Search SFE    Search EoF

  Omit cross-reference entries  

Dr Satán y la Magia Negra

Entry updated 29 May 2023. Tagged: Film.

["Dr Satan and Black Magic"] Mexican film (1968). Producciones Espada S. de R.L. Directed by Rogelio A. González. Written by José María and Fernández Unsáin. Cast includes Joaquín Cordero and Noé Murayama. 83 minutes. Colour.

A sequel to Dr Satan (1966), this film opens with the Devil King awakening Dr Satan (Cordero) from his rest in Hell (see Eschatology) to perform a task for him. When the doctor enquires why the Devil cannot do it themself, he explains his powers are limited: "Only man can destroy man." On Earth, Lucifer's wizard Yei Lin (Murayama) is seeking the "Sorenson formula": with it he could challenge the Devil, so the doctor must kill Lin and acquire the formula. If he fails the Devil will refuse him the eternal peace he desires. Arriving on Earth, Dr Satan discovers Lin already has the formula (named after a Professor Sorenson, who was murdered during the theft), so he hires a secretary, then a nurse. The latter is not discouraged by his enquiry "You have no family do you?"; she is Hypnotized then taken to his laboratory and, like the secretary, turned into a Zombie. This involves the same combination of science and the supernatural as the earlier film (see Science and Sorcery).

Yei Lin is delighted to have Sorenson's formula, which turns base metals into gold (that is, alchemy – see Transmutation). He explains to his cronies that the Devil King made gold to control mankind, but it turned out to be stronger than its creator: when Yei Lin has built a laboratory to mass-produce the metal he will be able to control the world. Dr Satan attempts to kill him but is shocked when it fails: "No human being can survive this poison!" However, Yei Lin is not human, but a Vampire. Lin retaliates: after trying to drink the blood of the nurse and secretary – he is disgusted to find they are zombies – he shoots the doctor; however Dr Satan is revived by his XX-38 formula, administered by the zombies.

Later, Yei Lin bombards base metal with a laser-like Ray weapon, which succeeds in turning it into gold (albeit temporarily radioactive – see Nuclear Energy) – it also helpfully disintegrates the corpse of an inquisitive guard. There is some further back and forth between Dr Satan and Yei Lin, including the former successfully blackmailing the latter for the formula, but unaware that Lin has inserted a dangerous flaw into the instructions. During the final confrontation the two fight until Dr Satan manages to drive a stake through the other's heart. Job done, he tenderly says farewell to his zombies and frees their souls, then – as he is in Lin's laboratory – decides to test the formula. The resulting explosion destroys the building.

Though its predecessor was a fine example of atmospheric Horror, Dr. Satán y la Magia Negra is much more mundane (doubtless partially due to the change in director): even the scene with King Devil pales in comparison to his appearances in Dr Satan. The story is messier too: we are initially told that Yei Lin is a wizard and that he will rule the Earth if he succeeds, but then we find he is a vampire (and presumably a Scientist, given his efforts in the laboratory) with "bosses" whom he talks to on the phone, whilst his connection to Lucifer is unexplained. There is also an entirely disposable subplot where Interpol investigates Professor Sorenson's murder. Taken on its own, however, this is a moderately entertaining film. [SP]

links

previous versions of this entry



x
This website uses cookies.  More information here. Accept Cookies