I've mentioned in previous articles that I have an interest in Brazilian cinema and culture, but while I know the films of José Mojica Marins (a.k.a. Coffin Joe) and follow the career of indie filmmaker Rodrigo Aragão, and was even able to visit the Rio de Janeiro set of J.C. Feyer's THE TRACE WE LEAVE BEHIND (you can read the set visit report here), one Brazilian genre filmmaker I'm not familiar with at all is Ivan Cardoso.
That's going to change this fall, as Camp Motion Pictures has informed Fangoria that they will be releasing five films by Cardoso in their A Werewolf in the Amazon Collection on October 4th.
According to the announcement, Cardoso's work fits into a genre he created himself that's called terrir, described as "a specifically Brazilian combination of horror, gratuitous nudity, and comedy". The movies included in the three disc set are:
– A WEREWOLF IN THE AMAZON (2005), starring Spanish icon Paul Naschy: In search of a powerful hallucinogen, five friends embark on a dangerous journey deep into the Amazon. But a bad trip isn’t the only threat, as they discover when they stumble across the hidden camp of the crazed Dr. Moreau and his murderous animal-human hybrid creations!
– THE SCARLET SCORPION (1990): When the ultra-villainous Scarlet Scorpion kidnaps a famous fashion designer, crimefighting millionaire playboy The Angel must step in to save the day.
– THE SEVEN VAMPIRES (1986): As a botanist researches a dangerous carnivorous plant, a bumbling detective and his assistant investigate a plague of mysterious “vampire” attacks surrounding a sexy upscale nightclub.
– THE SECRET OF THE MUMMY (1982): Death stalks those who search for the tomb of Runamb, the mummy. Undeterred, Professor Expedito Vitus acquires all eight pieces of the map, invests the mummy with new life and unleashes a murderous rampage!
– THE MARK OF TERRIR (2005) is described as Cardoso’s “cine-autobiography by way of an inspired found/remembered footage,” and includes Cardoso’s seminal 16mm short NOSTERATU IN BRAZIL and his experimental featurette O SARCOFAGO MACABRO.
Also included in the set will be a mini-poster of the art commissioned for the release and liner notes by critic Justine Smith.
This is the first time Cardoso's films will be available in North America, and I will definitely be buying this collection as soon as it's available. The retail price is set at $24.99.