Blood Screams (1986)

...aka: Bloody Monks, The

...aka: Maldición del monasterio, La

...aka: Monjes sangrientos, Los

...aka: Monks of Blood

Directed by:

Glenn Gebhard

16th century Mexican monks are tossed to their death from a bell tower by Cordova, a guy who thinks they stole his gold. When police seize the monastery, Cordova slits his own throat and is sealed up in a secret room. Years later, an aimless (and brainless) redheaded American girl (Stacey Shaffer) follows a complete stranger named Hymie (Ralph Navarro aka Rafael Sánchez Navarro) into the same small town where locals prohibit anyone from going into the cursed monastery. A mysterious, unnamed witch (Isela Vega, who is not credited in the version I saw unless she's using an alias) makes the girl have weird, colorful, Argento-like nightmares featuring lots of fog and fire, zombie monks, shadowed figures, burning candles, red and blue lighting and feathers falling from the sky. There's some talk about a hidden treasure, but this (which at least takes place in an authentic, great-looking old Mexican town) doesn't make a lick of sense. Former star Russ Tamblyn has a co-starring bit as a comic magician in a multicolored leisure suit who gets to do what look like some pretty dangerous stunts on a train. Released in 1988. The director also edited, wrote and co-produced.

★1/2