IFWT #158 - Alucarda (1977) [ ft. Szandora LaVey]

IFWT #158 - Alucarda (1977) [ ft. Szandora LaVey]

From In Film We Trust by In Film We Trust

May 28, 2026 · 1h 9m

About this episode

The episode features a discussion on the 1977 film Alucarda with guest Szandora LaVey, exploring its themes and cultural significance.

IFWT is taking a trip to Mexico with Satanic witch and burlesque performer Szandora LaVey - a surname synonymous with counter-cultural diabolism since Anton LaVey founded the Church of Satan in 1966 - as we attempt to decipher Juan Lopez Moctezuma's 1977 vampire oddity Alucarda. Alucarda, a loose adaptation of Le Fanu's novel Carmilla (that predated Stoker's Dracula by 25 years!) tells the story of the titular Alucarda and Justine. Two orphaned girls who are placed into the care of a Catholic convent. Part folk-horror, part possession movie, part nunsploitation - in fact, this film, still underseen by many horror fans, contains a multitude of elements with many thematic injections that make it a multi-layered experience, and one that is ripe for the IFWT treatment. So lock up the chastity belt and say a few Hail Mary's as Szandora and I discuss, dissect and deepdive 1977's Alucarda.

People in this episode

Host: In Film We Trust

Guest: Szandora LaVey

Topics covered

  • horror
  • vampires
  • folk-horror
  • possession
  • nunsploitation
  • film analysis

Keywords

  • Alucarda
  • Szandora LaVey
  • horror film
  • vampire
  • Carmilla
  • nunsploitation
  • film review

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Church of Satan

Books & works: Alucarda, Carmilla, Dracula

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