Vampiro, guerrero de la noche (1993)

User Rating:

3.5/10   

Director:

José Nieto Ramírez

Release Date:

10 September 1993 (Mexico)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Cast

Gloria Mayo
Sergio Bustamante
Angélica Soler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jorge Alejandro
Antonio García
Ian Hodgkinson	...	Vampiro Canadiense

Runtime:

Mexico:90 min

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Company:

Arak Films

The strangest Mexican Wrestling film of them all!

Vampiro, guerrero de la noche (aka Warrior of the Night) starts off in a wrestling arena, with legendary Mexican Wrestler Vampiro Canadiense (whom which the film is named after) is fighting in the main event. The arena is jammed packed as the wrestlers enter the ring, but once the match begins Vampiro's make up changes, and the seats suddenly become empty (I guess the production company couldn't afford extras). However we do notice two lady fans of Vampiro enjoying the show. The girls are sitting with a very evil looking dude. What proves to be evil about the man is the strange metal glove he's wearing on his left hand. The glove seems to have a power over Vampiro, and with a twist of his wrist Vampiro collapses in the ring. The crowd panics and Vampiro is lead out of the ring on a stretcher. But before Vampiro is brought to the hospital, his body is kidnapped by the evil man and the two women. While kidnapping Vampiro the three evil doers come face to face with a women with incredible powers, and her side kick; a lovable mutant rat / monkey (think Jar Jar Binks crossed with an Ewok). The rest of the film pits these forces against each other, while for most of the movie Vampiro lays unconscious chained to a bed.

Vampiro made this movie at the high of his popularity in Mexico, however he rarely speaks of its existence. Strangely his voice is dubbed by a Mexican actor. The action scenes are far and few between. The strangest bit in the movie occurs during the climax. Vampiro finally breaks free of his chains and is allowed to kick some bad-guy butt. At one point Vampiro grabs some rope, climbs a pipe and then for some reason disappears for the rest of the fight. Just when you thought the lead character was going to do something very cool, the bad guys are defeated on their own without Vampiro's participation. He suddenly reappears in the last shot celebrating the defeat of the villains. What a waste?!

I don't mean to sound like this film isn't worth watching. I'd imagine that if you watched this film with your friends and drank heavily it's possible to enjoy it. The only thing worth mentioning here with any bit of enthusiasm is a note for Mexican Wrestling fans: the opening and closing of the film features more then a few big names in Lucha Libre; including Pirate Morgan, Norman Smiley (aka Black Magic), and the late great Art Barr. If these names mean nothing to you: stay away from this clunker!