Zé do Caixão - Portal Contemporâneo da América Latina e Caribe

São Paulo (Brasil), 1936

By Luiz Felipe Alves de Miranda

José Mojica Marins, a Brazilian filmmaker, was the creator of the iconic horror character Zé do Caixão (Coffin Joe). A director who explored multiple genres, he debuted with the Western Sina de Aventureiro (1959), followed by a religious film, Meu Destino em Suas Mãos (1961). He is best known for his series of horror films, including À Meia-Noite Levarei Sua Alma (1963), Esta Noite Encarnarei no Teu Cadáver (1967), O Estranho Mundo de Zé do Caixão (1969), and Finis Hominis (1971). In 1972, he directed the Western Sexo e Sangue na Trilha do Tesouro and returned to his favorite genre, horror, with Quando os Deuses Adormecem (1972) and Exorcismo Negro (1974).

Marins also ventured into erotic films, directing A Virgem e o Machão (1974) and Como Consolar Viúvas (1976). He continued to work in the horror genre with Inferno Carnal (1977), A Mulher que Põe a Pomba no Ar (1977), Delírios de um Anormal (1978), and Perversão (1979). He returned to erotic and pornographic films with O Mundo, Mercado do Sexo (1979), A 5ª Dimensão do Sexo (1984), 24 Horas de Sexo Ardente (1985), 48 Horas de Sexo Alucinante, and O Dr. Frank na Clínica das Taras (1987).

In 2008, Marins created the interview show O Estranho Mundo de Zé do Caixão for television. The following year, he was honored by the Unidos da Tijuca samba school. In 2014, the television series Maldito, O Estranho Mundo de Zé do Caixão was released, focusing on his life and work.