About B. Bryant
Location: Texas
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This film is proof positive that even a genre legend can make a miss-step every now and again.
I’m not very familiar with the work of Paul Naschy, though I do know that he’s quite the figure in the realm of Spanish horror, so I was prepared for an interesting ride here as Naschy writes, stars in as well as directs Human Beasts (El Carnival De Las Bestias), but I was more than a little let down.
Bruno (Naschy) is a mercenary in love with the Mieko (Eiko Nagashima), whose brother is the leader of a group of Japanese militants. Bruno agrees to help them steal a diamond shipment in their efforts to raise money, but double-crosses them and steals the diamonds for himself.
Holed up in an old ruin, Bruno makes a stand against the gang, barely escaping with his life and shot full of holes. Mieko’s brother is killed in the battle, and she swears to find Bruno wherever he may end up in the local countryside.
Bruno awakes in a strange chalet, cared for by Don Simón (Lautaro Murúa) and his two gorgeous daughters Monica (Silvia Aguilar) and Alicia (Azucena Hernández). They carefully nurse him back to health, the two daughters both taking their own runs at Bruno romantically, though he seems to have more interest in Alicia.
The film takes a strange turn around this point. Mieko uses a local vet to try and gain information about anyone in the area who might be hiding a wounded man. Bruno sees the spectral image of the Don Simóns’ dead wife around the chalet, and someone kills the men the vet sends to investigate the house. The film morphs from a crime thriller into a horror film. Throw into that a dash of sleazy sex and some casual racism here and there and you’ve got the makings of an exploitation film as well.
Human Beasts is an interesting film, if only because it defies categorization and just plows through genres like a bull in a China shop, but the story ultimately builds to less of a climax than I was expecting. The DVD presentation looks good, and the disc features extensive liner notes by author Mirek Lipinski. Other special features include a still gallery, an introduction for the film by Naschy himself and a short film by Alejandro Ballesteros and Antonio Curado that also stars Naschy.
I have the impression that this isn’t the best Naschy has to offer but it may be worth a look to the curious viewer. I’d suggest a rental to get your toes wet rather than a blind buy.
