Rojo Sangre (2004)

Dir: Christian Molina

Paul Naschy (who also wrote this film's excellent screenplay) stars as an aging actor, legendary in the 70s but now unable to land a role (even in TV commercials) due to the changing times. Desperate and suicidal, he accepts a job as a human statue outside a mysterious stag club called Pandora... I won't give away anything else for fear of ruining all the outlandish surprises the script offers up, but the end result is probably best described as what might happen if David Lynch and Robert Rodriguez combined forces to remake "Theatre of Blood". Naschy's script is witty and bitter - an undisguised, vicious swipe at a soulless modern film industry - and his lead performance is venomous enough to bring it to life. There's a top-notch supporting cast, lots of flamboyant art direction and it's all beautifully directed with feverish energy (not to mention what looks like a big budget) by newcomer Christian Molina. "Rojo Sangre" is inventive, bloody, stylish, clever, poignant, hilarious and colourful. I'm not sure I could ask for too much more than that. Naschy's masterpiece, without question. In years to come, this'll be the one they remember him for. ****