Rent Santa Sangre (1989)
3.5 of 5 from 114 ratings
1h 57min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Santa Sangre is a temple torn down by bulldozers over the protestations of its leader Concha (Bianca Guerra); the wife of an unfaithful circus performer (Guy Stockwell) and the mother of Fenix (Axel Jodorowsky). The Church is built on a gruesome crime scene, the first of many primal scenes for the young Fenix which also includes the death of the beloved circus elephant, the surreal funeral which follows, and above all the hideous violence which separates him from his family and leaves him confined in an asylum till his adult life. When he finally escapes, Fenix's nightmares are ready to become awful reality.
- Actors:
- Axel Jodorowsky, Blanca Guerra, Guy Stockwell, Thelma Tixou, Sabrina Dennison, Adan Jodorowsky, Faviola Elenka Tapia, Teo Jodorowsky, María de Jesús Aranzabal, Jesús Juárez, Sergio Bustamante, Gloria Contreras, S. Rodriguez, Zonia Rangel Mora, Joaquín García Vargas
- Directors:
- Alejandro Jodorowsky
- Producers:
- Claudio Argento
- Writers:
- Alejandro Jodorowsky, Roberto Leoni, Claudio Argento
- Aka:
- Santa sangre / Holy Blood
- Studio:
- Anchor Bay
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Thrillers
- Collections:
- New waves of Latin American Cinema, What to watch by country
- Countries:
- Mexico
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 12/11/2012
- Run Time:
- 119 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
- Subtitles:
- None
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Director's commentary with Jodorowsky and Journalist, Alan Jones
- Jodorowsky's Cult Cinema La Constellation Jodorowsky documentary by Louis Mochet (1994)
- Echeck - a short film by Adan Jodorowsky, Alejandro's son and star osf Santa Sangre
- Deleted scenes with commentary from Jodorowsky and Journalist, Alan Jones
- Jodorowsky interview at ICA, London (2002)
- Mr Bongo trailer
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 29/07/2024
- Run Time:
- 122 minutes
- Languages:
- English Dolby Digital 2.0, English Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0
- Subtitles:
- English Close Captioned
- DVD Regions:
- Region 0 (All)
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- (0) All
- Bonus:
- Audio Commentary with Alejandro Jodorowsky and Journalist Alan Jones
- New Blood - Alejandro Jodorowsky on the restoration of 'Santa Sangre'
- Deleted Scenes with Director Commentary
- Theatrical Trailer
- Disc 1:
- This disc includes the main feature
- Disc 2:
- This disc includes special features (Blu-ray Disc)
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Reviews (2) of Santa Sangre
A effective but acquired taste ... - Santa Sangre review by NP
There's a tendency these days especially, to release films that are longer than two hours. Often the subject matter doesn't justify this, and ends up being a slightly thin experience. 1989's Mexican psychedelic fairy-tale, 'Santa Sangre' in contrast, is so awash with weirdly compelling imagery and characters, that the passing of time is the last thing on your mind.
It takes a while to get to grips with 'Santa Sangre' ('Holy Blood' in English). It features the story of young Fenix (Adán Jodorowsky) whose traumatic carnival childhood becomes perversely beautiful thanks to director (and co-writer) Alejandro Jodorowsky's extravagant use of colour and mood. As he becomes an adult (Axel Jodorowsky), the mix of the horrific and the erotic (nothing explicit but often there, under the surface) creates an ambience that is increasingly disturbing and compelling.
This is an acquired taste. At times I really questioned what I was watching - but nothing drags, there is no excuse to look away. A surrealist nightmare, but not without its charms. My score is 8 out of 10.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Mummy issues, murder, and mutilation — and that’s before the circus starts - Santa Sangre review by griggs
Santa Sangre is a gloriously demented circus of trauma, control, and religious rot. Jodorowsky throws everything at the wall — blood, elephants, armless mothers — and somehow, most of it sticks. The film’s symbolism is a proper Gen-X fever dream: growing up broken, realising your idols are frauds, and trying (badly) to claw your way free. It’s Psycho on a punk acid trip.
The circus imagery nails the feeling of life being an endless, grotesque performance, and the whole mother-son dynamic is pure, undistilled nightmare fuel. It’s messy, no doubt, and occasionally too up itself to land a real punch, but when it works, it’s unforgettable. Despite all the surreal madness, this is probably Jodorowsky's most accessible—the emotional through-line (trauma, control, liberation) is surprisingly clear under the chaos.
It's not quite a masterpiece, but it's definitely a one-of-a-kind experience. It's worth it if you like your films strange, sad, and a little bit stabby.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.