Films by country: Brazil

BRAZILIAN HORROR [1950-1990]

With around a hundred or more genre titles made during the timespan we cover here, Brazil is easily the top South American country for horror. And you wouldn't even know that going by most other websites, who jump right from discussing the father of Brazilian horror (who we'll be discussing shortly) to 2000s Brazilian genre films (there's been quite an explosion of them in recent years) as if there's nothing in between. It's easy to understand the oversight, though. From about the mid 70s until 1990, the majority of the genre films listed below typically are thrown in the adult (either soft or hard) film category, where they get lost in the shuffle with countless other sex films.

The country had a cinematic trajectory similar to many other film producing countries, with highs and lows going with the ebbs and flows of social and political changes, plus the proliferation of television. After the silent film era made way to more feature-length product by the 1930s, the 1940s and 50s were earmarked by "safe" films (almost exclusively comedies and musicals) being cranked out by Hollywood-style studios like Atlântida Cinematográfica and Companhia Cinematográfica Vera Cruz. That paved the way for rebellious directors (heavily inspired by the French New Wave and Italian Neorealism movements) to buck the system and start making more intellectual, artistic, shocking and / or socially and politically relevant offerings. This movement - called Cinema Novo - flourished in the 60s and 70s and also brought Brazil's film industry to international attention... at least for the time being.

Riding on the coattails of the Cinema Novo movement, the downtown quarter of São Paulo nicknamed Boca do Lixo was the breeding ground for all manner of exploitation films starting in the 1960s. These miscellaneous films, almost all featuring heavy amounts of soft-core sex and nudity, would later be called Mouth of Garbage Cinema. There were plenty of underground art films (part of a parallel underground movement sometimes called Cinema Marginal) and horror flicks produced during this period, though the main moneymaker was the pornochanchada (soft-core sex comedies). Strangely enough, Brazil was under a military regime, had a dominant state-run film company (Embrafilme) and, technically, had strict censorship rules in place in many regions while all of these movies were being made! However, what was and was not acceptable was often left up to certain regions to decide for themselves and these offering proved to be extremely popular with the public.

Emerging around this time was José Mojica Marins, who would become both Brazil's top horror star (often playing his signature role Zé do Caixão / Coffin Joe) and its top horror filmmaker (he had his hand in roughly 20 percent of the films listed below). After toiling around in cinema starting as far back as 1948 (he made his first 8mm short at age 12), Marins supposedly sold his home and car to finance his black-and-white breakthrough project At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul (1964), which is also usually regarded as Brazil's very first horror film. It proved to be hugely successful (it reputedly played in one theater for four straight months) and led to many other films in the same vein, starting with the follow-up This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse (1967). These very distinctive, low budget films, which often featured extremely noisy, almost animalistic soundtracks filled with shrieks, moans and clangy noises, flashy (many would say inept) editing, bizarre sets, vivid lighting (once the productions began being shot in color), surrealistic touches and high doses of sex and violence, eventually attracted an international audience. Well, once companies like Anchor Bay, Fantoma, Something Weird and Umbrella started distributing them globally and people were actually able to see them.

With his arched unibrow, long fingernails, menacing stare and humorously sanctimonious personality (in interviews, he has claimed to most identify with Jesus Christ!), the usually black-clad, caped and behatted Marins would become a very marketable counter culture commodity. In addition to all of the film work, he hosted at least four Brazilian TV programs, appeared in music videos, was the subject of his own comic book series and numerous documentaries, had his own line of fingernail polish (!) and soap and had his image adorn posters, t-shirts and other merchandise. Not only a genre icon, the once-fringe figure, who had always been the subject of scorn and ridicule from censors and moralists, also eventually earned critical respect for his work. Abraccine (the Brazilian Film Critics Association) polled the countries top film scholars and critics and compiled a list (which was also published in book form in 2016) of "The 100 Best Brazilian Films." Three Marins films, his first two Zé do Caixão efforts as well as Awakening of the Beast (1970), made the final cut, which made him one of the most represented directors on the entire list. Thankfully, Marins was able to enjoy this reappraisal of his work before he passed away in 2020.

