For aficionados of the wonderfully weird world of cinema, especially those who revel in the glorious absurdity of B-movies, prepare to have your expectations delightfully subverted. Diving into the realm of Mexican wrestling films, one might stumble upon cinematic treasures like the film paired with WRESTLING WOMEN VERSUS THE AZTEC MUMMY (1964) on a certain DVD – a film that inadvertently evokes the spirit of a low-budget “Doctor Of Doom” scenario.
What makes this movie – and its DVD companion – particularly intriguing is their apparent shared DNA. It’s as if the filmmakers decided to maximize their resources by crafting essentially one movie and then cleverly filming a handful of extra scenes to birth two separate features. The result? A viewing experience that is both baffling and repetitive, particularly when it comes to the wrestling sequences, which are, shall we say, strikingly familiar between both films.
For audiences unfamiliar with the eccentric charm of Mexican wrestling cinema from the 1960s and 70s, this film can feel like a trip to another planet. Forget masked heroes like el Santo, whose identities were fiercely guarded; here, the protagonists are unmasked, curvaceous women who trade punches and grapples in the wrestling ring and on the streets as crime fighters! Yes, you read that correctly. These aren’t your typical damsels in distress; they are powerful women taking charge, much like their masked male counterparts in other lucha libre films.
Leading this charge are Lorena Velázquez and Elizabeth Campbell, portraying the aforementioned lady wrestlers. Their mission? To unravel a perplexing case involving a truly mad scientist – a doctor of doom in his own right – who is attempting brain transplants on unsuspecting women. If that wasn’t outlandish enough, the plot thickens with the inclusion of a strange, gorilla-like henchman. This isn’t a fever dream; this is the actual plot of the film.
Now, before you question your sanity or assume this is some elaborate fabrication, rest assured, this is all genuinely part of the movie. If you’ve ever ventured into the world of Mexican wrestling films, you’ll know precisely what to expect: a wild ride that prioritizes spectacle and sheer craziness over narrative coherence or polished acting. This film is no exception. It’s undeniably dumb, riddled with poor acting and questionable writing, and utterly ridiculous.
Yet, therein lies its peculiar charm. For fans of bad movies – the kind that are so bad they’re good – this film offers a kitschy, comedic experience that is genuinely entertaining. However, if you are seeking cinematic masterpieces or films that make logical sense, you might want to steer clear. But for those willing to embrace the wonderfully weird and appreciate the low-budget, high-energy world of Mexican wrestling films, and a “doctor of doom” figure operating on a shoestring, this film might just be the bizarre gem you’ve been searching for.
