The Hanging Woman (1974)

Paul Naschy, the so-called "Boris Karloff of Spain," was apparently very proud of the work he turned in for Jose Luis Merino's 1973 cult favorite "The Hanging Woman." In an interview taped for the Troma DVD release, shortly before his death from pancreatic cancer in 2009, Naschy revealed that he initially turned the part down, only accepting after Merino allowed him to add some "dimensionality" to the small role of Igor, a grave digger who is murdered shortly after the film's midpoint. Naschy rewrote the part, making Igor a necrophilic grave digger (has there EVER been a "normal" character named Igor in the history of the horror film?) who still has a maximum of a dozen lines in the picture. Rather, "THW" centers around the character of Serge Chekhov (an unappealing performance by Stelvio Rosi), who comes to what I inferred to be an early 20th century Alpine village (although the IMDb says the film takes place in Scotland, for some reason, and the picture was actually shot in Lleida, in the west Catalonia region of Spain) to hear the reading of his deceased uncle's will. Once in the creepy village of Skopje, however, horrible things begin to happen to Chekhov. He discovers his cousin Mary's body hanging from a tree, while his stepaunt Nadia (the beautiful redheaded Maria Pia Conte) turns out to be a sorceress of sorts. His uncle's live-in business partner, Prof. Droila (Gerard Tichy, giving the film's best performance), is experimenting on the "nebulous electricity" of cadavers in the hopes of bringing the dead to life, while no one seems to know what that creepy Igor is up to. Good thing for Chekhov that both Nadia and Droila's beautiful blonde daughter, Doris (Dyanik Zurakowska), are for some reason attracted to the unlikable galoot....A Spanish/Italian coproduction, "THW" was originally released under the title "La Orgia de los Muertos" ("Orgy of the Dead"); I'd like to imagine that its name was changed here in the U.S. to avoid confusion with the Ed Wood stinker of 1965, also called "Orgy of the Dead." Merino's film is a satisfying affair, boasting many staples of the horror genre, such as rats, cemeteries, a secret passage, zombies and subterranean crypts. It also dishes out, for the avid gorehound, that truly nasty shot of the titular hanging woman, a hard-to-look-at autopsy dissection and disemboweling, maggots on a disinterred corpse, and those impressively decomposed walking dead...not to mention a decapitation that Naschy was apparently also very proud of. The ladies are lovely to look at, and Merino manages to give his film some interesting directorial touches (such as that camera revolving around lovers Nadia and Chekhov). Naschy tells us that "THW" is Merino's best film, and not having seen any of Merino's others, who am I to argue? In this same interview, Naschy speaks at some length regarding the similarity of the Igor character here to that of Gotho, the part that he played in that same year's "Hunchback of the Morgue" (a superior film, I feel). I could not quite understand Naschy's comments here, so poorly were the subtitles rendered in this section, but must say that I personally see a great difference between the two characters. Gotho does not strike me as a true necrophiliac, as the deluded, simpleminded hunchback only believes his dead love, Ilse, to be "asleep." Igor, on the other hand, is truly perverted, refusing the libidinous attentions of living, breathing women in favor of the decayed corpses in his underground lair, and collecting women's underwear and photographs of cadavers; a TRULY creepy character, brought to indelible life by Naschy, despite a dearth of screen time.As for this Troma DVD itself, it sports a so-so-looking print, poorly dubbed, that is nevertheless supposedly the most complete print in existence, and comes loaded with a remarkable roster of extras: interviews with Naschy and Merino, as well as Spanish-dubbing director Ben Tatar; commentary by Merino; a 10-minute overview called "Paul Naschy 101"; plus a trailer, copious galleries of stills and posters, AND a whole, separate, full-length, B&W Spanish film from 1965, also featuring Zurakowska, called "The Sweet Sound of Death." An extremely generous package, reasonably priced, of a film that all fans of Paul Naschy--and Eurohorror, in general--should pounce upon like a zombie on a victim....

I would imagine that many, as I, watched this film because of Paul Naschy. He has a supporting part as a gravedigger. For Naschy completists, it is essential. For others, it probably would deserve a pass as it it unremarkable.It opens with a Gothic sound and tone, and the washed out color contributes to the feel. Just what is happening is not very clear.There is plenty of nudity, but there is also some gory nudity, especially where Igor (Naschy) is concerned.The ending features zombies, and a walking Naschy with a knife in his chest, and a mad doctor.Naschy was great, as was Stelvio Rosi and Dyanik Zurakowska.

Determined Serge Chekov (a solid performance by Stelvio Rosi) goes to a remote rural Scottish village to claim his inheritance. He stumbles across a coven of devil worshipers and a horde of lethal shambling zombies. Director/co-writer Jose Luis Merino relates the compellingly perverse and warped story at a steady pace, offers a vivid and flavorsome evocation of the 19th century period setting, and does an adept job of creating and sustaining a creepy atmosphere that really gets under your skin and becomes more increasingly twisted and unnerving as the morbid plot unfolds towards its genuinely surprising conclusion. This film further benefits from sound acting from a capable cast, with especially praiseworthy contributions by Maria Pia Conte as the wicked, but enticing Nadia Mihaly, Dyanik Zurakowska as the sweet, lovely Doris Driola, and Gerard Tichy as the rationale Professor Leon Driola. Renowned Spanish horror icon Paul Naschy acquits himself well in a nifty secondary part as grimy gravedigger Igor. Moreover, there's not only a decent smattering of tasty female nudity and grisly gore (said gore includes a gruesome autopsy and a juicy decapitation), but also truly sick elements of kinky sex and necrophilia as well. Modesto Rizzolo's shadowy cinematography boasts a few crazy tilted angles. Francesco De Masi's brooding, shivery score likewise hits the shuddery spot. An enjoyable and satisfying fright flick.

The Hanging Woman takes obvious influence from both the classic Hammer Horror films and Mario Bava's Gothic masterpiece Kill, Baby...Kill. The result is a slightly plodding, though undoubtedly interesting and very atmospheric little horror film. Like many European films from the seventies; this one has a whole slew of titles, which range from those that don't make sense - 'Dracula the Terror of the Living Dead', to cash-ins; 'Zombie 3: Return of the Living Dead', and innuendo; 'The Orgy of the Dead'...but The Hanging Woman is the best on the merit that it actually fits the story. The plot focuses on a man that travels to an old Scottish village in order to claim his inheritance; an old house, currently inhabited by his uncle's science partner. Upon his arrival; a woman is found hanged in a graveyard; though the circumstances are suspicious as she was already dead before the hanging. Things turn a little more awry when the nature of the experiments going on at the house are revealed, and the village may be harbouring a dark secret.The plot features a number of different elements, which includes black magic, zombies and grave digging. It has to be said that it can be a little messy at times; though nowhere near as much as many films of this ilk and the plot really flows rather well and the various different elements are well used. Undoubtedly the best thing about the film is the atmosphere and director José Luis Merino succeeds admirably in this respect as the atmosphere is thick and foreboding and this helps to further the plot. The film is essentially a mystery with horror elements, and the director keeps our interest with lots of good ideas and some interesting characters. Paul Naschy is the only cast member likely to be recognised by anyone watching the film; but the unknown cast all do well with their roles; particularly Stelvio Rosi and Dyanik Zurakowska. There's not a great deal of blood in the film; but patience is rewarded towards the end with an excellent decapitation sequence. The film is not very well known and I can't say I'm surprised about that; but it's certainly well worth a look and fans of this stuff shouldn't be too disappointed with it.