Zé do Caixão

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Zé do Caixão (in English, Coffin Joe) is the screen name and alter ego of José Mojica Marins (born March 13, 1936), a Brazilian actor and film director. Zé do Caixão first appeared in Mojica Marins' 1964 horror film, À Meia-Noite Levarei Sua Alma (At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul). "Coffin Joe" has gone on to appear in numerous films, comic books, documentaries and merchandise.

1 José Mojica Marins
2 Zé do Caixão
3 Notes
4 External links

[edit] José Mojica Marins

Mojica Marins was born on March 13 (a Friday), 1936, in São Paulo, Brazil. Some sources erroneously list his date of birth as 1929. ^[1] His interest in film-making began at an early age; his father ran a local cinema, and the family literally lived behind the screen. Though poor, Mojica Marins managed to scrape together enough money to complete a film at age 12. By age 18 he had completed over 80 shorts. He was interested mostly in horror and gothic films, and his films feature shocking, often repulsive imagery.

Mojica Marins' originated the role of "Coffin Joe" in À Meia-Noite Levarei Sua Alma, taking on the role after the original actor backed out. He would go on to play the character in over a half-dozen films. Mojica Marins even grew his fingernails to an extraordinary length, wearing them in the style of the character. Eventually, Mojica Marins began to tire of the character, and cut his nails in 1998.

A 2001 documentary, Maldito - O Estranho Mundo de José Mojica Marins (released in the US as Coffin Joe: The Strange World of José Mojica Marin), examines Mojica Marins' life and his most famous creation. The documentary won the special jury prize at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival.

[edit] Zé do Caixão

[edit] Origin

Zé do Caixão's debut was in the low budget film Á meia-noite levarei sua alma (At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul). After the original lead actor failed to show up for filming, Mojica Marins stepped into the role. He wore his finest black suit, a cape and a top hat, and long artificial fingernails and gloves. For later films he grew the trademark long fingernails himself.

This film is considered Brazil's first horror film. The Censorship Board at the time had been disbanded and regulations were left to local markets to decide. Many Brazilian provinces banned the film altogether, but the ones which showed it recorded a box-office success. It was in theaters for at least four months.

[edit] The Character

Zé do Caixão is an undertaker who is greatly feared by the locals. He is always seen wearing a black top hat, a black cape, and has extremely long fingernails. In A meia-noite levarei sua alma he is married to a humble woman and shown to have friends. He greatly dislikes morality and religion, which he describes as 'comfort for the weak'. One of his most enduring traits is his single-minded obsession with the 'Continuity of the Blood'; he wants to sire the perfect child from the perfect woman, and he is willing to kill anyone who crosses his path.

Yet he has a kinder side: in the second film, 1967's Esta noite encarnarei no teu cádaver (This Night I Will Possess Your Corpse), he puts himself in harm's way to save a child about to be run over by a bike. He greatly values the life of children, mainly because he sees in them the 'continuity of the blood'

[edit] References in popular culture

The death metal band Necrophagia dedicates a song to the character on their album The Divine Act of Torture. The song re-tells A meia-noite levarei sua alma and contains sound samples of Zé do Caixão's voice.
The drummer of Southend gothic rockers The Horrors has the stage name of Coffin Joe