Dr. Masala(Rafael Bertrand), the prestigious doctor of a sanitarium, wishes to know what lies beyond life, but wants to return to flesh after death. He, through a séance, summons the recently deceased Dr. Jacinto Aldama(Antonio Raxel)wanting that promise they made in a pact(..that being which ever passed first would provide the other with the answer and return to flesh)fulfilled. The spirit of Aldama informs Mazali that if he goes through with what he desires, certain horrific consequences would occur to him after returning from the death to flesh. Mazali doesn't care so Aldama tells him that certain events will unfold as a chain reaction leading to his wish being accomplished. Aldama visits the daughter he neglected in life(..although, she doesn't know it is him at that moment), the lovely Patricia(Mapita Cortés)and explains to her that a key should be taken to a man named Mazali. Meanwhile, a new student of Mazali's, Eduardo Jimenez(Gastón Santos)has envisioned Patricia in a dream and upon seeing her in a dance hall, he is pretty flummoxed to say the least. Even odder is that she has dreamed about him, also. It's as if they were fated to meet. They meet again at the office of Mazali who had just finished plastic surgery on an orderly named Elmer(Carlos Ancira)whose face was horribly scarred when a wacko goes berserk during an experiment gone awry. Mazali was testing the nutcase's ability of calm with the tune of a music box which accidentally shuts with the result being her violent outburst on the staff. The acid burn on Elmer's face results in his madness which later culminates into violent revenge when he kills the wackjob with a certain knife..this certain knife that is found in a box opened by the key Patricia hands to Mazali! Each event unravels the unfortunate demise of Mazali who is framed by the spirit of Jacinto Aldama himself for the murder of his insane patient. Later Elmer dies and is buried(he has written, however, a confession to the dead woman's murder) After Mazali's is hung by the neck at the gallows, the dead body of Elmer is resurrected and whose spirit fills that corpse risen..Mazali himself! Dr. Gonzalez(Luis Aragón)was Mazali's assistant doctor at the asylum and present to all of his activities. Much to his amazement, Gonzalez realizes that the pact made between two doctors was met and that Mazali is now alive in the scarred Elmer. The tension is ratcheted up when Mazali, growing mad and in love with Patricia, will do whatever it takes to remain alive even as the confession of the one who used to possess his host body is found.
The main theme here is the tragedy of Mazali, an atheistic scientist who wished to remain alive yet understand what lies beyond this mortal world. Atmospherically rich with an often pounding, unnerving score(with good use of the organ)really give this Gothic Mexican flick it's flavor. Spooky, with good contrast between shadow and light..not to mention fine photography and the setting around an asylum is perfect for a supernatural story.
The main theme here is the tragedy of Mazali, an atheistic scientist who wished to remain alive yet understand what lies beyond this mortal world. Atmospherically rich with an often pounding, unnerving score(with good use of the organ)really give this Gothic Mexican flick it's flavor. Spooky, with good contrast between shadow and light..not to mention fine photography and the setting around an asylum is perfect for a supernatural story.