“Possibly the murderer used an electric drill. I say this because the person who did it was quite skilled. Just look at these two orifices.” Okay. Watch out for a killer with skill at orifices. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Jeff Mohr, and guest host Ralph Miller – as they check out this Mexican classic while managing to evade the vengeance delivered by The Brainiac (1962).
Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 138 – The Brainiac (1962)
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ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/
In 1661 Mexico, Baron Vitelius is sentenced to be burned alive by the Holy Inquisition of Mexico. As he dies, the Baron swears vengeance against the descendants of the Inquisitors. 300 years later, he returns as a horrible, brain-eating monster to enact his vengeance.
- Director: Chano Urueta
- Writers: Federico Curiel, Adolfo López Portillo; Antonio Orellana (uncredited)
- Producer: Abel Salazar
- Selected Cast:
- Abel Salazar as Baron Vitelius d’Estera
- Luis Aragon as Prof. Milan
- Rubén Rojo as Reynaldo Miranda / Marcos Miranda
- Rosa María Gallardo as Victoria Contreras (as Rosa Ma. Gallardo)
- David Silva as the Detective-Inspector
- Federico Curiel as Detective
- Germán Robles as Indelacio Pantoya/Sebastian de Pantoja
- Roxana Bellini as María de Pantoja (daughter)
- René Cardona as Baltasar de Meneses / Luis Meneses
- Ofelia Guilmáin as Señora Meneses
- Magda Urvizu as Ana Luisa del Vivar (as Magda Urbizu)
- Carlos Nieto as Lic. Francisco Coria
- Mauricio Garcés as Médico forense / Forensic surgeon
- Marco Antonio Arzate as Álvaro de Contreras (uncredited)
The Brainiac is Ralph’s pick. He’d always been intrigued by that weird thing he’d seen in images from the film and knew there had to be a crazy movie there. He also thought it would make for a fun discussion and he was right.
Daphne had seen the Rifftrax treatment of The Brainiac so appreciates watching this fun and ridiculous movie “straight” for the first time. She loves the atmosphere and the mid-century furniture and clothing. What really gets to her, though, is when the Baron eats unrefrigerated brains!
Once Chad saw the hands on the poster as little hairy butts, he was gone. He goes so far as to call The Brainiac the weirdest movie he’s ever seen, and that’s saying a lot. The story’s two police officers, looking like they’re straight out of a Little Rascals episode, just happen to show up at the Baron’s abode with flame throwers. For him, it’s a fun movie. The translation and dubbing in The Brainiac remind Jeff of El Santo and Blue Demon movies, becoming another part of the entertainment.
If you have a hankering to see The Brainiac, also known as El barón del terror, you can stream it from hoopla, tubi, and PlutoTV.
Ralph Miller, the Grue Crew’s guest host, was a special effects artist in the 1980s and early 1990s. To hear more about Ralph’s work and experiences check out these episodes where we discuss Ralph’s work with him:
- Interview With Special Effects Artist Ralph Miller III – Episode 155 – Decades Of Horror 1980s
- TRICK OR TREAT (1986) – Episode 156 – Decades Of Horror 1980s
- FROM BEYOND (1986) – Episode 199 – Decades Of Horror 1980s
Correction: While discussing the Classic Horror Movie Channel, Jeff mentions watching “The Man with the Atomic Brain” on the streaming channel. In reality, the film was Creature with the Atom Brain (1955). He apologizes for the error.
Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule, as chosen by Daphne, will be The Deadly Bees (1966), an Amicus production directed by Freddie Francis.
Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com
To each of you from each of them, “Thank you so much for listening!”
Jeff has written for Horrornews.net and SQ Horror Magazine. He currently writes for Gruesome Magazine and is a co-host of the Decades of Horror podcasts - The Classic Era, 1970s, and 1980s - and the Gruesome Magazine Podcast.
