This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse (1967), José Mojica Marins’ sequel to At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul, dives deeper into the twisted world of Coffin Joe, expanding on themes of existential defiance, legacy, and brutal self-justification. The film builds on the reputation of the sinister undertaker, who now intensifies his search for the “perfect” mother of his progeny. With higher stakes, more explicit brutality, and an even stronger commitment to thematic audacity, This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse pushes the boundaries of Marins’ original vision.

The film’s plot follows Coffin Joe (Zé do Caixão) as he continues his obsessive quest for a worthy woman to bear his child, a pursuit that becomes even darker and more violent. After surviving the retribution faced in At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul, Joe, unrepentant and emboldened, begins torturing and testing women, pushing them through horrifying trials to determine if they meet his twisted criteria. While his earlier blasphemy and moral nihilism painted him as a provocateur, Joe now appears even more ruthless, embodying a sort of twisted Darwinism as he justifies his crimes in the name of securing his legacy. The sequel effectively ups the ante, making Coffin Joe’s deranged quest for immortality and control over fate feel more visceral and disturbing.

The film’s visual style expands as well, reflecting the broader canvas Marins had to work with. There’s a particularly memorable scene where Coffin Joe dreams of Hell, shot in lurid colour, providing a startling contrast to the film’s otherwise stark black-and-white palette. This scene remains one of the most striking and surreal moments in 1960s horror cinema, reinforcing the film’s surrealist roots and adding a vivid, almost expressionistic element to Joe’s nightmarish world. Marins used his limited resources creatively, and this bold use of colour makes an already intense story feel even more haunting and visually ambitious.

In terms of character, Coffin Joe is more complex here, though still equally loathsome. Marins’ portrayal captures Joe’s internal contradictions—the philosophical musings, violent nihilism, and brazen self-confidence—that make him such a compelling anti-hero. Joe’s obsession with purity and genetic perfection not only reflects his ego and disregard for human life but also serves as a grim satire of authoritarian ideals. His monologues delve further into his worldview, questioning religion, morality, and society, challenging the audience directly as he did in the first film, but now with even greater force. Marins’ unhinged commitment to the role provides a dark charisma that keeps the viewer hooked, even if the character’s acts are nothing short of monstrous.

The film’s pacing and plot structure, however, have their challenges. While This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse benefits from a clearer narrative arc than its predecessor, some scenes feel repetitive, with certain trials and tortures overstaying their welcome. The intense focus on Coffin Joe’s sadistic “experiments” on the women he encounters might leave some viewers feeling fatigued, as the shock value loses impact with repetition. Additionally, the sequel’s reliance on violence and shock elements over psychological horror can sometimes feel less innovative than the original’s eerie atmosphere and unstructured approach.

Nevertheless, This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse is a provocative work that explores the darker sides of human nature with a gleeful defiance of conventional morality and cinematic norms. While not perfect, the film stands as a testament to Marins’ singular vision, and his fearless approach makes this entry a cult classic in its own right. For those willing to venture into Coffin Joe’s demented quest, the film delivers a rare and unique horror experience that continues to resonate as both an unsettling thriller and a pointed critique of authoritarian ideals.

For fans of At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul, the sequel is a must-watch, pushing Coffin Joe’s story further into the realm of mythic horror while reflecting the raw inventiveness of 1960s horror cinema.

• Saul Muerte