By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Director: Alberto Sedano
Year: 2025
Running time: 122
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33295808/reference/
Brett says: “Have you ever deliberately sat and reflected on the merits and benefits resulting from Francisco Franco’s fascist takeover of the Spanish government during the Spanish Civil War, which limited the freedoms and rights of everyday citizens and forced a whole population to swear allegiance to one man or pay the consequences? I mean, sure, you SAY you’ve done that exact thing, but have you really?
“Severin Films has now released EXORCISMO to explore this very topic in an unusual twist on the fallout from decades of Franco control during the mid-20thcentury. Having previously found success with documentaries on the cultural impacts and inspirations of British folk horror and explorations on the violent history in the United States, the company now explores a film revolution that took place on the heels of Franco’s death in Spain.
“Revealed within EXORCISMO is the cultural awakening that had been primed by years of oppression. Previously, Spanish filmmakers had to flee to other countries to produce the types of films that had been restricted in an ultra-controlled and restrictive environment within the bounds of the country. Once the floodgates of expression were opened, a sensual and provocative idea rebellion soon followed. And if a viewer has no or limited familiarity with Spanish cinema during the 1970s-1980s, then my, oh my, is that viewer in for quite a ride with this historical reflection.
“With the reins off of creative expression, some filmmakers began to tap into audiences’ most primal urges and interests. In fact, the exploration of a human side that had been restricted for so many decades became so freeform that even the new, more progressive government that followed Franco’s rule had to find a way to keep some semblance of the morality and religious propriety that had been previously force-fed. The result was a negative classification label on films that featured “immoral” and “devious” themes and scenes that intended to deter audiences from seeing such films. Except, uh, it had the opposite effect. Telling audiences it’s in their best interest NOT to see films in this passive aggressive way actually intrigued movie-goers. Therefore, basic supply and demand was the result. Instead of stifling a niche style of film-making probably scoffed at through a modern lens, classifying these films as inappropriate and thusly spawning new, eager audiences just increased the volume of such films being made.
“This ironic and unintended effect constitutes the majority of the documentary. An impressive sampling of the catalog of these exploitation films is offered, each one more head-shaking than the one before. Perhaps the most entertaining aspect of this film craze is the sensationalist titles that resulted. Nevermind the fact that the titles had nothing actually to do with the movie. I mean, “Cheerios” do not feature any British greetings when you open the cereal box, right? Why should movies be any different in terms of misleading audiences?
“If one has a hankering for the extreme and is interested in boundary-pushing, EXORCISMO will prove to be an educational journey through a genre of Spanish film that much of the world remains unaware of, complete with historical context. Testimonials from audience members and filmmakers from outside of that particular era are featured, and viewing guides and clever commentaries from the filmmakers themselves are also included. To top it off, if hearing Iggy Pop narrate a documentary was on your bucket list, well, this film has that as well.”