Every country has its “first” in exploring facets of the arts, and the world of cinema is not short of outstanding figures that have revolutionized the art form in their region. However, people tend to stick with the familiarity of their country, and given the amount of media focused on the US, stories of filmmakers like George Romero, who created the modern zombie withNight of the Living Dead, or John Carpenter, whoredefined the modern slasherwithHalloween;the stories about the film and filmmakers told countless times over.
Yet, for every American icon of cinema that is discussed, others are often overlooked for their influence in their own country, particularly when looking at those who came to prominence before the advent of the Internet, which allowed for open global discussions on art. One of the most fascinating figures ever to cast their haunting image on cinema isCoffin Joe, a man who brought the horror genre to Brazil, became an icon in the country for it, found cult status outside of it, and ultimately changed the industry and perceptions of art in South America. This is how Coffin Joe brought horror to Brazil and shocked the entire country.
Who Is Coffin Joe?
Born March 13th, 1936,José Mojica Marinsfound himself obsessed with cinema at a young age, as his father began to run a cinema when Marins was only three years old, with his family living above it. This passion was only pushed further when he received a camera as a gift from his parents, and he began making short films starring himself and his neighbors. Moreover, starting to prove himself as a showman, Marins would get his short works exhibited at churches and amusement parks.
To further cement himself as an important figure in the industry, in 1952, at 18, Marins founded his own company, Cinematográfica Atlas (the Atlas Film Company). He acquired an abandoned synagogue, turned it into a film studio and academy, and gave acting lessons and trained technicians, using the funds to finance his movies.
However, Marins became a prominent figure in the industry when he adopted the “Zé do Caixão” persona, which translates to his more well-known moniker “Coffin Joe.“Paying homage to his favorite genre, from the movies he would religiously soak in when his father ran the cinema, the visage of Coffin Joe came to him in a dream. The figure would become instantly recognizable in his home country: top hat, long black coat, and long curled nails backed by a menacing aura and wicked tongue.
“In a dream, saw a figure dragging me to a cemetery. Soon he left me in front of a headstone, there were two dates of my birth and my death. People at home were very frightened, called a priest because they thought I was possessed. I woke up screaming, and at that time decided to do a movie unlike anything I had done. He was born at that moment the character would become a legend: Coffin Joe. The character began to take shape in my mind and in my life. The cemetery gave me the name, completed the costume of Joe the cover of voodoo, and black hat, which was the symbol of a classic brand of cigarettes. He would be a mortician.” (via The Grindhouse Cinema Database)
With the character envisioned, the idea for Brazil’s first horror movie began to take shape, with what was to becomeAt Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul, a film that would change the face of cinema in the country and put Marin in the hot seat of the current political party.
What Was Brazil’s First Horror Movie?
With production beginning in 1963,At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soulwas released in 1964. This time frame is essential in understanding the problems with the movie’s release. In 1964, the democratic government led by President João Goulart was overthrown on April 1 by a military coup, with support from the United States government. This established a military dictatorship as the prominent party in Brazil, which lasted until 1985.
The fact thatAt Midnight I’ll Take Your Soulwas already pushing boundaries by being Brazil’s first horror movie was further hindered when facing up against the military regime. This meant the film was the subject of heavy censorship, with the violence being removed and much of the blasphemous content being scrutinized equally. This came from Coffin Joe’s Nietzschean beliefs and the outright dismissal of religious figures in the movie.
Marins soon became “Brazil’s National Boogeyman,” a title that suited him well, given his Coffin Joe character became as iconic as any horror figure to have graced the screen to the people of Brazil. His constant presence on TV and the government’s censorship of his work further added to this legendary status among the people. He was revered by few while still facing constant scrutiny from others, a challenging position that made him a larger-than-life figure. This further positioned him to make one of the greatestfilm trilogies in the horror genre.
Stream at Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul on Arrow
How Many Coffin Joe Movies Are There?
The Coffin Joe Trilogy consists ofAt Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul (1964),This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse (1967), andEmbodiment of Evil (2008).The character would also appear in the anthology filmThe Strange World of Coffin Joe (1968)and as a character inAwakening of the Beast(1970). The three movies make up the crux of the legacy of Marins’s Coffin Joe character. Each plays a pivotal role in establishing the lore of the grim caretaker.
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At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soulis Coffin Joe’s origin story, chronicling the obsession of the undertaker to continue his bloodline by finding a suitable mate to carry on his legacy as his current wife cannot bear his children. His quest, which devolves into murder, debauchery,and anti-religious sentiments, sees supernatural forces set upon the character to punish him for his sinful actions.
This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpseis a continuation of the story and, while sitting on similar themes, further pushes the blasphemy and gore, reflective of José Mojica Marins’s distaste for censorship of his movies and persona. The movie also worked with more surreal elements, including visions of hell. With a bigger budget, Marins could also shoot a portion of the film in color. WhereSoulbroke all the rules,Corpserefined and mastered the formula. It is an essential watch after seeing the first film.
Embodiment of Evilwasreleased decades later, and, in many ways, can be considered José Mojica Marins’s swan song and masterpiece. While still following the familiar plot of seeking a wife to bear his child, even after 40 years in prison, the movie’s focus pushes to themuch more surreal. This is due to the figure of Coffin Joe now being revered and with many followers in tow. In addition, the movie uses nightmare sequences chock-full of extreme gore that represent Joe’s internal struggles in dealing with his past crimes and murders.
Arrow Video is releasing a box set of all the work of José Mojica Marins’s works. The trailer below gives a look at the visual style throughout the trilogy.
The Legacy of Coffin Joe
Despite Coffin Joe being relatively obscure outside his native Brazil, José Mojica Marins did gain some notoriety in the USA later in his career. A beloved figure of the convention scene, prominent names began to be tuned to his mad brilliance, with White Zombie having a chance to meet with him and shoot a segment for MTV with Marins in full character. He also appeared on the Jon Stewart Show, where he threw dirt over Stewart after leading him into a coffin. It is an obscure and strange TV appearance just touching the mainstream, but seeing his larger-than-life persona find its way onto TV is fascinating.
Related:The Best Spanish Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked
The real legacy left behind is Marins bringing the horror genre to Brazil, with every filmmaker owing him a degree of respect for pushing down those boundaries and allowing them to embrace the darker side of cinema. In addition, Coffin Joe’s figure, gothic aesthetic,and nihilistic personahave influenced many other creatives across different mediums. Sadly, José Mojica Marins died on Jul 01, 2025, in Brazil at the age of 83 due to bronchopneumonia. Still, the legacy he left behind, and his wonderful cinematic works make him a figure who deserves greater respect and exploration by film historians and horror fans.
You can watch more about Coffin Joe in the official documentary about his life’s work,Coffin Joe: The Strange World of José Mojica Marinsvia the Internet Archive.
