Black witchcraft curse is a widely discussed and feared concept in various cultures and beliefs. It is often associated with the use of supernatural powers and rituals to cause harm or misfortune to someone. This type of curse is believed to be fueled by negative intentions and darker forces. Black witchcraft curses are believed to be powerful and potent, often invoking supernatural entities and spirits to carry out their effects. Those who practice black witchcraft are considered to have a deep understanding of the occult and black magic, using it to manipulate and harm others. The cursed person may experience a range of negative effects, including physical illness, mental distress, financial difficulties, and relationship problems.
The plots to these movies scarcely bear discussion. The overall story involves mad scientist/super criminal Dr. Krupp (played with hammy glee by Luis Aceves Castañeda) — professionally known as “The Bat” — and his efforts to get his mitts on Popoca’s breastplate and bracelet in order to locate the “treasure of Aztecs.” This — and the translation of the inscriptions — requires the unwilling help of Dr. Eduardo Almada (Ramón Gay), his fiancée, Flor, their assorted family members and the comic relief hanger-on, Pinacate (Crox Alvarado). Kidnappings, hypnosis, death threats, a death chamber full of snakes, and a wonderful jailbreak involving toy machine-guns that clearly don’t fire anything ensue. The second film, The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957), throws in a masked wrestler called The Angel, who tools around in a 1954 MG TF — apparently mindless of the potential for an Isadora Duncan demise with his cape fluttering perilously near the wire wheel knock-offs. He turns out to be…well, we’ll leave that to the film’s skillful plotting. Mostly, he just shows up and strikes wrestler poses. The third film only mentions him once in passing. How quickly they forget.
Krupp played with hammy glee by Luis Aceves Castañeda professionally known as The Bat and his efforts to get his mitts on Popoca s breastplate and bracelet in order to locate the treasure of Aztecs. I wouldn t call them good, but, boy, are they ever goofy fun with a maniacal super criminal, a masked wrestler, secret treasure, hypnotism, a snake pit, a really slow-moving mummy and, well, you get the idea.
The cursed person may experience a range of negative effects, including physical illness, mental distress, financial difficulties, and relationship problems. It is believed that the curse will continue to affect its target until it is broken or countered by an expert in the field of witchcraft or spiritual healing. Over the years, various methods have been used to protect oneself from black witchcraft curses.
The Curse of the Aztec Mummy / The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy
In Brief: It's a double dose of Mexican mummy horror — The Curse of the Aztec Mummy and The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy — and the films provide just the kind of entertainment those titles suggest. I wouldn't call them good, but, boy, are they ever goofy fun — with a maniacal super criminal, a masked wrestler, secret treasure, hypnotism, a snake pit, a really slow-moving mummy and, well, you get the idea.
While it is true that Mexican horror movies of the 1950s and early 1960s are perhaps the last (largely) unexplored area of classic horror cinema, it should immediately be noted that the Aztec Mummy trilogy has nothing at all to do with classic anything—except perhaps classic bad cinema. These films are not at all in the same league as the Abel Salazar productions—though his brother, Alfredo, had a hand in writing these. OK, so all Mexican horror is…well, a little on the goofy side. The Aztec Mummy movies, however, are somewhere in between amusingly screwy and flat-out crazy. All in all, the biggest identifying quality of the film is the difficulty in believing that these movies were written by adults. The feeling is more that they must have been dreamed up by schoolboys over the course of an afternoon or less. Like the better Mexican horrors, they steal wildly from the old Universal films, but whether the folks making them understood what they were copying is open to question.
You may wonder why the first film of the series is being skipped in favor of the back-to-back sequels. Well, that’s pretty simple: There doesn’t appear to be a watchable copy of The Aztec Mummy (1957). The scenes involving the Mummy himself are do dark that it’s almost impossible to tell what’s going on. But it doesn’t really matter because you get to see most of the first film as flashbacks in the sequels. (The third film, in fact, opens with nearly 20 minutes of flashbacks. In short, you’re missing nothing by not seeing the first movie.) Even without the first film, these two films include two doses of the supposed Aztec ceremony (they spent good money on all those peacock feathers and you’re going to see them!) where the Mummy, Popoca (Angelo De Steffani), is condemned to guarding a cheesy-looking breastplate and bracelet for eternity, along with his forbidden sweetie, Xochitl (Rosita Arenas), who is put to death for mousing around with Popoca. (All this is revealed by Xochtil’s current incarnation, Flor, under hypnosis.) This consists of some ear-splitting music, much dancing about and a song so bad I doubt it would have even charted on Aztec hit parade. We do, however, learn — based on the evidence — that the ancient Aztecs appear to have invented dry ice. (There’s educational value, see?) The third film, in fact, opens with nearly 20 minutes of flashbacks. In short, you’re missing nothing by not seeing the first movie — apart from another bout of the Aztec ceremony.
