Muñecos infernales (1961) User Reviews

The "dolls" certainly are creepy little buggers

[bensonmum2 · 6/10 · 20 August 2006]

I feel very fortunate to have seen the original Spanish version of Munecos infernales instead of the cut, poorly dubbed American film known as The Curse of the Doll People. If you go into Munecos infernales expecting great cinema, you'll probably come away disappointed. But, if you lower those expectations a bit and enjoy the film for what it is, you might just have fun with it.

The plot concerns a group of men who have returned from a trip to Haiti. While there, they witnessed a voodoo ritual and managed to steal a voodoo idol. Before they could get away, however, the voodoo priest put a curse on the men and their families. Now, one by one, the men are dying mysterious deaths.

The best part of Munecos infernales has to be the "dolls". In reality, they're nothing more than midgets with paper-mâché masks that resemble their last victim. It may sound silly, but these are some creepy little buggers that actually manage to create a little atmosphere and sense of dread. On the downside, the film fells terribly padded to extend the runtime. For example, there are a couple of scenes where we see people going through windows that seem to go on forever. I previewed The Curse of the Doll People and, unfortunately, the cuts made to it don't include scenes like this.

Walking killer voodoo dolls out for blood!

[evilskip · 7/10 · 30 June 1999]

4 men defile a voodoo temple by stealing a sacred idol.They are cursed by a voodoo priest. He warns them that they and their families will die horribly.Sure enough the men are being systematically bumped off one by one by killer dolls.(The killer dolls are midgets in fright masks and they will give you the creeps.Hard to forget them).

Men die but are undead (for a short time anyways). The dolls then wear the likeness of their victims. The showdown at the lair of the voodoo priest is rip roaring.The absolute ending is somewhat hysterical.

This would be a 9 or a 10 if it weren't for the lousy dubbing (especially the hammy actor dubbing for the villain) and the editing is extremely choppy. Worth a look, especially late at night!

THE CURSE OF THE DOLL PEOPLE (Benito Alazraki, 1961) **1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 6/10 · 13 October 2006]

I was looking forward to this Mexican horror film - released on DVD not by Casanegra but rather by BCI as a double-bill with NIGHT OF THE BLOODY APES (1969), which I should be getting to presently, and where the two films are accompanied by their alternate English-dubbed variants - because of its similarity to Tod Browning's THE DEVIL-DOLL (1936), but it turned out to be something of a disappointment!

Even if the villain of the piece is appropriately flamboyant and the fact that the voodoo expert in this case is a woman is, in itself, a novelty with respect to this type of film, it's all rather uninspired - with even the trademark atmosphere coming off as somewhat flat! However, my biggest gripe with the film concerns the titular creatures: their movements are so awkward and sluggish, and their appearance (obviously midgets wearing a none-too-convincing mask!) so poorly realized that the suspense in their numerous attacks (and the terror they're supposed to evoke) is greatly diluted!!

The script, too, is something of a hack job, as we basically get an uninterrupted succession of people being rushed to hospital after an attack by the dolls (made in the image of previous victims - with the funniest-looking being one sporting a large pair of glasses!) where the doctors are apparently dumb-founded as to the source of their 'ailment'!! Equally ridiculous is the hulking zombie whom the sorcerer uses to do his evil bidding: how he's never noticed by anyone out on the streets as he's carrying the dolls (in large packages) is anybody's guess; incongruous, too, is the fact that the sorcerer has relocated to Mexico from Haiti (going after the infidels who stole the all-important statue of one of the gods of his sect) but, apparently, has contrived to bring along with him a whole set of exotic paraphernalia to decorate his new residence - including an enormous sarcophagus for the zombie to sleep in!

Still, even if there are several long-winded explanatory scenes, some moments are undeniably effective - for instance, the doll autopsy scene, with the creepy effect of its eyes (after the head has been disembodied) suddenly starting to gleam...even if the scene does include a hilarious shot of a male doctor closely inspecting a pair of tiny boots!; and the climax - as is typical of many of these films, it all ends in a blaze (and where one reluctant doll proceeds to exact revenge on its master!) - is also nicely handled.

The extras are minimal (only a still gallery - I have little use for the English-dubbed version prepared by K. Gordon Murray, especially since it's cut by some 13 minutes!) and the print quality is quite poor, when compared to the Casanegra releases...

Worth watching for the dolls

[pmsusana · 28 January 2001]

Like most of K. Gordon Murray's imports from Mexico, this film has great black & white photography, terrific creepy atmosphere, and hilariously bad English dubbing. However, the scenes showing the dolls going about their deadly business still come across very well, since the dolls don't speak. (Item of interest: If you enjoy this film, you should also check out MGM's similar "The Devil Doll" (1936)).

Enjoyable movie best viewed in the original uncut Spanish version

[unclewilfred · 7/10 · 12 March 2016]

To the best of my knowledge, this movie is available on DVD only in the original Spanish language version or the American International dubbed version. My BCI Crypt of Terror Vol. 2 set claims to have the original Spanish version with English subtitles, but this turned out not to be the case. Even though I am not fluent in Spanish, the original version is the one to check out and the Spanish version boasts a much clearer image (the VCI Entertainment DVD has both versions). Also, the dubbed version eliminates some key scenes which I think make the story more cohesive. To begin with, the American version doesn't as clearly portray the fact that the souls of the murdered men are being drawn by the voodoo priest into the puppet dolls. The dolls are supposed to portray the faces of the murdered men, and also contain their captured souls. A scene involving the blonde nurse shows this most clearly, but is missing from the American version. I love Mexican horror movies of the 1950s and 1960s, and even though this has its flaws, it is among my favorites. Definitely worth checking out, for those who appreciate moody, cheesy black and white horror films. Enjoy!

Gore Mongral Movie Review: Curse of the Doll People

[ChiefGoreMongral · 5/10 · 16 September 2006]

Well I'm back yet again with another review. I figured since I already reviewed the first movie on the Crypt of Terror 2 disc set I'd review the second. Lets have a look at some Mexicana horror with some killer dolls!!! Curse of the Doll People is a 1960 Mexican Horror Flick that tells the tale of a group of archaeologists who steal an idol from the ancient grounds of Coombas. The first 10 minutes of the film explains this as oppose to showing this with a group of friends talking about the experience they had, the curse that was put on the group that stole it and how in the next 5 minutes the said curse will end as no one has died yet and it was the last moon of the curse.

The gentleman should have kept his mouth shut because just before the stroke of midnight he ends up dead. Shortly after several others attached to the theft begin to show up dead and luckily a friend of there's, who is an expert on voodoo and occult issues begins to put some pieces together for them, despite the skepticism that several have toward her. She and those involved begin to find out that the killer(s) are cursed dolls (aka midgets with doll masks on LOL, great stuff!!!). Obviously knowing that they cannot be the masterminds they begin investigating into who is "pulling their strings". Is it the large mysterious "delivery man" or is it someone with more sinister ties to what was stolen? Going into this film I had heard several positive things about it and overall I have to say I liked this movie. It is a 1960's black and white movie so going into this for a pure gore stand point is not what this movie is about. It is more about the interesting story that makes up the first 2/3rds of the film as it plays out a lot like another cult related title from Hammer called "The Devil Rides Out". In fact for the first portion of this film it more or less does for Voodoo and Egyptian Paganism what that film did for the Satanic Occult. However once we find out who the killer is the movie kind of looses steam and begins to play out more like a 1930's TV serial, something like "The Phantom Creeps" springs to mind. Not that it is necessarily a bad thing but after the film took most of the running time to build up such an interesting premise only to fall into that kind of trapping it really let me down.

Enough with that though what was the good stuff...again midget killers, curses and some general cool goings on in the first half of the film, especially the explanations of what each curse or death was or what it could mean had me feeling like I was taking "Ancient Rituals 101" and kept me wrapped up in the story. I would have to say that I was interested with this movie and its story far more than the other film in the double set "Night of the Bloody Apes" which goes to show gore does not make a movie, it only enhances it.

In the end I was really going to give this a higher mark however due to the lackluster finale not to mention the effects that went along with that ending (to outdated even for the 50's and 60's) I can only give this movie: 5/10 average, if you can overlook the last part of the movie your review will probably be more forgiving. As for myself, it really caused me to start to tune out. Fans of occult films and midget murderers will like this one I feel more than the average fan. So if you are down with that and old school film-making check this one out, others who do not care for such things in their horror proceed to the next film on your list.

Again this film is part of the first DVD release from Deimos Entertainment packed with Night of the Bloody Apes its a solid 2 pack that is well worth any horror fans purchase. The film quality on "Doll People" is middle of the road. Presented in Pan and Scan and what looks to be digitally mastered but not remastered It is a step or 2 above any VHS copy that you may have seen, its just that the film looks to have seen some better days. The movie also really puts the black in black and white as the blacks are deep and the white seems a more muddled grey. Again this could be the way it was filmed, that... I'm not aware of. On an average scale of 1-10 I would say the print is about a 6-7 for the DVD format.

That's it for now folks!!! Until next time remember: Do Not Steal From Witchdoctors!!!, it could be bad for your health.

Midgets in masks as dolls with daggers.

[BA_Harrison · 6/10 · 3 July 2023]

A lot of the Mexican horrors that I have watched recently have been badly dubbed into English (and re-edited in some cases) for an American audience by the likes of Jerry Warren and K. Gordon Murray, but I managed to find an original subtitled copy of The Curse of the Doll People, which is always my preferred option. Of course, it helps that this one isn't yet another run-of-the-mill Aztec mummy or vampire flick (however, it must be said that the basic plot is somewhat reminiscent of the 1955 film Cult of the Cobra).

The story concerns a group of men who find themselves cursed after unwisely sneaking into a Haitian voodoo ritual and hot footing it with the Houngan's sacred idol. Voodoo priest Zandor (Quintín Bulnes) sends his zombie Staloon to deliver dolls to the homes of the men, the creepy figures coming to life to kill...

Played by midgets wearing masks that resemble previous victims, the dolls in this film are surprisingly chilling, each armed with a needle-like dagger with which to stab their victims. Zombie Staloon is also a lot of fun, an unkillable monster with a manky, decayed face and immense strength who is partial to playing the flute! As with many Mexican horrors of the day, there's an attractive woman-in-peril and a hero with a pencil moustache. The film does seem to run out of steam in the final act, ending in a predictable blaze that engulfs the voodoo priest and his dolls, but the film as a whole is an entertaining time.

The Curse of the Doll People

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 7 November 2017]

This film begins with an unmarried couple by the names of "Karina" (Elvira Quintana) and "Armando Vales" (Ramon Gay) who are both medical doctors and have been invited to attend a dinner with four distinguished men and their families. When they arrive they learn that these four men have just returned from a trip to Haiti and while there they secretly witnessed a voodoo ceremony which was strictly forbidden to outsiders. Having already committed one serious breach of etiquette, they make it even worse when one of them steals a sacred idol from the Haitian temple to add to his personal collection of artifacts. Needless to say, this infuriates the voodoo priest "Zandor" (Quintin Bulnes) who places a terrible curse upon all four of them-and their families as well. As it so happens, however, Karina is not only a doctor of medicine but a scholar of ancient cultures and the occult and this gives her special insight into the horrible events that begin to take place to the four men involved in the theft. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an unusual film in that the lead actress (Elvira Quintana) plays the role of the expert and the villains (for the most part) are essentially 2-foot manikins who come to life as midgets in order to do the bidding of the Haitian voodoo priest. Yet, as ridiculous as the plot may sound and as poor as the special effects were, the surprising thing is that this film actually wasn't as bad as it should have been. Of course, a great deal of the credit has to go to Elvira Quintana who essentially stole the show with her beauty and charm. Be that as it may, while this certainly isn't the best "Zombie movie" ever made it was good enough for the time spent and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.

Creepy!

[mgraz2 · 9/10 · 29 March 2005]

As the movie description states, this is a poorly-dubbed film, which makes it all the more creepy...I watched this movie as a child, at first in a room full of children on a rainy day, only to be left alone...I could not take my eyes off of the television set; I was memorized by those dolls and their faces..Still scared out of my mind, I would back away from the set, only to peek around for another look...needless to say, I watched this movie until the end, which I shouldn't have but am now glad I did...it affected me like no other movie of it's time...I could never find this movie again, not realizing as a child it was a Mexican film...when I was 18, I was at a friends' house and, lo and behold, this movie pops up...I ran to the TV Guide to find out the name of the movie that scared me the most, and this was it...This movie has stayed with me all of these years...it may have a campy affect on adults, but it was well worth watching again as an adult to see those doll freaks terrorizing the humans...I love horror films, and this one ranks right up there with the best of them...just the looks on the dolls' faces is enough to give you nightmares...!

Seen on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater in 1968

[kevinolzak · 6/10 · 25 September 2019]

1960's "The Curse of the Doll People" ("Munecos Infernales" aka Infernal Dolls or Hellish Dolls) is definitely one of the more memorable Mexican entries from the pen of Alfredo Salazar, brother of actor/producer Abel, and author of the Aztec Mummy trilogy plus "The Vampire's Coffin," "The New Invisible Man," "The Man and the Monster," "The World of the Vampires," "Doctor of Doom" and "The Wrestling Women vs the Aztec Mummy" (at the helm was director Benito Alazraki, later efforts including "Spiritism" and El Santo's starring debut "Invasion of the Zombies"). Held over from the Aztec Mummy series is actor Ramon Gay, who was shot to death by a jealous husband shortly after filming concluded, while Quintin Bulnes essayed similar voodoo master roles in "The Living Coffin" and a pair of Boris Karloff Mexi-movies, "Snake People" and the very similar "House of Evil" (more murderous dolls at work). Haitian voodoo rituals are discussed rather than seen to start, as a quartet of adventurers make the fatal mistake of stealing a precious voodoo idol to hightail it back home to Mexico, only for the mesmerizing priest to follow, placing a curse upon them and their families to begin at the stroke of midnight on a certain date. Incredibly, the main culprit who previously boasted of adding the idol to his collection grasps his chest and expires at the exact time predicated, and by the half hour mark all four despoilers have perished, each succeeding doll emerging with their features. The Devil Doll Men are nattily dressed in suits and ties, using a long poison needle like a piercing knife, standing about three feet tall, about the size of a ventriloquist's dummy (Richard Gordon's "Devil Doll" would not be made until 1963). Viewers would forever remember the lifeless staring masks, a fine makeup job reproducing the four actors, right down to the beard, mustache or glasses; we actually see one attack a cop before being run over, a kind of autopsy showing its severed head with glowing eyes conducting its hypnotic effect on the female lead (Elvira Quintana), the chest cut open prior to purifying fire destroying the remains. These tiny assassins must obey the master or face severe punishment, delivered in a small crate to their intended victims by a silent zombie complete with shriveled face, another nice touch that delivers additional chills. The only real detriment, apart from the 13 minutes of footage cut from the AIP-TV print (reduced to 69 minutes) is the script's plodding nature, but once the dolls start walking things improve dramatically. The casting of gorgeous top billed Elvira Quintana as a voodoo expert was also an achievement for such an obviously low budget production, it was her sole genre credit in a career that abruptly ended with her premature death in 1968.

Oh K Gordon

[BandSAboutMovies · 5/10 · 30 June 2020]

Better known by its U.S. title Curse of the Doll People, this movie was directed by Benito Alazraki, who also was behind Santo contra Los Zombies and Espiritismo, both made the same year as this film.

Four men have stolen an idol from a voodoo priest. I don't have to tell you what a bad idea that is in any country. Soon, evil dolls begin killing their family members years before we even heard of Puppet Master. It's actually based on the book Burn Witch Burn! by A. Merritt, which has nothing to do with the movie of the same name. That British-American film was originally called Night of the Eagle and based on the Fritz Leiber novel Conjure Wife.

Speaking of that movie, it had a Paul Frees-narrated prologue in which he read a protective spell for the audience, who were also given further occult defenses via a special pack of salt and the words to an ancient incantation.

This movie has no such assurances.

K. Gordon Murray, who brought The Brainiac and Santa Claus up north, as well as the writer of Shanty Tramp, also brought this movie to America, but not before adding some new scenes.

Ramon Gay, who was in all of the Aztec Mummy films, stars. He was one of the brightest lights in Mexican cinema when a dispute over the affections of the actress Evangelina Elizondo ended with her estranged husband shooting Gay dead.

Toy Story meets the Sonora Market

[ovejaelectrica_att6 · 10/10 · 27 December 2002]

When i was a kid (maybe 4 or 5 years old) i see this movie on TV. I can clearly remember the "human dolls": their childish movements, their grotesque faces, and abode all ... their lethal weapons: Big Needles really sharpened!!!. B&W films got some special charm in the horror and sci-fi genres. It catch you because (i think) is more like as the dreams are made of or showed us when we sleep (or does anybody here can remember a dream in glorious technicolor???). Anyway, the fact is that "Muñecos Infernales" are the ground zero of many mexicans in the strage and weird wolrd of gore and horror film ... a masterpiece, and a very good example of the melting pot that became the mexican films in the 50's and 60's. (voodo, catolicism, a police plot, weird science, romance and a touch of involuntary humor ... a nice blend!)

A hilarious attempt at 60's horror film production!

[fujowpai · 3/10 · 5 January 2001]

In short, it's about a group of men who interrupt a sacred voodoo temple ceremony. The voodoo "chief" sets a curse on each man - in the form of an animate doll (played by midget actors!) The dolls fulfil their revenge motives, but not before the viewer gets a good laugh at the poor dubbing, ridiculous acting and corny music. However, the saving grace (if there really is one) goes to the masks worn by the midget actors, which really were somewhat startling. Thumbs up to the makeup department. You might want to look into it, if you're a fan of occult horror.

Right next to Brainiac as the best of Mexican Horror...

[rixrex · 12 July 2009]

My favorite Mexican Horror film Brainiac, aka Baron of terror, has got good competition here with this extremely eerie and moody terror drama about a voodoo curse involving menacing, murderous 'dolls' brought to life.

These 'dolls' are actually closer to the size of a ventriloquist's's dummy, and apparently are being performed by rather small midgets. However goofy this may sound, the dolls are actually very spooky and take the facial appearance of the people they have murdered, with rather stolid expressions. This is a very nice effect as it makes the dolls more menacing.

They are silent and lethal, and get away with ease, making quite a mystery, except for the viewer of course. The addition of a full-sized hideous zombie, plus a fine and eerie music score make this worthwhile viewing. As always, with Mexican horror films, it's quick pace keeps you from dwelling on some plot weaknesses and weird wording due to dubbing into English.

I could feel creeping dolls within two feet, but here? No!

[mark.waltz · 3/10 · 29 June 2018]

In my excessive movie viewing over the years, I have followed the themes of various genres and seen the same plotlines being done over and over again at the expense of a good story and realistic situations. Certainly the story of a Haitian curse that brings rag dolls to life to stab their look-alike humans with thin but sharp needles isn't at all realistic, but there is some creepiness to the way it is presented. This Mexican horror movie, badly dubbed into English for the print I saw, has some very spooky elements to it, especially the rock star like leader of this voodoo cult, but one thing about it bothered me. When the little people approaching their victims got closer, it should have been obvious that there was something there. I can feel the presence of a bug or a mouse near me when I'm home and spot it before it bolts away, but the four men who become victims here don't even feel the presence of something sneaking up on them. Granted, one is asleep, but even asleep, I can be jolted awake by the slightest sound, especially if I feel the element of danger.

The film opens on a great note, with the group of men and their families as well as a female doctor friend standing around just minutes before the apparent ending of a Haitian curse. They are looking on an old Haitian artifact which was taken out of a temple, and reflect on how they were told that by the stroke of midnight on a certain night, that curse would end. Otherwise, if one were to be killed before hand, the rest would follow. Sure as zombies beat drums in the forest, one of them is killed, having gone up to look in on his daughter as the clock prepares to strike midnight. But like the other victims, he doesn't even feel the presence of approaching doom. It just got more and more aggravating to watch this recurring oversight, which did not occur when the beautiful Elvira Quintana becomes a stalking victim after a meeting with cult leader Quintin Bulnes.

Quintana and Bulnes become the two most interesting characters in the film, with Quintana expressing much of the back story and the morality and pending danger of what the four explorers had done. Bulnes, in his Buster Brown black hairdo and goatee, is quite sexy in a sinister way, showing how seductive evil can be. The film does have some moments where I felt drawn into the details of the legends and felt equally spooked out by some of the goings on, and the "Freaks"/"Devil Doll" like presence of approaching evil through these dolls (one later hit by a car and smashed to bits in a revealing scene) was quite chilling as well. But with the sense of approaching danger, there should have been some last minute realization by the victims that they were about to become a pin cushion, and the lack of that detail had me shaking my head in disbelief.

Maybe it could have been called "Attack of the Killer Midgets,,,as Well as a Few Zombies".

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 23 March 2017]

This film is known in the States as "Curse of the Doll People" and this title makes it easy to mix up with the earlier American film "Attack of the Puppet People". The earlier one was released by MGM and this film was a Mexican-made horror film released by the ultra- low budget American International Pictures. AIP often bought foreign films (from Mexico, Italy and USSR) for cheap and then dubbed them into English. Fortunately, the dubbing for "Curse of the Doll People" is surprisingly good...though you wonder what liberties they took with the original plot.

When the film begins, a group of rich folks are sitting about and talking about an archaeological expedition several of them recently went on in Haiti. They don't SHOW any of this but talk about it, I can only assume to save money!! These jerks apparently stole an interesting looking idol and the local voodoo priest has cursed them...and they are laughing about this curse....all but the seemingly all-knowing Dr. Karen. Soon, one of them dies...and Dr. Karen announces it's revenge for the theft. Soon, the folks start dying one after another...and Dr. Karen seems to know why this is occurring...it's revenge from the voodoo priest!! This revenge comes in the form of some midgets wearing goofy papier mache masks. I did find it interesting, however, that two of the evil midgets fought over killing the young daughter of one of the victims...so one of the evil dolls had heart!

While all this might sound rather cheesy, compared to most Mexican horror films of the era I've seen (such as "The Aztec Mummy Versus the Humanoid Robot" and the luchador films where masked wrestlers battle the likes of Frankenstein and the Wolfman) it is amazingly well made. At least the atmosphere is good and the acting and sets aren't terrible. Mind you, it's still a pretty cheap little film but could have been a lot dumber!! For me, however, this is much of the charm of many of the Mexican horror pictures...they are so silly that they can be fun! For quality of the entire production this one earns a 3...but for fun if you LIKE goofy movies, I'd give this one an 8!

A hugely enjoyable early 60's Mexican horror flick

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 29 May 2007]

Four archaeologists take a sacred idol from a holy temple. Evil and powerful voodoo priest Zandor (robustly played by Quintin Bulnes) puts a curse on the four men and their loved ones. The guys are stalked and killed by lethal dolls armed with sharp poison needles. Director Benito Alazraki maintains a brisk pace throughout, elicits spirited acting from a fine cast (the lovely Elvira Quintana is especially good as occult expert Karina), and expertly creates a supremely spooky atmosphere. Enrique Wallace's stark, grainy cinematography and the brooding score further enhance the overall creepy mood. But it's the film's ruthless open season on everybody grimly serious tone that gives this picture an additional eerie and unnerving edge (the doll autopsy scene in particular is a definite ghoulish highlight). The doll people, portrayed by midgets in macabre masks with their victims' faces on them, are truly freaky and unsettling creatures. Zandor's hulking rot-faced zombie servant is likewise really cool and grotesque. The sequences in Zandor's underground lair totally smoke. A fun and worthwhile fright feature.

Death Walks On Tiny Feet...

[azathothpwiggins · 7 August 2020]

In CURSE OF THE DOLL PEOPLE, a group of explorers abscond with a sacred idol from a voodoo priest, ticking him off royally. Said black arts practitioner then sends out his living dolls to assassinate these blasphemers! In addition to the murderous dolls, there's a 7' tall, flute-playing zombie, and the voodoo dood's secret lair, complete with cobwebs and skeletons.

This film has a dreary, ominous atmosphere, and, as silly as it may sound, those little needle-wielding dolls are pretty creepy! Highly entertaining Mexican cinema...