Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Black Pit of Dr. M Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 14, 2023

Fernando Mendez's "Black Pit of Dr. M" (1959) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with critic Eduardo de le Vega Alfaro; new program with critic Abraham Castillo Flores; vintage promotional materials for the film; and more. In Spanish, with optional English subtitles. Region-Free.

Fernando Mendez and cinematographer Victor Herrera made several films together and it appears that virtually all of them are horror projects. I wonder if stylistically they are similar to Black Pit of Dr. M (1959), which is the only one I have seen. (I just discovered it, and only because it was included in this new box set from Indicator/Powerhouse Films). If they are, I must speculate that Mendez and Herrera misjudged the quality of their work. Indeed, while there is a lot in Black Pit of Dr. M that could have been done better -- several transitions are quite uneven, plus occasionally the camera movement becomes inexplicably anxious -- numerous areas of this film produce some rather incredible Gothic visuals with remarkably atmospheric shadows. With a few minor tweaks and a change of scenery, the same atmospheric shadows would have been perfect in a film noir. Interestingly, a year before Black Pit of Dr. M was completed, Orson Welles shot Touch of Evil in America, which has very similar visuals that could have been used in this fictional film noir. I do realize that all this may and probably does sound like wild speculation, but when you see Black Pit of Dr. M I think you will agree with me because in Touch of Evil much of the border footage easily could have emerged from several locations that Mendez and Herrera visited while working on it.

I do not have to speculate that Mendez and Herrera were influenced by the work of the great German expressionist films. It is very, very obvious that they were. The classic American horror films from the 1930s and 1940s almost certainly impacted their work as well, but the period stylization in Black Pit of Dr. M reveals that the former provided the crucial blueprint. The secluded sanatorium where some of the most dramatic developments in Black Pit of Dr. M. occur, for instance, looks like an ancient manor that is hidden somewhere in the mountains of Bavaria.

The story that is told in Black Pit of Dr. M is about a dangerous supernatural experiment. Moments before Dr. Aldama (Antonio Raxel) dies, his colleague Dr. Mazali (Rafael Bertrand) convinces him to reveal the secrets of existing in "the other world". During a spooky séance, Dr. Mazali is then warned by the late Dr. Aldama that he could grant his wish but the knowledge he seeks has a price that he may not be willing to pay. Soon after, a stranger contacts Aldama's estranged daughter Patricia (Mapita Cortes) and reveals to her a tiny key to a box that belonged to her father, whom she believed had passed away years ago. Patricia travels to the sanatorium where her father worked with Dr. Mazali and, after describing to the latter her encounter with the stranger, initiates a series of very unusual events. Dr. Mazali then gains the knowledge he desires but, as predicted by Dr. Aldama, is forced to pay a hefty price for it.

The progression of the story will not surprise horror connoisseurs because at the center of it is a message that has been revealed in countless classic horror films. This message does not even have a unique Mexican resonance. (The familiar message and the very particular stylization of the visuals make the German connection that is highlighted above undeniable). However, Black Pit of Dr. M quickly produces a very thick Gothic atmosphere that wraps the story and then transforms it into a unique genre film.

*I do not have a lot of experience with older Mexican horror films. However, virtually all such films that I have seen use the rich timbres and rhythm of the Spanish language to enhance their atmosphere. In Black Pit of Dr. M, this effort is very obvious and in several segments produces terrific genre material.

Black Pit of Dr. M Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Black Pit of Dr. M arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

It is very easy to tell that Black Pit of Dr. M has been remastered because it looks quite good in high-definition. I think that the majority of the visuals gravitate between pleasing and good, so my guess is that most viewers will enjoy the presentation a lot. However, it is also easy to tell that the surviving elements for Black Pit of Dr. M are not in top condition and that someone had attempted to eliminate most of the damage that exists on them. So, there are some traces of digital work that makes the visuals look a tad softer than they should, plus in a few areas there are small anomalies that could have been avoided. (For example, in screencapture #8 you can see posterizarion-like effects that could have been avoided). Background details appear flattened as well, though I am quite certain that there are plenty of inherited issues that contribute as well. Nevertheless, on my system, the film had an acceptable organic appearance, which is the type of organic appearance you would get when a master is struck from a second or third-generation element. So, while not ideal, the presentation is good. Also, the entire film looks very clean. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Black Pit of Dr. M Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Spanish LPCM 1.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

All exchanges are easy to follow. However, in quite a few areas the audio minor stability fluctuates and can become noticeably flat. Given the age of the film and how it looks now, it is very difficult to tell whether these are entirely inherited limitations or newly introduced effects of digital work. You will not be distracted by their presence, but you will notice when these fluctuations begin to emerge. There are no audio dropout or distortions to report.

Black Pit of Dr. M Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Preserving a Legacy - in this recent program, Daniel Birman Ripstein discusses the work and legacy of his famous grandfather, director Arturo Ripstein, who managed Alameda Films, the production company that funded and distributed Black Pit of Dr. M. Also, there are some very interesting comments about the restoration of the films in Alameda Films' catalog and how they are rediscovered by different generations of film lovers. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (20 min).

• Black Pit of Dr. Mendez - in this recent program, critic Eduardo de le Vega Alfaro discusses the life and cinematic legacy of director Fernando Mendez. A portion of the program is dedicated to the conception and production of Black Pit of Dr. M.. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (26 min).

• Commentary - in this new commentary, critic Abraham Castillo Flores discusses the production history and stylistic identity of Black Pit of Dr. M and the careers and work of Fernando Mendez and the many people that made the film with him.

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for Black Pit of Dr. M.. In Spanish, with English subtitles.

• Image Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional materials for Black Pit of Dr. M..

• Cards - limited Edition exclusive art cards.

• Book - limited Edition exclusive 100-page book with new essays by José Luis Ortega Torres, David Wilt and Abraham Castillo Flores, archival articles, and full film credits

Black Pit of Dr. M Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Daniel Birman Ripstein is right. The genre films his famous grandfather, Arturo Ripstein, produced have obvious flaws and their budget limitations are instantly recognizable but ooze tremendous enthusiasm that makes them very attractive. However, I think that some of the people that made these films were incredibly talented. For example, much of the work that Fernando Mendez and cinematographer Victor Herrera did in Black Pit of Dr. M produces some quite striking visuals that could have been perfect in a big Mexican film noir. Black Pit of Dr. M is one of four films that are included in Mexico Macabre: Four Sinister Tales From the Alameda Films Vault, a four-disc box set, which is Reigon-Free. An identical North American box set is available as well. You can see our listing of it here. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.