Plot: What’s it about?
In Doctor of Doom, we watch as a mad scientist conducts experiments of terror, as he tries to create a creature of sheer perversion. He has already been able to create a beast known as Gomar, a half-man & half-ape concoction, but now he is determined to do the same experiment, using a woman instead of a man. The results haven’t been positive however, as his subjects have died on the operating table each time. As he searches for answers, he surmises that the women have been uneducated and by turn, if he can locate an intelligent woman, the brain transplant will go off without a hitch. As it happens, he manages to get such a subject and attempts the transplant, only to face yet another disaster. Now he plans to track down a formidable physical subject to work with, so he eyes two female wrestlers. But when the ladies put up a serious fight, will the mad doctor ever be able to complete his work? In Wrestling Women vs. The Aztec Mummy, a man known as The Black Dragon is having tons of archaeologists killed in an effort to find lost treasures. But female wrestlers Golden Rubi and Gloria Venus are on the scene and have no intentions of letting The Black Dragon get away with murder. The girls are able to hold their own against The Black Dragon’s forces, but can they overcome the powers from beyond the grave?
A double feature of insane Mexican cinematic epics, both of which include chicks who can kick some serious ass. Both of these films were directed by Rene Cardona (Night of the Bloody Apes) and star female wrestlers Gloria Venus & Golden Rubi, so they make a terrific pair for a good old fashioned double dose. I had a blast with both of these movies, as each one is loaded with outlandish moments, insane characters, and of course, all the B movie touches we expect from low rent Mexican imports. Doctor of Doom (a.k.a Rock & Roll Wrestling Women vs. The Aztec Ape) is the lesser of the two pictures, if just because it lacks the sheer madness of Wrestling Women vs. The Aztec Mummy, but it is still a blast to watch. It has a mad scientist, Scooby Doo style detective work, hypnotism for fun & profit, and the obvious wrestling women, who take to the mats to end evil’s reign of terror. Wrestling Women vs. The Aztec Mummy proves to be a true gem to fans of bad movies, as it has the mummy promised in the title, but also spies, gangsters, and other monsters, so it is filled to the brim with excitement. The pace is very, very brisk in this one also, so there’s no chance to get bored with the cheese laden production. I am thrilled to see this double feature released, as these movies have been hard to track down for some time now. So if you’re interested, don’t miss this wild double dose of insane Mexican cinema.
Video: How does it look?
Doctor of Doom & Wrestling Women vs. The Aztec Mummy are presented in full frame. As these were made on slimmer than slim budgets almost four decades ago, we can’t expect pristine presentations. The prints on both films have some signs of wear, but look cleaner than you might expect. After all, its not like great source elements are bountiful on these movies, but Something Weird has scared up solid treatments. You’ll see some grain, marks, and debris, but all things considered, the prints here are more than acceptable. The contrast is reasonable and consistent on both also, which is good news, since both are black & white pictures. So don’t expect flawless editions on these movies, but if you’re a fan and have seen previous versions, you’ll be more than pleased with these treatments.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio for both movies is mono, which seems more than adequate in these cases, given the material involved. An English dub track is used in both pictures, which means endless laughs because of the poor voice work. The synch isn’t too bad, since the dialogue was crafted to match the actors’ lips, not to reflect the original work. So tons of hilarious lines and strange readings, which can add a lot of fun to the experience. The mono soundtracks might not be crystal clear and razor sharp, but given the material involved, I’m surprised they sound this solid. So you’ll hear some pops, cracks, and hiss, but in all reality, we’re lucky that the materials have held up this well, given the nature and budget of the movies present. The music and sound effects are thin throughout, but as I said, you have to score this one on a different scale, as no one should expect these films to sound as good as more recent releases, not even close.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc has no extras specific to these movies, but you will find some bonus trailers, Tv spots, and an episode of Ghoul-A-Go-Go.
