La Cabeza Viviente: The Living Head (1963)

In the distant past, at the height of the Aztec empire, a brave warrior is being laid to rest. When his female sacrifice refuses to undergo her part of the ceremony. She is linked to a curse with her master though the afterlife. Centuries later, an archeological team finds their tomb, and the head of Acatl the mighty is taken to the city, along with a remarkably well-preserved mummy. But soon the members of the team are brutally murdered. Their hearts cut out, and the mummy's knife dripping with fresh blood...

La Cabeza Viviente (The Living Head) opens with a surprisingly grand prologue. It shows off great ethnic history and flavour, and sets the scene perfectly.

Once we cut to the modern day the film is smaller scale, content to be in studious drawing rooms. Or room-The rest of the film seems to be set in the same house! This is never really a problem though. The story still works, and we've had enough wild nation and history hopping to be satisfied.

A problem so many mummy movies face, old and new, is why would these cultures ever curse their evildoers with such great powers of magic and immortality? Well here it makes perfect sense. The mummy isn't a bad guy to the Aztecs, but a revered hero.

There are two supernatural figures here. The first is Acatl, whose preserved head sits on a ceremonial dish. The second is the Aztec mummy, but of a different variety. Despite being undead, he's not decomposed or wrapped in bandages. He's the muscle for Acatl, doing all the physical work, while a hypnotised Marta holds the severed head out like on a dinner plate, giving him a ringside view.

Something I found funny is that these beings are so devoted to enacting justice against those who defy their laws...despite the Aztec civilisation having long since died out! I think you've got more pressing concerns, guys! I also found it amusing how this movie shows Aztec theology was correct all the time! I hope this doesn't mean the sun requires constant sacrifice to stay alight.

The story here is pretty good. The three main explorers are targeted one by one, and the professor's daughter is hypnotised to assist. Her beau meanwhile helps the police try and discover the truth, before it's too late.

As a horror film this more than satisfies, with curses, undead, and bloody murders. The mummy makes for an imposing villain. It's funny how he's slow to stalk, to drag out the suspense, but when the moment calls for it he springs about like a gazelle.

The film has a great climax, full of tension. With two expedition members dead already, only Marta's father remains, and we're genuinely not sure if he's gonna make it or not. The ending contains a really well-done twist! I didn't see it coming, but once it's there you feel like an idiot for never noticing!...It makes no sense, for at least two different reasons, but still!

The effects are great! There are simple fades, a snazzy time jump, and neat violence! We can guess how the severed head effect is achieved, but it's handled well, and doesn't look too unconvincing. The costumes and props are great too, never looking too cheap or fake...Except for the ring of death! Nevermind that it looks like a big hunk of plastic, the sound they match with it sounds like a slot machine!

The cast do a fine job here, with good looking heroes, gorgeous young heroines, and hulking giants, as well as a fun performance from the severed head. I also liked how they say the Aztec names.

La Cabeza Viviente is a great time, showing off Mexico's pre-colonial history in a nifty modern horror!...