The great late Paul Naschy (aka. Jacinto Molina) was doubtlessly one of the most influential figures in European Horror/Exploitation and Cult Cinema, and while the majority of his movies may not be brilliant masterpieces, they all have a very specific charm to them that (for me) is impossible not to love. Naschy is probably best known for playing the Werewolf Waldemar Daninsky in 14 HOMBRE LOBO movies, but his filmography includes many other demented, macabre, often sleazy and sometimes (wonderfully) trashy gems, for which he often also served as writer and director.
INQUISICION (aka. INQUISITION) of 1976 was the first movie for which Naschy is credited as director (he wrote the scripts to some of his earlier films). A typical example for the Hexploitation sub-genre, INQUISICION follows the tradition of films like Michael Reeves's 1968 masterpiece WITCHFINDER GENERAL (starring Horror-deity Vincent Price in his most diabolical role) or the notorious 1970 Exploitation Classic HEXEN BIS AUFS BLUT GEQUÄLT (aka. MARK OF THE DEVIL). While INQUISICION is not nearly as disturbing, impressive, serious or notorious as the aforementioned movies, it once again has the specific charm to it that can only be found in Spanish Horror productions from the time, and in Naschy-flicks in particular. The main difference hereby lies in the fact that INQUISICION focuses on sleaze and female nudity rather than the more serious WITCHFINDER GENERAL and the ultra-brutal MARK OF THE DEVIL which is known for its grisly torture scenes.
Naschy plays Witchfinder Bernard de Fossey who comes to a French village inhabited by somewhat exhibitionist beauties, whom the religious fanatic proceeds to interrogate, torture and burn at the stake... until he falls in love with one particular beauty...
The story is somewhat similar to that in MARK OF THE DEVIL, only cheesier. Still, this is one of the more serious Naschy flicks, and while sometimes cheesy, it is uncompromising as a film about the topic should be. There are some rather grisly torture scenes, the victims being beautiful young women. The burnings mostly happen off-screen, which is probably due to the budget which must have been spent for gory torture effects and actresses willing to engage in the sleaze taking place on camera. Naschy is awesome as always, and the female cast consists of stunning beauties all of which seem to be very keen on taking their clothes off. Overall, INQUISICION is a sleazy yet rather serious period piece, which is brutal and quite suspenseful at times. Recommended to all Eurocult lovers, and not to be missed by my fellow Naschy-fans.
INQUISICION (aka. INQUISITION) of 1976 was the first movie for which Naschy is credited as director (he wrote the scripts to some of his earlier films). A typical example for the Hexploitation sub-genre, INQUISICION follows the tradition of films like Michael Reeves's 1968 masterpiece WITCHFINDER GENERAL (starring Horror-deity Vincent Price in his most diabolical role) or the notorious 1970 Exploitation Classic HEXEN BIS AUFS BLUT GEQUÄLT (aka. MARK OF THE DEVIL). While INQUISICION is not nearly as disturbing, impressive, serious or notorious as the aforementioned movies, it once again has the specific charm to it that can only be found in Spanish Horror productions from the time, and in Naschy-flicks in particular. The main difference hereby lies in the fact that INQUISICION focuses on sleaze and female nudity rather than the more serious WITCHFINDER GENERAL and the ultra-brutal MARK OF THE DEVIL which is known for its grisly torture scenes.
Naschy plays Witchfinder Bernard de Fossey who comes to a French village inhabited by somewhat exhibitionist beauties, whom the religious fanatic proceeds to interrogate, torture and burn at the stake... until he falls in love with one particular beauty...
The story is somewhat similar to that in MARK OF THE DEVIL, only cheesier. Still, this is one of the more serious Naschy flicks, and while sometimes cheesy, it is uncompromising as a film about the topic should be. There are some rather grisly torture scenes, the victims being beautiful young women. The burnings mostly happen off-screen, which is probably due to the budget which must have been spent for gory torture effects and actresses willing to engage in the sleaze taking place on camera. Naschy is awesome as always, and the female cast consists of stunning beauties all of which seem to be very keen on taking their clothes off. Overall, INQUISICION is a sleazy yet rather serious period piece, which is brutal and quite suspenseful at times. Recommended to all Eurocult lovers, and not to be missed by my fellow Naschy-fans.