Though Coffin Joe is certainly the most famous Brazilian genre director of this time, there are a number of others who also deserve mention. There's Ivan Cardoso (below, left), who was a big fan of, and heavily influenced by, Marins (even making a documentary about him in 1978), but usually attacked the horror genre with a much lighter hand, frequently mixing it with satire and sex comedy elements. Fauzi Mansur (below, middle), mostly a director of soft and hardcore porn, frequently included horror content in his sex films. He also ended his career making a pair of supernatural gore films; Ritual of Death and Satanic Attraction, which were English-dubbed (a real rarity for Brazilian horror films) and became two of the easiest-to-find Brazilian genre titles here in America for a number of years. Júlio Bressane (below, right), a key director in the underground movement of the 60s and 70s (worth noting that two of his films also made the Abraccine cut) and one known for his extreme efficiency (he could crank out a film in a week or two!), would occasionally make a genre film in the early days. Bressane is now one of the most respected directors in the country.

Up to the mid 80s, Brazilian genre films followed pretty standard tropes. There were vampire movies, werewolf movies, mummy movies, mad scientist movies, serial killer movies, a couple of monster movies and a few films hoping to capitalize on international hits like The Exorcist and Jaws. The early 80s saw a number of gory slasher films riding the North American trend of similar films.

After the end of the military regime and a re-democratization process in the mid-80s, plus the newfound freedom that came along with all that, Brazil started mostly churning out hardcore pornography in the mid to late 80s. Yes, that was the entertainment option of choice for a number of years in the country, at least in theaters and on the home video market. Even Coffin Joe got involved for awhile. In fact, his most financially successful film ever was the porn film 24 Hours of Explicit Sex (1985)! Of course, this trend (like the American "porno chic" trend of the early 70s) didn't last all that long after the initial novelty wore off, though this period is still considered the absolute low point in Brazilian cinema.

Through all of the up and downs leading up to today, Brazil has emerged in the past few decades as an important country in horror film production, highlighted in the last couple of years by Juliano Dornelles and Kleber Mendonça Filho's excellent Bacurau (2019), which became an international sleeper hit and won the Jury Prize at Cannes along with countless other awards, and as co-producer of Robert Eggers' Oscar-nominated The Lighthouse (2019).

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1950s

😒

1960s

- Macumba Love (1960; Douglas Fowley) [co-USA]

- At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul (À Meia Noite Levarei Sua Alma) (1964; José Mojica Marins)

- Macabre Nightmare (Pesadelo macabro) (1965; José Mojica Marins) [short]

- Satan's Feats in the Village of Leva and Tráz (Proezas de Satanás na Vila de Leva e Tráz) (1967; Paulo Gil Soares)

- This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse (Esta Noite Encarnarei no Teu Cadáver) (1967; José Mojica Marins) ▼

- Strange World of Coffin Joe, The (O Estranho Mundo de Zé do Caixão) (1968; José Mojica Marins)

- Trilogy of Terror (Trilogia de Terror) (1968; Ozualdo Ribeiro Candeias, José Mojica Marins, Luiz Sérgio Person)

- Bewitched (Embrujada) (1969; Armando Bo) [co-Argentina]

- Incredible, Fantastic, Extraordinary (Incrível, Fantástico, Extraordinário) (1969; C. Adolpho Chadler)

- Killed the Family and Went to the Movies (Matou a Família e Foi ao Cinema) (1969; Júlio Bressane)

1970s

- Awakening of the Beast (O Ritual dos Sádicos) (1970; José Mojica Marins)

- Horrible Baron Olavo, The (Barão Olavo, O Horrível) (1970; Júlio Bressane)

- Monsters of Babaloo, The (Os Monstros de Babaloo) (1970; Elyseu Visconti)

- Nosferato in Brazil (Nosferato no Brasil) (1970; Ivan Cardoso) [short]

