it's much more satisfying than the English Dub soundtrack. The sound is sharp and clear. And the picture quality is absolutely AMAZING. This is a black-and-white horror film that revels in it's medium. The folks at Casanegra apparently have put a great deal of time restoring this film, as well as the sister release, "The Curse of the Crying Woman", which I also purchased, and frankly, from what I've heard, I can't wait to watch it as well.
There are quite a few nice extras here, from an audio commentary by IVTV founder, Frank Coleman, to some nice essay's on the Mexican cult films of director Chano Urueta.
I've found a whole new medium of horror films to explore now, and I can't be happier about it.
Summary of The Witch's Mirror (El Espejo de la Bruja)
AKA El Espejo De La Bruja. A Masterpiece of the Mexican Horror Movement! A poetic tale of madness and horror from director Chano Urueta. The Witch's Mirror is one of the landmark films of the Mexi-horror genre. A benevolent witch (Isabela Corona) enchants a magic mirror to protect her adopted daughter Elena (Dina de Marco) from her cruel husband (Armando Calvo). When the incantation fails and the girl is murdered, the witch vows revenge using every unholy principle of the supernatural that she can conjure.Special Features: ? Original Uncut Version
? Completely Re-Mastered Picture & Sound from Newly Restored Vault Elements
? Bilingual Menus in English & Spanish
? Audio Commentary by Founder of IVTV, Frank Coleman
? Exclusive CasaNegra Loteria Game Card
? Essay: Chanovision: The Films of Mexican Cult Moviemaker, Chano Urueta
? Cast Biographies
? Poster and Stills Gallery
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