I'll say this much, neither Armando Bó, Isabel Sarli, nor anyone else involved had any illusions about this being anything more than what it is. This leans heavily on Sarli's undeniable beauty, and her body, to shape every aspect of the picture; many scenes are just an excuse for nudity, and if they're not they only set up the next that is. The thin story, of a woman desperately dreaming of motherhood and willing to do anything in pursuit of that dream, is absolutely the prime mover; for as indisputably, deliberately schlocky as it is, no small amount of the writing would be plainly offensive if not for that bent. Only the fact that this is not also wildly over the top and nearly parodic stops it from being easily mistaken for a film of Russ Meyer. With all this having been said I don't think there was ever really a chance of this being described as a "good" movie, but there's something to be said for a picture that knows exactly what it is and gleefully, freely operates in the space it is given.
'Embrujada' sure is a thing.
"Sexploitation," indeed; this picture stops just shy of being outright softcore. In fairness, despite the seedy intent, repetition of shots, and dubious editing, it's not as if Bó was a slouch in term of his trade. Though the narrative is bent toward kitschy ends, it could easily serve as the foundation for an earnest horror drama, and there are splendid ideas here. In addition to Sarli, Bó trains his camera in countless instances on the gorgeous landscapes of Argentina to fill some time, and we must be thankful for the peeks at this beauty, as well. The costume design, hair, and makeup is lovely, and the filming locations generally. Though sometimes the editing raises a skeptical eyebrow, there are other instances where it's rather sharp, and the fundamental work of the cinematography is splendid. The nature of the title doesn't require Grade A acting skills, but for what it's worth I think the cast illustrate suitable skill that would surely flourish in a more honest production. Any effects look swell.
Yes, "good" might be a step too far as a descriptor, yet I think the only thing stopping this from being a hair above average is the unremitting exploitative slant. If 'Embrujada' spent a little less time accentuating Sarli's body and a little more developing the screenplay, that's all it would have taken for the feature to have made a small step up to another level. There are even some themes meekly expressed in passing that could have been latched upon in a more meaningful way. All told I definitely don't think this is bad, either; it just kind of sits in a liminal space, becoming an abject curiosity more than anything else. Nothing about this film specifically demands viewership, though if one is receptive to all the wide, weird possibilities that cinema has to offer and comes across it, it's a passably enjoyable way to spend eighty minutes. I didn't expect much when I sat to watch, and I didn't get much either, but I do think in the end it might even be a smidgen better than I assumed. One way or another, don't go out of your way for 'Embrujada,' but there are far worse ways to spend one's time.
