El Bosque Del Lobo (aka Forest Of The Wolf) (1970)

Set in mid 19th century Spain, a lonely and miserable peddler (Jose Luis Lopez Vazquez) suffers from a form of epilepsy possibly brought on by a traumatizing incident as a child. When he has these seizures, he's overcome with a need to kill. The ignorant and superstitious villagers chalk up the murders to a werewolf in the forest. Based on the novel EL BOSQUE DE ANCINES by Carlos Martinez and co-written, produced and directed by Pedro Olea (AKELARRE). Loosely based on the life of Manuel Blanco Romasanta, Spain's first recorded serial killer, who claimed he was not responsible because a curse turned him into a wolf. This is a very disturbing film, mainly because his victims trust him and are friends. Disturbing also because today his illness could be treated. The film makes it clear that he can't help himself but, of course, that does not negate the repulsion we feel at his actions. I hesitate to call it a horror movie because it comes across as more of a drama about an ordinary man driven to kill by compulsions he is not able to control. Very well done for what it is but I can't say I enjoyed it. With Amparo Soler Leal, Nuria Torray, John Steiner and Victor Israel.