One of Mexico’s most famous luchadores, El Santo was a heroic wrestler and folk hero who wore an iconic silver mask. Since his first film in 1961, he led a popular action-movie series where he amassed over fifty starring roles. Indicator has collected El Santo’s first two films, both directed by Joselito Rodriguez; Santo vs Evil Brain, and Santo vs Infernal Men.
They have a place in history as the last features filmed by a foreign company in Cuba, shot concurrently in the final days before Fidel Castro entered Havana. As a result, the Mexican crew left the country without finishing the films, which explains why they suddenly wrap up with expository dialogue. As a result, both films are padded out with many scenes of singing, dancing, vehicles in motion, and lengthy exterior shots. Despite the runtimes being just over 70 minutes, very little seemingly happens within these dragged-out films.
While the films can tip into the outlandish territory, there’s nothing too fantastical that prevents the star from wrestling the antagonists into submissions. Evil Brain follows the villainous Doctor Campos kidnapping scientists for his plans. When Santo investigates, he is brainwashed into becoming muscle for Campos. Infernal Men opens with armed men chasing a detective before he’s shot. What follows is the detective’s flashback, showing how he infiltrated a band of smugglers.
Considering these films are the beginning of his illustrious film career, it’s curious how there seems to be uncertainty about how to use Santo. The titular star and his subsequent wrestling elements feel like an afterthought to the cookie-cutter stories, which feels particularly true of the fight scenes. The best moments are when both combatants are wrestlers, otherwise, the brawling feels too staged and tired.
There’s some charm to the notable budgetary constraints, such as detectives wearing suit jackets that are noticeably too large, or how the second film ends by reusing footage from the first film. Thanks to the help of Nicolas Winding Refn and the Academy Film Archive, this fascinating piece of Mexican cinematic history has been restored to give western audiences a chance to start such a prolific film series.
Enter Santo: The First Adventures of the Silver Masked Man (1961) is out on Indicator Blu-Ray
