I finally got around to viewing the fourth and final disc of VCI's Santo Blu-ray box set, which contains two cinematic adventures of the Mexican masked wrestler.
SANTO AND BLUE DEMON VS. FRANKENSTEIN (1974) has a lot in common with SANTO VS. FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER. Once again Santo (along with fellow masked wrestler Blue Demon) fights a member of the Frankenstein family--this time, it's the original Dr. Frankenstein's grandson. The grandson, who is named Irving (seriously), also has developed a youth serum like his aunt, and he also kidnaps Santo's girlfriend, and he has created a muscular being to fight the heroes.
This movie is a typically wacky affair for Santo to be involved in, but the various sub-plots and ideas are not carried out properly. The story establishes that Irving Frankenstein has killed 12 different women due to practicing brain transplants on them (the doc states he is perfecting his technique, but considering that all these women died, maybe he should change tactics?). These victimized women then become murderous zombies, controlled by Frankenstein, but this idea unfortunately doesn't go anywhere.
Irving Frankenstein, as played by Jorge Russek, acts more like a crime boss than a scientist--he has a pack of thugs who constantly get beat up by Santo and Blue Demon. At the climax the doc decides to use his creation, which he calls Golem, as an actual wrestler so he can fight and kill Santo in the ring, that way it will be "legal". The doc even puts on a mask and poses as Golem's manager--putting this Dr. Frankenstein on the same level as Bobby Heenan. (What would Colin Clive think of this?)
Miguel M. Delgado directed this outing, and one wishes he brought some more flair and inventiveness to the proceedings.
THE REVENGE OF THE CRYING WOMAN (1974) was also directed by Miguel M. Delgado. This outing deals with La Llorona, the "Crying Woman", a Mexican legend about a lady who after a tragic death roams about wailing over her lost children. This time Santo is teamed up with Cuban boxer Jose "Mantiquella" Napoles, who was the world welterweight champion at the time the film was made. (This means that not only do we get to see the usual wrestling matches involving Santo, we also have to watch one of Napoles' boxing matches.)
The legend of La Llorona has been dealt with in numerous (and much better) movies. Here a professor has researched the legend, and has found evidence of where the actual woman was buried. He asks Santo and Mantiquella to help find the grave, and the map of a treasure that is supposed to be entombed with the woman. Santo and friends find the grave, but they inadvertently revive the Crying Woman, while a group of gangsters (led by Mexican movie legend Rene Cardona Sr.) scheme to make off with the treasure, which Santo intends to give to a children's hospital.
Ironically Santo never actually personally confronts the Crying Woman--the scenes involving her feel as if they come from another movie. The Crying Woman here is impressively realized--she's quite creepy--and she's accompanied by a black-garbed young woman who is an emissary of the devil. I have to admit this film would have been much better if it focused on the Crying Woman and left Santo and Mantiquella out of it.
There are no extras on this disc, but as in the rest of the set, Mexican movie expert Dr. David Wilt gives informative introductions to both films. Both titles on this disc appear to be in the 1.85:1 ratio, and the colorful transfers are very good. Both movies have the same mediocre English dubbing as the rest of the titles in this set do.
Overall I enjoyed this VCI Santo box set, despite the silly-sounding English dubbing. The movies are certainly diverting enough, although it would be a good idea to spread out your viewing of them (all the story lines follow a basic pattern). I also appreciated the introductions by David Wilt, and the booklet included with the set, which was written by Wilt, and which gives a quick look at all eight movies. I do wish that at least one of the films here had an audio commentary--watching these Santo adventures made me want more info on the man and his cinematic career.
If you enjoy movies that involve the weird, strange, and fantastic, and you're looking for something different, this Santo box set is a great introduction to the wild world of the famed masked wrestler.
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