Santo y Blue Demon vs Dracula y el Hombre Lobo

The following review is an extract from the book "Santo, the Wrestler with the Silver Mask: A guide to all his films", which is now available on Amazon.

"Entertaining to the highest degree, and with relatively high production values, this is one of the best films in the Silver Mask saga. The story is very well elaborated, there are ingenious turns of script that bring intrigue, the gothic atmosphere of the crypt is optimal. Despite the similarity in theme, the film is on the whole very different from "Santo y Blue Demon contra los monstruos" (Gilberto Martínez Solares, 1970), a chaotic festival of delirium that would well serve as a paradigm for the B-movies.

The film we are dealing with, on the contrary, has a very well worked plot and mise en scène. There is no lack of the characteristic polarizing symbolism present in most of Santo´s films, where our hero embodies the absolute good and justice in its maximum expression while his opponents come directly from the Underworld: It is the eternal cosmic combat, the force of Light against the powers of Darkness (which this time are represented by a vampire and a lycanthrope). These monsters will give the Silver Mask more than one headache. Blue Demon to his comrade Santo: "When you say more than ten words in a row, I know you are worried".

(...)

Miguel M. Delgado, the usual director of the films of the comedian Cantinflas, directed other films of the Saint's saga such as "La venganza de la Llorona" (1974) and the highly recommended "Santo y Blue Demon contra el Dr. Frankenstein" (1974)."

I am no expert on the Mexican luchador films. I know they made more than 50 El Santo films as well as quite a few Blue Demon and Mil Máscaras pictures (many with El Santo). I've only seen about a half dozen so far and recently bought a few more (which I'll be reviewing soon)--so as I said, I have hardly an expert on the movies. But, at least I know that "Santo y Blue Demon vs Drácula y el Hombre Lobo" is better than the others I've seen so far. However, given that ALL of these films are bad, it's not saying much!!

In this installment, the two masked heroes are out to battle Dracula and the Wolfman in this hilariously silly movie. Why is it so funny? Well, because these two guys go EVERYWHERE and do EVERYTHING in character-- with their wrestling masks on when they go on dates, fight evil...whatever. However, it's still a lot better than in "Mystery in the Bermuda Triangel" where El Santo even showers in his mask!! Also, while it is a bad film, it did have a few rather slow portions-- something I haven't noticed in other films of the genre.

Among the many wonderful things you'll see in the film are some decent wrestling matches in front of fake crowds, a pit filled with stakes in Dracula's lair(????--this is like Superman keeping Kryptonite in his Fortress of Solitude!), a wrestler named Renato the Hippie and a wolfman whose hands are SOMETIMES hairy when he transforms and sometimes not (due to bad editing). It's all very funny in a kitschy way--and a lot of fun despite being awful. Also, while the films are mostly ridiculous and stupid, the wrestling scenes are still pretty incredible to watch considering that El Santo was in his 50s when he was performing!

Mexico's masked wrestling superhero, El Santo, is back in action - this time fighting Count Dracula and the Wolf Man! At his side is the legendary Blue Demon, another great wrestler/crimefighter. They make a mucho grande team. The film's a cheesy delight in part, marred by some slow moments. Still plenty of two-fisted action and loud '70s fashions, though. Highlights: the warehouse brawl, Santo and Blue enjoying a dinner date with their girlfriends at a restaurant, dressed in suits and wearing their masks. (Yep, they never take 'em off.)

I admit it, I'm starting to get seriously hooked on the surreal adventures of El Santo, the silver-masked wrestler cum crime fighter. One thing I really dig about the Santo movies is that continuity doesn't seem to be a big issue, so you can seemingly watch them in any order. At least that's my experience so far. Each one I've seen has Santo with a new love interest and a new set of adventures caused by a new acquaintance, usually a Professor of some sort. This time it's Professor Cristaldi (Jorge Mondragon), the Uncle of El Santo's girlfriend Lina (Nubia Marti). 400 years earlier the Professor's ancestor had defeated Count Dracula and he is worried that his family, which also includes his daughter and granddaughter, are in grave danger. Of course he's right, an evil hunchback called Eric (Wally Barron) raises Dracula (Aldo Monti) from the dead and also resurrects Dracula's sidekick The Wolfman, aka Rufus Rex (Agustin Martinez Solares). Santo enlists the help of his great buddy Blue Demon (Alejandro Cruz) after the Professor is kidnapped, and away we go. The movie is full of fun and fisticuffs and like the others I've seen in the series, seriously nutty. Some of my favourite moments included Santo and Blue Demon relaxing playing chess (with their masks on naturally!), a "walk the plank" scene featuring some meddlesome werewolves and a wrestling match against "Renato The Hippie". If you've never seen a Santo movie this is a great place to start!

This is a seriously scholocky movie. Imagine being shadowed by two masked wrestlers in a convertable. Two wrestlers who are so unaware that they didn't notice the young woman hiding under the small blanket in the back seat. Unaware, yet brilliant! They play chess. Blue Demon invented a wrist watch radio. It is a lot like Batman (the Adam West version)...

With seriously short mini-skirts, three full length Mexican wrestling matches and more werewolves than one could shake a sacred dagger at, this is a good time at the bad movies. Enjoy it with someone who has the same low standards that I do...