The Penitentes Murder Case (1936): cast, story & where to watch
1936 · Film · ★ 5.7
Released in 1936, The Penitentes Murder Case is a drama, crime and mystery film directed by Harry Revier, running about 48 minutes. “THIS PICTURE WILL BE OF INTEREST TO ADULTS ONLY!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Fact and fiction collide in this exploitation flick that employs documentary footage depicting the bizarre self-flagellation rituals of the fanatical Catholic sect known as the Penitentes. Mixed with those truly disturbing sequences is a story concerning a killing in New Mexico, itself inspired by the murder of real-life reporter Carl Taylor as he worked on an article on the Penitentes.
Who’s in it. The Penitentes Murder Case stars Marie DeForrest as Raquel, William Marcos as Chico, Victor Justi as Manuel and Josef Swickard as Dr. Andrew Robert Taylor, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.7/10, The Penitentes Murder Case has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Kino Film Collection. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Penitentes Murder Case page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Penitentes Murder Case tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Penitentes Murder Case (1936)?
- In US, The Penitentes Murder Case is available to stream on Kino Film Collection. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Penitentes Murder Case worth watching?
- The Penitentes Murder Case holds an audience score of 5.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, crime and mystery. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Penitentes Murder Case?
- The Penitentes Murder Case stars Marie DeForrest, William Marcos, Victor Justi, Josef Swickard and Pepe Rubio.
- When was The Penitentes Murder Case released?
- The Penitentes Murder Case was released in 1936, with a runtime of about 48 minutes.