Santa Sangre

Director - Alejandro Jodorowsky (The Holy Mountain, El Topo)

Starring - Axel Jodorowsky (The Voice Thief, The Dance of Reality), Blanca Guerra (The Realm of Fortune, abyss of Passion), and Guy Stockwell (The War Lord, Quantum Leap)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A startling vision of passion and obsession from the creator of El Topo!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was getting into the online horror community I was an active member on the Upcoming Horror Movie forums.  When I was younger this was an invaluable tool for discovering new horror and cult films to check out that I would have never found any other way.  A few of the members in the forum were huge Alejandro Jodorowsky fans and would often go on and on about his films.  Some of these members were rather toxic and hearing them talk about Jodorowsky made me not want to watch his films.  However, a close friend of mine is also a fan and convinced me to see a few of his films.  Holy shit, what a wild journey his films are.  I had always heard of his 1989 Mexican and Italian collaborative effort Santa Sangre but I never had the chance to see it.  Severin and MVD was kind enough to send over the band new UHD release of this one for me to check out.  I'm not going to lie, I'm really impressed with the packaging of this set and I couldn't wait to check it out.

     The film follows a young boy who is the son of a man who does a knife throwing act for the circus and a woman who is the leader of a religious cult.  When his dad is caught cheating his mother burns him with acid forcing him to cut her arms off and then taking his own life.  After witnessing it all, he becomes unstable and spends the next several years in an asylum.  He escapes when he sees his mother waiting for him on the street.  He becomes her hands and begins killing when she commands it.

     Jodorowsky's films are not for everyone.  His unique visions can be a bit slow at times but his films are so rewarding if you stick with it.  Santa Sangre was a fucking wild ride and a movie that will last with you for years to come and this release is easily the best release of the year.  The acting in this one is absolutely amazing.  Axel Jodorowsky does a fantastic job as the struggling young adult who witnessed his father's suicide and is now committing murders because his mother tells him to.  His commitment to the role is astounding.  He really does go all in and delivers one hell of a performance.  The supporting cast is just as amazing.  Every character in this film, and I do mean every character, is so entertaining and full of energy.  This cast is absolutely phenomenal.  The story for this one is so fucking wild but so entertaining.  It is a bit of a trippy film to follow with a lot of things going on but it's an overall enjoyable experience.  The movie is a bit of a slow moving one but it has a lot going on to hold your attention.  It does drag your feet at times but if you stick with it you will find yourself blown away by something very different and enjoyable.  Finally, the film is not one that is in your face with gore but it does have some bloody and uncomfortable moments that will stick with you days or even weeks later.  The practical effects are great and the film doesn't shy away from the blood.  If you want some blood and a several "what the fuck" moments then I highly suggest checking this out.  Overall. Santa Sangre is so well liked by the horror community for a reason.  It's not just a movie but an experience and I would highly recommend experiencing this one on UHD.  This release from Severin is absolutely amazing.  If you listen to me one time this year this is it.  Get this release!