Original Title: Una vela para el diablo. The two sisters that run the Spanish hotel Las Dos Hermanas have issues with the amoral youth culture, especially their sexual shenanigans. They must be punished. One after another, beautiful and sexually free chicks comes to stay at their hotel, only to wind up dead and incinerated at the hands of these two women.
Two sisters: the stern no-nonsense Marta (Aurora Bautista) and the naive and weak Veronica (Esperanza Roy)
They hear some strange noises come from the roof of Las Dos Hermanas
Marta calls her a whore and knocks her down the stairs, shattering a stained glass window along the way. A very well-filmed scene.
Marta and Veronica stare in horror.
They test May's pulse and find she is indeed dead.
Marta says this was ordained by god.
After all, look at this piece of stained glass. It must be a sign.
Marta covers the body and puts it in a big cistern.
May's sister Laura Barkley (Judy Geeson) arrives at Las Dos Hermanas.
Laura looks all over town for her.
We're introduced to free-spirited Helen Miller (Lone Fleming)
She splashes around in a fountain in hot pants and a wet t-shirt.
Helen checks in at Las Dos Hermanas. This is going to be a problem.
Helen and Marta immediately butt heads.
Helen doesn't take shit, and fires right back.
What's this? An unexpected nude scene from Esperanza Roy.
Veronica has a lover - Luis (Carlos Piñeiro), but she keeps it secret from Marta.
Helen struts through town and the locals fall down comically as she passes by.
When Helen gets home, this is waiting for her.
Marta is covered in blood, her nightgown torn open.
She rushes upstairs to kill Laura.
Laura is fast asleep, so her life is spared.
Once again, Marta convinces Veronica that this was god's will.
Once again, the victim's body is dumped in the cistern.
Norma has a child, but doesn't have a husband with her.
Veronica (nude again) tells Luis she's feeling happy with a young baby at the inn. She wishes she could have a baby too.
Marta thinks she's an unwed mother; so, the sisters take the baby and Norma is killed. They find out later, through her letters, that she was indeed married.
Laura gets too close snooping around, and the sisters capture her.
The local authorities arrive to find Laura gagged and traumatized. THE END
It'll never be a classic because it's not flashy or over-the-top, and it's not something anyone would excitedly recommend. But it's still a good film. I remember watching this ten or so years ago and really disliking it. Upon rewatch, I wondered what the fuck I was thinking - this is amazing! But then it keeps going and you start to somewhat lose interest, and I can see how someone would be nonplussed. Even though the violence and story does escalate, some of the mojo is lost along the way.

Double Feature: In the mood for another film about eccentric old people who like to kill girls who board in their big houses? Check out Unhinged (1982)
★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
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