At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul (1964) Review

Released in 1964 and considered to be Brazil’s first horror movie, At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul is the first appearance of the now iconic villain ‘Coffin Joe’. A menacing undertaker dressed in black with a top hat and cape, he became the chilling embodiment of rebellion in a time of nationalism, dictatorships and a society clinging to traditionalist beliefs.

Until now I was completely unaware of Coffin Joe’s huge popularity. The brainchild of writer-director José Mojica Marins, his character has become a cult icon in Brazil and across the horror world being referred to as the “Brazilian equivalent of Freddy Krueger.” The success of this film and the reception to the character launched a whole series of films, he hosted a TV series, appeared in comic books and a music video. Decades later Marins appeared for the last time as Coffin Joe in Embodiment of Evil (2008). After 80 years, Coffin Joe has left quite the legacy.

At Midnight I Take Your Soul centres, of course, around Coffin Joe, the local undertaker. His world is one of death, a stark contrast to the life-affirming catholic townsfolk around him. He’s obsessed with the idea that he can achieve immortality through the ‘continuity of the bloodline’ and is on the hunt for the perfect woman to bear him a superior child. Things don’t bode well for Joe as his wife’s infertility only fuels his rage and pushes him to the brink of unspeakable acts.

Make no mistake, Joe is a nasty man. Graphic violence, torture, murder and even sexual assault are all unflinchingly depicted. It’s shocking and brutal, even by today’s standards. You can only imagine what audiences back then, accustomed to heavy censorship would have thought when confronted with this dastardly character. There’s plenty of religious shock treatment too as Coffin Joe constantly mocks traditions and rituals. From chomping on a leg of lamb during Holy Friday in front of a praying procession to slamming a crown of thorns into the face of a bar patron, everything he does is dripping with blasphemy. His obsession with blood and lineage, and the pursuit of the “perfect child” flies in the face of the Catholics belief in the sanctity of life. He sees himself as a superior to God and even challenges the spirit world to punish him for his evil deeds. To be so openly defiant of religious authority only heightens the controversy, but equally, the allure surrounding this film.

It’s a strange paradox though because, despite Coffin Joe being a deplorable man, driven by a twisted moral compass, he’s undeniably charismatic. His theatrical persona, spindly long fingernails and booming pronouncements make him a captivating and complex character. He’s violent and cruel and his actions are reprehensible! But in a society defined by strict social rules it’s no surprise he became this gothic iconoclast figure and symbol of the anti-establishment.

This was my first journey into the mind of Coffin Joe, but it won’t be my last. I’m eager to see more of these films and find out how he continues to challenge the status quo. Despite this film’s flaws of being rather melodramatic and somewhat loose on plot, it’s been an interesting exploration of the willingness to push boundaries and question the unquestionable. So if you fancy diving deeper into the world of Brazilian cult cinema, keep an eye out for the undertaker in black!

I also discovered that Arrow Video has put together an amazing limited edition blu-ray box set that descends, head first, into the madness of Coffin Joe and his creator. There’s a 6 disc collection with tons of extra features and some brilliant artwork, both creepy and enchanting. It’s the perfect way to house this collection of cult classics so be sure to check it out.

Movie Rating:

At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul trailer