Mil Mascaras Resurrection

Osmium Entertainment

R1 DVD

US Release

Lucha Libre professional wrestling became a major cultural phenomena in the Forties and Fifties, so much so that a new genre of films developed, the Luchador. These films began in 1952 and continued right through to the Seventies. One of the very better figures involved in this genre is Mil Mascaras (The Man of a Thousand Masks), born in 1942 – he entered the ring in 1965 and a combination of his aerial wrestling style and flamboyant personality made him a worldwide celebrity. Indeed in 1975, he was voted "The Most Popular Wrestler of the Year" by US magazine.

His first starring role in cinema was in the self-titled film Mil Mascaras which gave Mascaras a comic book style origin story, this was followed in 1970 by the Mummies of Guanajuato, where Mascaras played alongside Blue Demon and El Santo, it became the highest grossing Mexican Luchador film of all time. He has starred in some seventeen films and after some years of semi retirement, this is his return to the big screen.

While other countries have their superheroes and cultural icons, Mexico has its wrestlers and the uniqueness of its Luchador films was the way in which it drew all manner of culture forms into the mix including horror and science fiction. These strange films were the equivalent of the better known US superhero films, however, here the hero was a wrestler and the enemy was more likely to be an Aztec god or even a mummy or vampire. Mil Mascaras Resurrection is a bringing together of the Luchador film with the Mexican horror tradition and the result is quite spectacular.

The story line is suitably fantastic. The film opens as a nefarious cult is undertaking secret rites to bring about the resurrection of an Aztec Mummy. This Mummy has designs on world conquest and has a powerful jewel which allows him to control the mind of any who cross his path. At the same time Mil Mascaras is investigating a spate of blood bank robberies and slowly begins to connect the two together, as it seems the blood is needed to resurrect the Mummy’s Aztec army from the dead. Mil Mascaras has a long history with this Mummy, it seems his whole family line was condemned to eternally wear the mask as it stood against the plans of conquest of this evil Aztec warlord. What’s worse is that the daughter of a friend and the potential love of his life has the Mummy’s tattoo on her lower back and is destined to become the Mummy’s bride.

Along the way, we encounter resurrected Aztec warriors, demon wrestlers, vampire women, a 1950’s like robot and enough wrestling outfits to fill a warehouse. The sheer campness of the outfits would make Liberace blush ! The film is packed with biffo, not a gun in sight and lots of wrestling. Even the climax involves the Mummy and Mil Mascaras wrestling it out to save mankind! But you need to take Mil seriously, indeed he flies to America (in his own superhero plane, no less) and is met with awe by the President (Richard Lynch), who allows him to address the military chiefs and on his word alone they are convinced that the world is in danger from a resurrected Aztec Mummy !

This is ridiculously fun entertainment and a superb homage to Mexican Luchadore films. Mil Mascaras Resurrection is packed with all manner of strange outfits, bad special effects and B grade acting. Sure, the Mummy and the Aztec dead army look cheesy and the dialogue is so over the top you will not be able to believe your ears but I promise it will be an unforgettable experience.

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