REVIEW: AGONIZING IN CRIME AKA AGONIZANDO EN EL CRIMEN
by Enrique Carrillo Ferri (*)
Agonizando en el crimen (1967) Was one of the first Spanish movies influenced by Italian giallo, directed by Enrique Eguiluz, director of La Marca del Hombre Lobo (FRANKENSTEIN´S BLOODY TERROR 1968), the first film in which Paul Naschy plays the role of Waldemar Daninsky.
It must be highlighted that this film production is entirely Spanish, Juan Logar gave up the money to make it the film. The plot and the script belong to Juan Logar, too. Also, we have the magnificent cinematography of Raul Artigot, a well-known artist in countless classics such as La Semana del Asesino (CANNIBAL MAN 1972), directed by Eloy de la Iglesia, El Buque Maldito (THE GHOST GALLEON 1973), directed by Amando de Ossorio, Me siento Extraña(I FEEL STRANGE 1977), directed by Enrique Martí Maqueda, etc. and also directing the Spanish horror classic El Monte de las Brujas (THE WITCHES MOUNTAIN 1972), among others.
As far as the soundtrack is concerned, Juan Logar is once again in charge, we will see that the killer of the film is him. A man is responsible for everything. Later on, he will become a dubber, I have even read somewhere recently that he was planning to return to film directing.
The cast of the film is full of familiar faces for the Spanish film fan: Paul Naschy, one of the main roles, Juan Logar, man for everything and director of such little gems as Transplante de un cerebro (TRANSPLANT OF A BRAIN 1970), Fieras sin Jaula (TWO MALES FOR ALEXA 1971), a film I love, and Autopsia (AUTOPSY 1973). Irene Gutiérrez Caba is also in the cast.She participated in such emblematic titles as the series Historias para no Dormir (1966-1982) directed by Narciso Ibáñez Serrador, specifically in the episodes: El Cohete (1966), La Zarpa (1967) and El Regreso (1967).
Another of his outstanding works was El Caminante (1979), directed by Paul Naschy. One of Jacinto Molina’s most personal films. Finally, I don’t want to forget his contribution to fantasy and horror films, with one of the less known titles of José Ramón Larraz, Estigma (1980). Another of the actresses I would like to highlight, is the very attractive actress Yelena Samarina, of Russian origin, but who would soon settle in our country, where she would participate in numerous titles. I would like to highlight some films like La Casa de las Mil Muñecas (HOUSE OF THOUSAND DOLLS 1967), directed by Jeremy Summers. Another classic in which she participated is in La Noche de Walpurgis (THE WEREWOLF VERSUS THE VAMPIRE WOMAN 1971), directed by Leon Klimovsky, a mythical title of our horror films. Later, she participated in four fundamental titles for me: La Mansión de la Niebla (THE MURDER MANSION 1972), directed by Francisco Lara Polop, La Noche de los Asesinos (NIGHT OF THE SKULL 1974), directed by Jesús Franco, Un Silencio de Tumba (SILENCE OF THE GRAVE 1976) directed, again, by Jesús Franco, and La Muerte ronda a Mónica (DEATH HAUNTS MONICA 1976),directed by Ramón Fernández.
The film is a love story that gives way to a story of hatred. Jean loses his partner on an operating desk. Imagine the trauma it unleashes in him. From this moment, on we witness a burst murderous rage. The killer has a preference for amputating the hands of the victims and for Jean, it is the doctor’s hands that are to blame as didn´t perform his beloved´s surgery properly.
The killer is gloved and has a double life which he can control at first. However, everything will become more complicated as the plot of the film progresses, and the police get closer and closer to The Killer. The atmosphere throughout the film is quite well achieved, with a lot of night shots with a perfect result. I’m sure it will delight Giallo fans, we are not facing any masterpiece, but the film is a good example of the international influence of Giallo. Of course, Spain would not be the only country to receive the giallesque influence.
Where can we watch this? There is no official edition on DVD or Blu-ray. The first time I was able to watch it was on a television show on a Spanish channel called Canal Alucine around the 90’s. This channel was part of a private television platform. I have to say that it broadcasted some real rarities. The only thing that exists is a Spanish bootleg edition on DVD, quite decent, in fact.
Hopefully, somebody will rescue it from oblivion and bring it to us as it deserves. Other gialli, that seemed lost forever in filthy editions, were released on Blu-ray and remastered in 4K.
In conclusion, Agonizando en el Crimen(1967) is a title that you will enjoy if you are a giallomaniac : twisted plot, a killer with gloves, razors, and traumas. Can you ask for more? From the beginning, you know who the killer is, but it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t affect the pace of the film at all. All the actors are good in their roles. If you are not a big fan of Giallo… I encourage you to give it a look…even if only once in your life. I’m sure there is something you will enjoy.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Enrique Carrillo Ferri was born in Elda (Alicante), although he is originally from Pinoso, a beautiful village in the province of Alicante, he currently lives in San Vicente del Raspeig (Alicante).
Since he was a child, he has been fascinated by horror films.
Later on, he starts a degree in History, he still has two subjects to finish, but it is at this time when he enrolls in some cinema courses: History of Universal Cinema, History of Spanish Cinema, and History of Cinematographic Genres.
Meanwhile, his passion for the horror genre is growing, so much so that he decides to create a blog about the Italian Giallo and its influences on international cinema: guantesdecueronegro.blogspot.com.es.
Later, he decides to publish a fanzine about the actress Lynn Endersson, one of the less known actresses of the Spanish erotic cinema of the seventies and eighties. Spanish erotic cinema is another of his favorite film genres. SO, It is a very limited edition, only 50 copies, so if anyone is interested, there are still some copies left.
