“What is life? It is the beginning of death. What is death? It is the end of life! What is existence? It is the continuity of blood. What is blood? It is the reason to exist!” À Meia Noite Levarei Sua Alma [At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul] (José Mojica Marins, 1964)
Jun
6
Robert Englund – 1947
Josefel Zanatas, aka Coffin Joe, summoning you to your early grave. DP: Giorgio Attili.
[A] favourite horror movie villain for Robert Englund's birthday (1947).
– Zé do Caixão (Coffin Joe), opening lines
In 1963, long before Freddy's got his claws, Brazil didn't have any horror films of its own. Then, José Mojica Marins woke up from uneasy dreams. He had seen himself being dragged across a cemetery by a dark figure, towards a grave with his name on it. Now wide awake in a pool of sweat, José became Josefel Zanatas – the true name of the godless undertaker from his dream.
Josefel, nicknamed Zé do Caixão, or Coffin Joe as he was rechristened for the English speaking world, would be Marins' alter ego in numerous movies and TV shows. His gnarly nails clawed their way past Brazil's censorship, dug themselves out of the pits of obscurity, and impaled themselves deep into this disciple's heart.