Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary (1975)

In between his two most famous films, Mansion of Madness and Alucarda, Moctezuma directed Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary. From the title, one might imagine a Hammer film about the Bloody Mary legend. Not even close. In fact, it might as well be called Mexico's answer to Cronenberg, baring, as it does, many similarities to Rabid. It shares some characteristics with Romero's Martin as well.

The plot concerns an attractive female painter who is overcome with the urge to drink blood. She becomes ill, her body cold, until she drinks. So, with her trusty bladed hairpin, she punctures jugulars and drinks. She meets up with an attractive young man by chance and seem to be living happily together until detectives and a mysterious, masked blood-drinker begin closing in on her.

Elements of sci-fi and mysticism are thrown in and not made much of. For instance, we find out that Mary's problem is that her veins keep growing and will eventually start crushing her brain. Nothing's made of this rather fascinating bit of information. In another scene, Mary waxes poetic over an Aztec goddess and her significance. Again, not much comes out of this, but I suppose the connection is there and some vaguely feminist theme is going on.

Yes, I do think there are themes in this film. It is clever, well-developed, with a decent and powerful ending. It isn't the equal of Cronenberg, but it isn't far off. It is a good movie.

However, my experience of watching the movie was not always enjoyable. I can't say why, but the film infuriated me. I hated most of the characters, everything they did and all the words that poured from their slimy mouths. Every time Mary screamed "Bob" I hoped the masked man would kill her. They are just a frustrating lot of characters. It's possible I wasn't quite in the mood for the film; but then, were the characters genuinely likable they would have won me over.