- Possessed by a Thousand Demons (A Possuída dos Mil Demônios) (1970; Carlos Frederico Rodrigues)

- Prophet of Hunger, The (O Profeta da Fome) (1970; Maurice Capovila)

- Diabolical Heirs (Diabólicos Herdeiros) (1971; Geraldo Vietri)

- Macabre Dr. Scivano (O Macabro Dr. Scivano) (1971; Raul Calhado, Rosalvo Caçador)

- Memoirs of a Blonde Strangler (Memórias de um Estrangulador de Loiras) (1971; Júlio Bressane)

- Werewolf, The (O Homem Lobo) (1971; Raffaele Rossi)

- God's Sentence (Sentença de Deus) (1972; Ivan Cardoso) [short]

- Terror of the Red, The (O Terror da Vermelha) (1972; Torquato Neto) [short]

- When the Gods Fall Asleep (Quando os Deuses Adormecem) (1972; José Mojica Marins)

- Angel of the Night (O Anjo da Noite) (1974; Walter Hugo Khouri)

- Bloody Exorcism of Coffin Joe, The (Exorcismo Negro) (1974; José Mojica Marins)

- Sign of the Scorpion (O Signo de Escorpião) (1974; Carlos Coimbra)

- Werewolf, The (O Lobisomem) (1974; Elyseu Visconti)

- Codfish (Bacalhau) (1975; Adriano Stuart) [Jaws parody]

- Enigma of Demons (Enigma para Demônios) (1975; Carlos Hugo Christensen)

- House of Shadows (A Mulher do Desejo) (1975; Carlos Hugo Christensen)

- Jeca vs. Capeta (O Jeca Contra o Capeta) (1975; Amácio Mazzaropi, Pio Zamuner)

- One Man's Failure on Two Wedding Nights (Fracasso de Um Homem nas Duas Noites de Núpcias) (1975; George Michel Serkeis, José Mojica Marins)

- Wampirou (1975; Lygia Pape) [short]

- Who's Afraid of the Werewolf? (Quem Tem Medo de Lobisomem?) (1975; Reginaldo Faria)

- Excitation (Excitação; Excitement) (1976; Jean Garret) ▲

- Night of the Female (A Noite das Fêmeas) (1976; Fauzi Mansur)

- Strange Hostel of Naked Pleasures, The (A Estranha Hospedaria dos Prazeres) (1976; Marcelo Motta, José Mojica Marins)

- Beautiful and Corrupted (Belas e Corrompidas) (1977; Fauzi Mansur)

- Force of Xango, The (A Força do Xangô) (1977; Ibere Cavalcanti)

- Hellish Flesh (Inferno Carnal) (1977; José Mojica Marins)

- Snuff, Victims of Pleasure (Reel Savages; Snuff, Vítimas do Prazer) (1977; Cláudio Cunha)

- Virgin on the Hill (A Virgem da Colina) (1977; Célio Azevedo, Celso Falcão)

- Daughters of Fire (As Filhas do Fogo) (1978; Walter Hugo Khouri)

- Devil Nymphs (Ninfas Diabólicas) (1978; John Doo)

- Force of the Senses (A Força dos Sentidos) (1978; Jean Garret)

- Hallucinations of a Deranged Mind (Delírios de um Anormal) (1978; José Mojica Marins)

- Marble Goddess, The (A Deusa de Mármore) (1978; Rosângela Maldonado, José Mojica Marins)

- Ripper of Women, The (O Estripador de Mulheres) (1978; Juan Bajon)

- Seduced by the Demon (Seduzidas Pelo Demônio) (1978; Raffaele Rossi)

- Woman Who Makes Doves Fly, The (A Mulher Que Põe a Pomba no Ar) (1978; Rosângela Maldonado, José Mojica Marins)

- Killer Fish (1979; Antonio Margheriti) [co-France, Italy, UK] ▲

- Perversion (Estupro; Rape) (1979; José Mojica Marins)

