I stumbled accross the films of Jose Mojica Marins by accident when shopping one afternoon. My attention was grabbed by the Coffin Joe Collection boxset...
On further inspection i found that the titles included At Midnight Ill Take Your Soul (1964), Hellish Flesh (1977)& Hallucinations of a Deranged Mind (1978) amongst others (8 movies and a documentary totalling 750 minutes). I was intrigued enough to buy this with only the synopsis and visuals required for convincing...
Unholy undertaker, sinful savant, denizen of dreams and hallucinations... Marin's has an unrelentingly original and outlandishly personal filmmaking style that can only be compared to a depraved blend of Mario Bava, Luis Brunel and Russ Meyer.
I must admit to not being well versed in Brazilian cinema but the image of Coffin Joe, top hat and fingernails, was universal enough in its horrific appeal to subvert any hinderance posed by budget, age or context.
Marin's was extremely prolific as a director for over 10 years beginning in 1970; producing up to 3 films per year. Most were in the horror genre however Marin's also dabbled in sexploitation and surrealism. I intend to focus on the horror films, featuring the character of Coffin Joe specifically, however it is important to note the extensivity of related output.
Jose decided to play the character of Zé himself only because he could not find another actor willing to take the risk required to assume the role. Marin explains the characters creation as follows:
In the studios, there was a janitor who was quite involved in voodoo. He had used the space to do some voodoo ceremony and a black cape was left behind. I also saw an empty package of cigarettes called “Classico” whose character’s picture shows him using a top hat and a cape. I rented a top hat. I got my old black suit and bought a new black shirt, plus the cape, and as a result, I played Coffin Joe by myself.
(Off Screen Volume 9, Issue 6; 2005)
The primary narrative thread throughout the Coffin Joe (the English translation of Zé do Caixão) trilogy centres on Joe's search for a bride who will give birth to his child. Joe's selection process is more stringent than any series of the Bachelor and the punishment for those who do not meet the criteria althogether more deadly. The Coffin Joe character did appear in many of Marin's later films, however At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul (1964), This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse (1967) and Embodiment of Evil (2008) make up the actual Zé do Caixão trilogy.
The first film to feature Zé, At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul, is widely acknowledged as Brazil's first horror film. This, in iteslf is hugely important; giving the film historical context. A deeply religous country, the introductions and continued voice-over throughout the movies of Jose Marin were atheist at best and pseudo-satanic at worst. Anti-God, anti-establishment, anti-everything; this would hinder Marin throughout his 'career' as he struggled to find funding and backers for his films which were so opposed to his Brazilian heritage.
Joe continues his search for a superior female to take his hand in marriage in the sequal entitled This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse; released three years after the original before bringing the series to an end over 40 years later with Embodiment of Evil. Having served 40 years in prison for his crimes Zé is released and wastes little time in resuming his previous deviances. The most accomplished of the trilogy, Embodiment is higher in budget, prodcution values and clearly Marin's film making experience has developed over his thirty-plus directorial features.
My opinion is that, although Emodiment of Evil is most likely to be appreciated by a wider audience, the first film of the trilogy is the stand out in Marin's back catalogue. Striking visuals and contextualised originality set this film apart from the horror films we have grown to love in more recent times. Coffin Joe brought evil intentions to a national cinema that had seen nothing of the like previously. Unfortunately having to resort to an altogether seedier art form in later years, Jose Mojica Marin's deserves a seat at the round table of horrors greatest characters. Having fought censorship and the inherent diffiiculties of being an original when his creation was not invited by the general public, Marin has fought diversity throughout his life as a film-maker.
Currently hosting a monthly Brazilian television show we cannot assume we have seen the end of Coffin Joe. The character came to Jose during a nightmare... he may appear in yours.
Official Site - http://www2.uol.com.br/zedocaixao/
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