The plots to these movies scarcely bear discussion. The overall story involves mad scientist/super criminal Dr. Krupp (played with hammy glee by Luis Aceves Castañeda) — professionally known as “The Bat” — and his efforts to get his mitts on Popoca’s breastplate and bracelet in order to locate the “treasure of Aztecs.” This — and the translation of the inscriptions — requires the unwilling help of Dr. Eduardo Almada (Ramón Gay), his fiancée, Flor, their assorted family members and the comic relief hanger-on, Pinacate (Crox Alvarado). Kidnappings, hypnosis, death threats, a death chamber full of snakes, and a wonderful jailbreak involving toy machine-guns that clearly don’t fire anything ensue. The second film, The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957), throws in a masked wrestler called The Angel, who tools around in a 1954 MG TF — apparently mindless of the potential for an Isadora Duncan demise with his cape fluttering perilously near the wire wheel knock-offs. He turns out to be…well, we’ll leave that to the film’s skillful plotting. Mostly, he just shows up and strikes wrestler poses. The third film only mentions him once in passing. How quickly they forget.
The final film, The Aztec Mummy vs. the Human Robot (1958) is easily the dumbest of the lot, which also means it may just be the most entertaining. Though released the following year, it supposedly takes place five years later — with The Bat up to his old tricks, except now he’s invented a radium-infused robot with a dead guy inside. When I was a kid, I used to spend summers with my grandmother in Concord, NC, and up (or down) the road was a family with a couple of kids I didn’t much like, but who were about my age. One of them had built himself a cardboard robot suit, which memory assures me was more impressive and believable than the one in this movie. In other words, this robot is divinely amusing. Whether or not — even with his deadly radium touch — he’s a match for Popoca remains to be seen. And you’ll have to watch the movie to find out.
The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Curse of the Aztec Mummy and The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy Thursday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.
SHAREAbout Ken Hanke
Head film critic for Mountain Xpress from December 2000 until his death in June 2016. Author of books "Ken Russell's Films," "Charlie Chan at the Movies," "A Critical Guide to Horror Film Series," "Tim Burton: An Unauthorized Biography of the Filmmaker."
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.
These methods typically involve rituals, prayers, or the use of objects believed to have protective powers. In some cultures, amulets, talismans, or spiritual cleansings are used to ward off the negative effects of curses. While black witchcraft curses are deeply rooted in folklore and superstition, there is no scientific evidence to support their existence. Skeptics argue that the effects attributed to curses can be easily explained by natural circumstances or psychological factors. It is essential to note that black witchcraft curses are often feared and misunderstood. In modern times, these practices are often portrayed in movies, books, and other forms of media, further contributing to their mystique and intrigue. However, it is vital to approach these topics with an open, critical mind and to encourage rational thinking and scientific inquiry..
Reviews for "Beyond the Veil of Curses: Stories of Black Witchcraft Experiences"
1. Emily - 1 star
I read "Black Witchcraft Curse" thinking it would be an interesting novel combining supernatural elements with suspense. However, I was sorely disappointed. The story lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The plot was predictable and failed to hold my interest. Overall, I found the book to be quite boring and did not enjoy it at all.
2. Mike - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Black Witchcraft Curse" as I am a fan of dark fantasy novels. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. The writing style was subpar, with numerous grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. The pacing of the story was also off, making it difficult to stay engaged with the narrative. Additionally, the characters lacked development and I couldn't root for anyone. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment, and I would not recommend it.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
"Black Witchcraft Curse" left much to be desired. The world-building was minimal, which made it difficult to fully understand the setting and atmosphere. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it challenging to connect with the characters. The story had potential, but it lacked the depth and complexity I was hoping for. I found myself disinterested and wanting more from the plot. Overall, this book fell short of my expectations and left me feeling unfulfilled.
4. John - 1 star
"Black Witchcraft Curse" was a complete waste of my time. The story was poorly written, filled with cliche and overused tropes. The characters were shallow and uninspiring, making it difficult to form any emotional attachment to them. I found myself skimming through pages, hoping for something to salvage the reading experience, but unfortunately, it never came. I cannot recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and well-crafted narrative.
5. Emma - 2 stars
I normally enjoy books about witchcraft and the supernatural, but "Black Witchcraft Curse" fell short for me. The writing was inconsistent, with moments of potential brilliance followed by lackluster descriptions and dialogue. The plot felt disjointed and difficult to follow, leaving me confused at times. The ending was rushed and unsatisfying, leaving me with more questions than answers. Overall, this book did not meet my expectations and failed to leave a lasting impact.