- Tara: Forbidden Pleasures (Tara - Prazeres Proibidos) (1979; Luiz Castellini)

- World Market of Sex (Mundo-mercado do Sexo) (1979; José Mojica Marins)

1980s

- Damned Lake, The (O Lago Maldito) (1980; Ivan Cardoso)

- Dracula, a Love Story (Drácula, Uma História de Amor) (1980; Sílvio Francisco, Atílio Riccó)

- Plague, The (A Praga) (1980; José Mojica Marins)

- Act of Violence (Ato de Violência) (1981; Eduardo Escorel)

- Here, Freaks! (Aqui, Tarados!) (1981; David Cardoso, John Doo, Ody Fraga)

- Insatiable - Torments of the Flesh (A Insaciável - Tormentos da Carne) (1981; Waldir Kopesky)

- Lilian, the Dirty (Liliam, a Suja) (1981; Antonio Meliande)

- Story of Clara Crocodile, The (A Estória de Clara Crocodilo) (1981; Maria Cristina Santeiro) [short]

- Two Strange Women (Duas Estranhas Mulheres) (1981; Jair Correia)

- Castle of De Sade (O Castelo das Taras) (1982; Julius Belvedere)

- Dinner of Sexual Desires (Banquete das Taras) (1982; Carlos Alberto Almeida)

- Evil Excitement (Excitação Diabólica) (1982; John Doo)

- Night of Perversions II (A Noite das Taras II) (1982; Ody Fraga, Cláudio Portioli)

- Reincarnation of Sex, The (A Reencarnação do Sexo) (1982; Luiz Castellini)

- Secret of the Mummy, The (O Segredo da Múmia) (1982; Ivan Cardoso)

- Moments of Pleasure and Agony (Momentos de Prazer e Agonia) (1983; Adnor Pitanga)

- Monkey's Paw, The (A Pata do Macaco) (1983; Ademar Guerra) [TV?]

- Next Victim, The (A Próxima Vítima) (1983; João Batista de Andrade) ▼

- Sadism: Sexual Aberrations (Sadismo - Aberrações Sexuais) (1983; Fauzi Mansur)

- Serpent Woman and the Flower, The (A Mulher-Serpente e a Flor) (1983; J. Marreco)

- Strange Force (Força Estranha) (1983; Pedro Mawashe)

- Karma: Enigma of Fear (Karma - Enigma do Medo) (1984; Custódio Gomes, Fauzi Mansur)

- Shock: Evil Entertainment (Shock: Diversão Diabólica) (1984; Jair Correia)

- Massacre in Dinosaur Valley (Nudo e selvaggio) (1985; Michele Massimo Tarantini) [co-Italy]

- Mirror of Flesh (Espelho de Carne) (1985; Antonio Carlos da Fontoura)

- Sexual Experiences of a Horse (Experiências Sexuais de Um Cavalo) (1985; Rubens da Silva Prado) [X]

- Erotic Sex on Hawk Island (Sexo Erótico na Ilha do Gavião) (1986; Rubens da Silva Prado) [X]

- Frankenstein Punk (1986; Eliana Fonseca, Cao Hamburger) [animation] [short] ▲

- Hour of Fear, The (A Hora do Medo) (1986; Francisco Cavalcanti, José Mojica Marins)

- Seven Vampires, The (As Sete Vampiras) (1986; Ivan Cardoso)

- Total Debauchery (Devassidão Total) (1986; Fauzi Mansur) [X]

- Fatal Hours (Horas Fatais) (1987; Francisco Cavalcanti, Clery Cunha)

- Ghoulish Ghosts, The (Os Fantasmas Trapalhões) (1987; J.B. Tanko)

- Girl of Diabolical Sex, The (A Menina do Sexo Diabólico) (1987; Mario Lima) [X]

- Little Vampire Taints (As Taras de Um Minivampiro) (1987; José Adalto Cardoso) [X]

- Sexual Emotions of a Donkey (Emoções Sexuais de Um Jegue) (1987; Renalto Alves, Sady Baby) [X]

