It’s no secret that I prefer foreign horror films of over American for the most part and this a classic example of why. English translation; “At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul”, an impressive title I think and it’s an absolutely classic genre film. If you not familiar with this one, I welcome you to the world of visionary Brazilian cult horror director Jose Mojica Marins, best known as Coffin Joe, cloaked in his trade mark black cape with a top hat and sporting long talon-like finger nails. If you’re a real horror fan this is a mandatory and even a bit of a groundbreaking piece in horror history. Hated and even banned in half of Brazil’s states by censors it received a very warm welcome from fans and turned Jose Marins into a icon in Brazil.

In his first genre film, Ze’ Do Caixao – Coffin Joe, is a blasphemous brutish gloating undertaker that delights in nihilistic cruelty. Unable to find any actor willing to take the part Marins [writer-director-producer] took the role himself and made the character quite memorable. Our man in black terrorizes a deeply religious community in is quest to find/force a woman to be the mother of his evil spawn and continue his bloodline. But there is hell to pay for his deeds when the predictions of a creepy old cackling Bruja [witch] come true. Much to my delight this is especially sadistic, cruel and exceedingly brutal violence for ’63; cutting off fingers and poking out eyes for instances as well as taunting and mocking religion. Rarely do films grasp such a blasphemous tone. Sure it looks a bit dated, but stands the test of time and is extremely well made for the miniscule budget. Shot in eerie black & white with plenty of evil atmosphere, the pre-mentioned violence and a obligatory hallucinogenic trip to Hell---an eerie sight that begs the question did Marins see Julian Roffman’s spook show “The Mask” ’61 made two years prior?

While looking better than ever the print---a digital but sadly a non anamorphic transfer framed at the correct 1:66:1---is far from perfect by today’s standards, there’s minor print damage here and there, scratches and grain, all of which works in the films favor to these horror coated eyes. Presented with all 81 UNCUT minutes in Portuguese with English subs make this must see DVD for horror fans. Followed by a mucho worthy sequel “Esta Noite Encarnarei no Teu Cadáver-This Night I Possess Your Corpse” and after all these years just recently Marins finished the second follow up titled “Encarnação do Demônio - Embodiment of Evil” which looks it will be another very blasphemous affair. I can’t wait to see it.

Xtras: New interview with the director about the making of his films, reproduction of the original Ze’ Do Caixao comic book, and original trailer. I got this in ‘the Coffin Joe Trilogy’ Coffin Shaped box set that includes “This Night I Possess Your Corpse” and the non related psychedelic drug film “Awakening of the Beast”, and 4 Ze’ Do Caixao comic books.