I was expecting this to be even worse than the second entry in the "Aztec Mummy" series, but it's basically on a par with it. That said, about a third of the 64-minute running-time is lazily devoted to a reconstruction of previous events (yet again!): the corny Aztec sacrificial ritual is boring enough on first viewing but, watched three times in a row, it becomes positively exasperating!! However, I was gratified for their inclusion because, at least, scenes in which detail was indistinct in the prints utilized for the other two films in the set were far clearer now...
Anyway, this hastily-written third (and final) chapter of the saga provides standard excitements with yet another attempt by the villain (who miraculously escaped the grisly death set out for him at the end of the preceding entry!) at hypnotizing the heroine, in an effort to locate the dormant mummy and its valuable artifacts (which will enable him to lay his hands on the mythical Aztec treasure). All in all, it's a very painless way to kill an hour.
The Bat's ravings are at their ripest here (assisted by his acid-scarred lieutenant, the result of an unfortunate encounter with the Mummy in the second film and whose vengeful predicament introduces an unexpected poignancy to the proceedings!): he conceives a radioactive human robot(!) in order to fend off the inevitable marauding mummy. It's not clear just why the robot needed the body and the brain of a man to function, but the hulking automaton with its clumsy movements yet deadly exterior is obviously a topical nod to Nuclear paranoia (which, from what I've seen, wasn't so much a concern of the Mexi-horror subgenre).
The one-on-one between the two 'monsters' is O.K. the robot has the upper hand at first but, once the controlling device is destroyed, the mummy is able to take it apart in a matter of seconds! While the appearance by the hero's pesky brother is thankfully limited this time around, the latter's sidekick somewhat incongruously also reverts to his cowardly persona here.
With this film's ending, the Aztec Mummy saga is brought to a nice closure as heroine Rosita Arenas (the reincarnation of the mummy's lover) returns the Aztec breastplate and bracelet to Popoca and appeals to it to seek a definitive (and well-deserved) rest in the ancient temple. I've failed to mention in my comments about the two earlier films in the series, the important contribution of the musical score simply but perfectly evoking the requisite aura of mood, mystery and dread.
Anyway, this hastily-written third (and final) chapter of the saga provides standard excitements with yet another attempt by the villain (who miraculously escaped the grisly death set out for him at the end of the preceding entry!) at hypnotizing the heroine, in an effort to locate the dormant mummy and its valuable artifacts (which will enable him to lay his hands on the mythical Aztec treasure). All in all, it's a very painless way to kill an hour.
The Bat's ravings are at their ripest here (assisted by his acid-scarred lieutenant, the result of an unfortunate encounter with the Mummy in the second film and whose vengeful predicament introduces an unexpected poignancy to the proceedings!): he conceives a radioactive human robot(!) in order to fend off the inevitable marauding mummy. It's not clear just why the robot needed the body and the brain of a man to function, but the hulking automaton with its clumsy movements yet deadly exterior is obviously a topical nod to Nuclear paranoia (which, from what I've seen, wasn't so much a concern of the Mexi-horror subgenre).
The one-on-one between the two 'monsters' is O.K. the robot has the upper hand at first but, once the controlling device is destroyed, the mummy is able to take it apart in a matter of seconds! While the appearance by the hero's pesky brother is thankfully limited this time around, the latter's sidekick somewhat incongruously also reverts to his cowardly persona here.
With this film's ending, the Aztec Mummy saga is brought to a nice closure as heroine Rosita Arenas (the reincarnation of the mummy's lover) returns the Aztec breastplate and bracelet to Popoca and appeals to it to seek a definitive (and well-deserved) rest in the ancient temple. I've failed to mention in my comments about the two earlier films in the series, the important contribution of the musical score simply but perfectly evoking the requisite aura of mood, mystery and dread.