- Farewell (Adeus) (1988; Ceu D'Elia) [animated short]

- Heirs of the House of Usher (Herdeiros do Solar the Usher) (1988; Roberto Jabor)

- Hide and Seek (Esconde-Esconde) (1988; Eliana Fonseca) [short]

- Locked Inside (Trancado por Dentro) (1989; Arthur Fontes) [short]

- Satanic Attraction (Atração Satânica) (1989; Fauzi Mansur) ▼

- Ritual of Death, The (1990; Fauzi Mansur)

- Scarlet Scorpion, The (O Escorpião Escarlate) (1990; Ivan Cardoso)

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TOTAL:

97

NOTES:

- IMDb lists a single Brazilian horror film made before 1960: Galileu Garcia's Cara de Fogo (aka Face of Fire) from 1958. This same film has been categorized as simply an adventure on other websites. Since I've been unable to verify its genre, I'm leaving it off for the time being.

- There are quite a few films that were made in Brazil from outside production companies but aren't technically Brazilian productions, most of which have been excluded. The few that remain on this list I haven't been able to say with accuracy aren't partially Brazilian productions.

- The theatrically-released anthology Trilogia de Terror / "Trilogy of Terror" (1968) consists of three episodes of the TV series Além, Muito Além do Além. Thankfully the movie still exists because it's the only look one can now get at the series. The rest of the episodes (nearly 3 dozen in total) were destroyed (there are rumors that the studio simply just taped over them!).

- Drácula, Uma História de Amor / "Dracula, a Love Story" was a telenovela that lasted only a few days before having the plug pulled due to the studio (Tupi Network) going under. Only four episodes, lasting 45 minutes apiece, were made. The concept and main cast were then moved to another network, Rede Bandeirantes, for the vampire soap opera Um Homem Muito Especial / "A Very Special Man."

- The 1983 version of The Monkey's Paw appears to be shot-on-video and made for television.

- A Noite das Taras II is a two story anthology but only the first story (involving a serial killer of prostitutes) is genre. The original film, involving the sexual exploits of some sailors, isn't genre at all.

- There are probably more Sady Baby X-rated movies to include here. Based on some plot synopses I've read, a lot of them have horror content and gore... and many of them sound pretty sick!

- The 1990 release Ivampirismo – O Cinema em Pânico is a collection of short films by Ivan Cardoso.

POTENTIAL ADDITIONS:

- I've got quite a long list of questionable films this time out (the titles listed below are just a portion of them!) that I may or may not end up including on the master list above. The main issue here, aside from most of these not being available in English, is that they all appear to be borderline titles. None are classified as horror on most websites, though I have seen them mentioned in discussion or on other lists. This basically just boils down to hearing back from some of you or finding a way to check these films out for myself.

 

- Noites de Iemanjá (Nights of the Water Goddess) (1971; Maurice Capovilla) 

- Guru das Sete Cidades (Guru of the Seven Cities) (1972; Carlos Roberto Bini) - Satanic cult

- Longo Caminho da Morte (Long Way of Death) (1972; Júlio Calasso Jr.)

- Prata Palomares (1972; André Faria)

- O Descarte (1973; Anselmo Duarte)

- Amadas e Violentadas (Loved and Abused) (1975; Jean Garret)

- O Sósia da Morte (Doppelganger of Death) (1975; Luiz de Miranda Corrêa, João Ramiro Mello)

- Pecado na Sacristia (Sin in the Sacristy) (1975; Miguel Borges) - folklore creatures

- Belinda dos Orixás na Praia dos Desejos (1979; Antonio Bonacin Thome)

- Escalada da Violência (Escalation of Violence) (1982; Milton Alencar)

- Ninfetas do Sexo Selvagem (Wild Sex Nymphets) (1983; Fauzi Mansur)

- Estrela Nua (Naked Star) (1984; José Antonio Garcia, Ícaro Martins) - possession

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Any questions, additions / subtractions or comments, please comment below.