Infernal Rapist Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Infernal Rapist Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 7, 2023

With a title like “The Infernal Rapist,” one must act cautiously around the film. It’s more of a warning than a title, with the 1988 Mexican production working hard to be an ugly movie, examining the corruption of an already corrupt man compelled by dark forces to hurt people in the name of Satan. There’s certainly a way to do this kind of exploitation endeavor, but the production (including director Damian Acosta Esparza) isn’t attentive to the wily ways of genre happenings, preferring to be more of a blunt instrument aimed at viewers who elect to sit through multiple scenes of sexual violence and occult grisliness. “The Infernal Rapist” initially offers a slightly amusing take on evil events and macabre motivations, but it quickly extinguishes such inspiration, preferring to be sleazy and aggressive instead, which turns the viewing experience into a painful sit.

Carlos (Noe Murayama) is a man on death row for crimes committed against humanity. He’s a brutal man about to meet his maker, but after time in the electric chair, Carlos is brought back to life by an evil queen, with the Devil woman gifting the criminal a fresh life of horror, presenting three demands meant to satisfy the strange vision, who craves human suffering. Carlos is free to roam the streets again, only this time he has special powers, tasked with using his heightened abilities to torment new victims before sexually assaulting and murdering them, using a knife to mark his work with a “666” signature. The police Commander (Manuel Ibanez) doesn’t understand what’s going on, disturbed by the savagery involved in the murder spree, hunting for clues to help bring such terror to an end. For Carlos, his rampage is only the beginning, seeking out innocent victims around the city, ready to satisfy his lust in the name of Satan, enjoying newfound “pleasure and riches.”

“The Infernal Rapist” doesn’t spend any time on Carlos’s history, catching up with the character on death row, soon marched to the electric chair for his many crimes and unrepentant nature. Perhaps this is why he’s been selected by an evil presence, with the Wicked Witch of the (deep, deep) South materializing at the moment of his death, finding an ideal employee to help flesh out a plan to make humanity suffer as much as possible. Mrs. Satan goes the “Gremlins” route, presenting Carlos with three rules to follow in exchange for resurrection, with sexual assault a must and a final marking important, helping to spread fear. Carlos accepts the deal and “The Infernal Rapist” is off, though it begins in an unexpected place, with the killer visiting his male lover, adding character details the feature ultimately does nothing with. Carlos isn’t a complete butcher, preferring to disorient his prey with drugs before the real nightmare begins. Marijuana and cocaine is offered to others, while Carlos has a special fondness for heroin. These encounters all end in murder, with “The Infernal Rapist” showcasing the killer’s stabby moods, looking to complete the job with devil worship markings.

“The Infernal Rapist” follows Carlos into predator situations, mostly focusing on a beauty salon that’s a front for prostitution. Carlos picks up a few employees (and a fellow customer) from the place, enjoying a massage before an intimate evening becomes a fight for life for all of these victims. There’s weirdness, with one encounter taking place at a designated, catered make-out spot in the woods, but “The Infernal Rapist” quickly falls into routine, which involves lengthy sequences where women fight the extreme violence coming for them. The feature gets fairly bleak quickly, as the sights and sounds of female suffering become a top priority for the production, making the whole thing spectacularly unpleasant to watch. Of course, this movie is made for a specific audience, and it’s not particularly well-crafted, with editorial efforts quietly relaxed, and storytelling is nothing more than a vague sense of evil and law enforcement competing for screen time. There’s no nail-biting hunt for a serial killer presented here.

Infernal Rapist Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a new 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative. It's the luxury treatment for the obscure title, with detail clear throughout the viewing experience. Costuming is fibrous, surveying leisure wear and special dresses. Skin particulars are defined, exploring age and, soon enough, bodily harm. Interiors are open for inspection, visiting businesses and living spaces, with decorative additions in view. Exteriors retain dimension. Colors are alive, working with period style that brings out the bright yellows of the beauty salon and the Vegas-y gear of evil. Blood remains a deep red, and skin tones are natural. Greenery is distinct. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy and film-like. Source is in good condition, with a few mild scratches detected.

Infernal Rapist Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers a basic understanding of dubbed dialogue exchanges, which retain some elements of age but remain intelligible. Screaming fits are perhaps appropriately uncomfortable to listen to. Scoring supports with less presence, but musical moods are appreciable. Sound effects are blunt.

Infernal Rapist Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (4:23, HD) is a chat with actor Juan Moro, who made ten pictures with director Damian Acosta Esparza, remarking on his guardianship during the moviemaking process. Hired to play a cop, Moro spotlights the casting and his time with co-star Manuel Ibanez. He seems proud of the work and the film, but the interviewee also zigzags around topics and references, making it a little difficult to understand what he's referring to.

• Interview (5:07, HD) is a discussion with actor Fidel Abrego, who offers random thoughts on his career and fanbase. Co- stars from "The Infernal Rapist" are recalled. Again, it's not always clear what Abrego is talking about, creating confusion when he discusses method acting and his own personal journey.

• Interview (6:16, HD) is a conversation with actor Arturo Mason, who clarifies the upbeat atmosphere of the set while making "The Infernal Rapist," while also admitting the material was quite unpleasant to shoot. Participating in perhaps the most hostile scene in the movie, Mason examines his relationship with co-star Murayama, with the men openly anxious about filming such violence. The interviewee discusses the heaviness of the material and outside reaction to the feature, noting his experience on other films.

• Audio Essay (18:18, HD) is created by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Infernal Rapist Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Infernal Rapist" graduates to some supernatural happenings in the final act, with Carlos getting to use his eye-lasers to inflict more damage on his victims. The escalation is visualized with set destruction and wirework, which teases a move toward campiness, but there's too much oppressive material here to really turn the picture into a goofball thrill ride. "The Infernal Rapist" is relatively simple in design, watching the "favorite son" stalk and kill those who find him irresistible, but instead of delivering a more dynamic collision of procedural activity and disturbing fantasy horror, what's offered here is quite grim and difficult to endure.