The Black Pit of Dr. M – Casanegra Entertainment (DVD)

Theatrical Release Date: Mexico, 1959
Director: Fernando Méndez
Writer: Ramón Obón
Cast: Gastón Santos, Rafael Bertrand, Mapita Cortés, Carlos Ancira, Carolina Barret, Luis Aragón, Beatriz Aguirre, Antonio Raxel, Abel Salazar, Lupe Carriles

Release Date: August 29th, 2006
Approximate Running Time: 82 Minutes 11 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono Spanish
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region 1 NTSC
Retail Price: OOP

"By day, Dr. Mazali (Rafael Bertrand) runs an insane asylum. By night, he lashes out at the veil between this life and the next, desperate to contact his former partner, Dr. Harrison Aldeman (Jacinto Aldama), who was executed for a crime he did not commit. What follows is madness, tragedy, agonizing violence and the unrelenting horror of infinite damnation.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, "Completely re-mastered picture & sound from newly restored vault elements."

The Black Pit of Dr. M comes of a single layer DVD.

Disc Size: 4.23 GB

Though the source used for this transfer looks very good. The result is a transfer that is a notch below most of Casanegra’s transfers. Outside of a few moments where the image looks soft, the image looks crisp, black levels look good, there are no issues with edge enhancement, and any compression-related issues are minor.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in Spanish, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. Outside of a few moments of background hiss, this audio track is in good shape; the dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery (11 images), a posters & promotional art gallery (8 images), text biographie for Gastón Santos, a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Spanish, no subtitles), an essay about director Fernando Méndez written by David Wilt, the original 1961 English language continuity script, an extra titled Black Pit of Dr. M Rock music video composed by 21st Century Art (25 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo), an essay titled Mexican Monsters Invade the U.S., an audio commentary with IVTV founder Frank Coleman, reversible bilingual cover art (English on one side and Spanish on the other side), and Casanegra Loteria game cards.

Also, the menus are bilingual (English or Spanish).

Summary:

The Black Pit of Dr. M was directed by Fernando Mendez, whose other notable films include The Vampire, The Vampire’s Coffin, and The Living Coffin. Every inch of every frame of The Black Pit of Dr. M is meticulously composed for maximum effect. The lighting and the sets have a German Expressionist vibe to them. His direction is flawless, making The Black Pit of Dr. M one of the greatest gothic horror films ever committed to celluloid.

The premise of a character in search of life after death is superbly realized. The well-executed narrative has just the right amount of surprises to keep things moving, all leading towards an unforgettable finale. That said, there are elements throughout The Black Pit of Dr. M that feel influenced by Edgar Allen Poe. 

The most surprising aspect of The Black Pit of Dr. M is how excellent the cast is in the roles, especially the actress (I couldn’t identify who she was) in the role of a gypsy woman in an insane asylum. Another performance of note is Rafael Bertrand’s portrayal of Dr. Mazali. He delivers a remarkable performance that is accentuated by the moments leading up to his character's demise.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where The Black Pit of Dr. M does not excel. The visuals are overflowing with atmosphere, the set design is impressive, and it adds grace to the foreboding mood. Also, the special effects are well-executed and never look cheap. And though there are an abundance of amazing moments in The Black Pit of Dr. M. No moment stands out more than the scene with the gypsy woman in the asylum being restrained momentarily by the soothing sounds of a music box. This sequence is wonderfully laid out in such a way that you can feel the opposing tension that is building despite the music trying to do the opposite. Ultimately, The Black Pit of Dr. M is an expositional piece of filmmaking that is beautifully photographed and will have you on the edge of your seat.

The Black Pit of Dr. M gets a definitive release from Casanegra, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer