Paul Naschy, the so-called "Boris Karloff of Spain," was apparently very proud of the work he turned in for Jose Luis Merino's 1973 cult favorite "The Hanging Woman." In an interview taped for the Troma DVD release, shortly before his death from pancreatic cancer in 2009, Naschy revealed that he initially turned the part down, only accepting after Merino allowed him to add some "dimensionality" to the small role of Igor, a grave digger who is murdered shortly after the film's midpoint. Naschy rewrote the part, making Igor a necrophilic grave digger (has there EVER been a "normal" character named Igor in the history of the horror film?) who still has a maximum of a dozen lines in the picture. Rather, "THW" centers around the character of Serge Chekhov (an unappealing performance by Stelvio Rosi), who comes to what I inferred to be an early 20th century Alpine village (although the IMDb says the film takes place in Scotland, for some reason, and the picture was actually shot in Lleida, in the west Catalonia region of Spain) to hear the reading of his deceased uncle's will. Once in the creepy village of Skopje, however, horrible things begin to happen to Chekhov. He discovers his cousin Mary's body hanging from a tree, while his stepaunt Nadia (the beautiful redheaded Maria Pia Conte) turns out to be a sorceress of sorts. His uncle's live-in business partner, Prof. Droila (Gerard Tichy, giving the film's best performance), is experimenting on the "nebulous electricity" of cadavers in the hopes of bringing the dead to life, while no one seems to know what that creepy Igor is up to. Good thing for Chekhov that both Nadia and Droila's beautiful blonde daughter, Doris (Dyanik Zurakowska), are for some reason attracted to the unlikable galoot....A Spanish/Italian coproduction, "THW" was originally released under the title "La Orgia de los Muertos" ("Orgy of the Dead"); I'd like to imagine that its name was changed here in the U.S. to avoid confusion with the Ed Wood stinker of 1965, also called "Orgy of the Dead." Merino's film is a satisfying affair, boasting many staples of the horror genre, such as rats, cemeteries, a secret passage, zombies and subterranean crypts. It also dishes out, for the avid gorehound, that truly nasty shot of the titular hanging woman, a hard-to-look-at autopsy dissection and disemboweling, maggots on a disinterred corpse, and those impressively decomposed walking dead...not to mention a decapitation that Naschy was apparently also very proud of. The ladies are lovely to look at, and Merino manages to give his film some interesting directorial touches (such as that camera revolving around lovers Nadia and Chekhov). Naschy tells us that "THW" is Merino's best film, and not having seen any of Merino's others, who am I to argue? In this same interview, Naschy speaks at some length regarding the similarity of the Igor character here to that of Gotho, the part that he played in that same year's "Hunchback of the Morgue" (a superior film, I feel). I could not quite understand Naschy's comments here, so poorly were the subtitles rendered in this section, but must say that I personally see a great difference between the two characters. Gotho does not strike me as a true necrophiliac, as the deluded, simpleminded hunchback only believes his dead love, Ilse, to be "asleep." Igor, on the other hand, is truly perverted, refusing the libidinous attentions of living, breathing women in favor of the decayed corpses in his underground lair, and collecting women's underwear and photographs of cadavers; a TRULY creepy character, brought to indelible life by Naschy, despite a dearth of screen time.As for this Troma DVD itself, it sports a so-so-looking print, poorly dubbed, that is nevertheless supposedly the most complete print in existence, and comes loaded with a remarkable roster of extras: interviews with Naschy and Merino, as well as Spanish-dubbing director Ben Tatar; commentary by Merino; a 10-minute overview called "Paul Naschy 101"; plus a trailer, copious galleries of stills and posters, AND a whole, separate, full-length, B&W Spanish film from 1965, also featuring Zurakowska, called "The Sweet Sound of Death." An extremely generous package, reasonably priced, of a film that all fans of Paul Naschy--and Eurohorror, in general--should pounce upon like a zombie on a victim....

This is way above-average for a Paul Naschy film – the best I have watched so far, in fact – though his own part is secondary, even brief (albeit undeniably interesting). For the record, the English title has little bearing on the main narrative; the original actually translates to ORGY OF THE DEAD (nothing to do with the 1965 Ed Wood-scripted film). Incidentally, the Spanish dialogue makes all the difference in this case and though the print, culled from a TV broadcast, was far from optimal – especially glaring were the day-for-night scenes – the striking color scheme was effectively rendered nonetheless. As often happens with Euro-Cult fare, there are several alternate versions of this one out there, often sporting ludicrous monikers…none more so than the howlingly {sic} inane BRACULA: THE TERROR OF THE LIVING DEATH!! The premise (for once, not supplied by Naschy himself) is hardly novel, what with the zombie outbreak at its center; however, given the period setting, the fact that the monsters are (refreshingly) of the slave rather than flesh-eating variety, and numerous subplots that include a family inheritance, a mad doctor, the practice of black magic and necrophilia, the result is most enjoyable and reasonably accomplished of its type. The (modern-looking) hero is something of a stud who becomes romantically involved with the nymphomaniac/occultist head of the household (to which he has been invited as a beneficiary of her late husband's will) and her virtuous maid (whose father, played by THE BLANCHEVILLE MONSTER [1963]'s Gerard Tichy, is a live-in scientist and the deceased's ex-partner); of course, the two women (both lovely) cannot stand one another.The film actually starts with the old man's funeral which, however, is immediately followed by the murder of his daughter and heir (the titular victim)! After some typical scared villagers antics, the leading man (one Stan Cooper!) falls foul first of the majordomo and, then, gravedigger Naschy (who is himself seduced by the medium). Soon to appear on the scene are the flustered Mayor and a no-nonsense Police Inspector (investigating the mysterious death, his prime suspects are weirdo Naschy and newcomer Cooper). Both Naschy and the lusty wife end up dead along the way, she during a séance while he is eventually revived as one of the living dead!; though the identity of the real villain is ingeniously revealed, I arrived at that conclusion long before – and there is even a nice twist ending.

Watching this one I came beware that it was made a bit the style of the Hammer movies but this one has his slow start. There is a lot of chatting and for almost an hour nothing happens. But the end makes it a better movie. The zombies look convincing although how they became zombies is rather stupid. My copy on VHS was very dark so sometimes you see almost nothing especially the night and dungeon scenes. It isn't bloody at all, just one heart in a hand that's all. Never released on DVD this one, a shame, well it's watchable and if your in Paul Naschy you should search for this one. For the other actors, they convinced me, Get it while you can...

I saw this dubbed Spanish film as The Hanging Woman, on Gorgon Video. The box promised scenes of brutality, rape, and humiliation beyond Last House on the Left. Just to clear the record, this is not true. There is no rape, and the closest thing to humiliation is when an innocent virgin bares her breasts. There is violence and graphic gore, but it really doesn't kick in until the climax. And what a climax! Bloody zombies rampaging in the best Night of the Living Dead fashion, with the luridness increased in typical European style. The final shot is chilling and almost Bergman-esque. However, the rest of the movie is pretty uneventful. Despite a strong beginning and creepy atmosphere--with the dirtiness of the period perfectly captured by grainy, washed-out color photography--most of the film is like an overlong episode of Dark Shadows. Sexy Dyanik Zurakowska has some powerful nude scenes, and her sex scene with Stelvio Rosi helps spice things up...but not much else happens. Paul Naschy, the reason many people seek this out, has a small role as a red-herring necrophile. On the whole, I think The Hanging Woman is worth seeing--but you should know what you're getting into. If you want your Naschy fix, see one of his werewolf movies.Trivia: La Orgia de los muertos originally hit the States in 1974 as The Hanging Woman. International Artists promoted the film with a Last House-inspired campaign: "For the squeamish, keep repeating: It can't be true, can't be true, can't be true, can't be true, can't be true." Stelvio Rosi was billed as Stanley Cooper.