Miss Muerte (1966)

Director:

Jesus Franco

Writers:

Jean-Claude Carrière (screenplay)
Jean-Claude Carrière (story)

Release Date:

15 February 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Plot:

Woman seeks to avenge her father's death by using a local dancer, with long poisonous fingernails, to do her bidding. |

Plot Keywords:

Dead Woman Dragged | Hypodermic Needle | Dead Woman Carried | Sequel | Plastic Surgery

Cast

Antonio Jiménez Escribano	...	Dr. Zimmer
Guy Mairesse	...	Hans Bergen
Howard Vernon	...	Dr. Vicas
Mabel Karr	...	Irma Zimmer
Fernando Montes	...	Dr. Phillippe Brighthouse
Estella Blain	...	Nadja / Miss Muerte
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marcelo Arroita-Jáuregui
Alberto Bourbón
Ana Castor	...	Barbara, Dr. Zimmer's Assistant
Alberto Dalbés
Jesus Franco
Cris Huerta
José María Prada
Lucía Prado
Daniel White	...	Inspector Green

Also Known As:

The Diabolical Dr. Z (International: English title) (USA)
Dans les griffes du maniaque (France)
Le diabolique docteur Z (France)
Miss Death
Miss Death and Dr. Z in the Grip of the Maniac

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

Spain | France

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Unrated (DVD rating)

Company:

Ciné-Alliance

Movie Connections:

Edited into Mad Ron's Prevues from Hell (1987) (V)

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Probably a good starting point to explore your Franco. This is a well written and smoothly running yarn of obsession and revenge, with handsome and solid cast, hypnotic soundtrack and first class camera work. There's the ethereal Estella Blain, a beauty who is changed into a killing machine, with powers to mesmerize men. Knowing that in real life she ended her life with a shotgun adds to the morbid fascination of seeing her. The scene of her seducing one of her victims on a train, in sudden silence and almost complete darkness as the train enters a tunnel, is so weirdly beautiful that one is compelled to watch it several times. My second viewing of this film was in a rather tired company, and I witnessed a drunkard - well, an intoxicated young gentlemen - wake up from his slumber just because of the dreamlike soundtrack and becoming glued to the screen. These are the moments that make film the greatest of art forms. Otherwise I'm not a great fan of Mr Franco. A man who directs about 200 films can't hit a bullseye every time. But this time he really has. A piece de resistance for every eurotrash lover. How lucky you are if you haven't seen this film yet and are planning a viewing!