This is the first film in a three part Mexican mummy series. As it's set in Mexico, the mummy is from the Aztec empire, but otherwise it's a typical reiteration of the Hollywood mummy films in many ways.
Oddly, I saw the final film in this series first and in light of that I was very surprised when I saw THE AZTEC MUMMY (LA MOMIA AZTECA). That's because unlike the third film, this one wasn't horrible! This makes sense, as by the third, the mummy was now battling Dr. Krupp's evil robot--one that looked like it was lifted off an old Flash Gordon serial! Here, despite the addition of the stupid and pointless villain (Krupp--as "The Bat"), the rest of the film is not half bad (or half good for that matter).
In many ways, the film is like a combination of the Boris Karloff MUMMY, the serial THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL and BRIDE AND THE BEAST (a film written by the "great" Ed Wood, Jr.). Like THE MUMMY, the main story idea of a man falling in love with the princess and being cursed to being buried with her as a mummy. Like CAPTAIN MARVEL, inexplicably there is a masked idiot (why the mask and why the silly getup?!) who leads a gang of thugs in an effort to steal and do naughty things. And, like BRIDE AND THE BEAST, a woman is hypnotized--only to reveal that she is reincarnated from an amazing past life. Considering that this film came out one year before BRIDE, you wonder if Wood saw this Mexican film and just "borrowed" from it.
As far as the technical merits go, it's an okay time passer but it sure has its flaws. Fortunately for the movie makers, however, they had access to Aztec pyramids near Mexico City. Unfortunately, they had no idea how to light these indoor scenes and as a result they are very dark and difficult to see (oops). Also, while the Aztec ceremonial scenes look pretty good, the music really, really is ear-splitting and annoying. I suggest using your DVD's fast-forward button after you feel you are about to scream! The mummy itself looks okay, but you sure aren't about to assume the costume was designed by a special effects master. As for the dialog and acting, it was fair to middling. The worst of the actors was the lady (Flora) as she was very wooden. Pinacate's part was also poorly written, as he apparently was meant as comic relief but just came off as a cowardly idiot. The rest were decent but that is all.
Overall, not at all a terrible film but unfortunately not super-exciting either. While the story is less goofy than THE AZTEC MUMMY VERSUS THE HUMAN MONSTER, it also has few laughs. A decent time-passer.
Oddly, I saw the final film in this series first and in light of that I was very surprised when I saw THE AZTEC MUMMY (LA MOMIA AZTECA). That's because unlike the third film, this one wasn't horrible! This makes sense, as by the third, the mummy was now battling Dr. Krupp's evil robot--one that looked like it was lifted off an old Flash Gordon serial! Here, despite the addition of the stupid and pointless villain (Krupp--as "The Bat"), the rest of the film is not half bad (or half good for that matter).
In many ways, the film is like a combination of the Boris Karloff MUMMY, the serial THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL and BRIDE AND THE BEAST (a film written by the "great" Ed Wood, Jr.). Like THE MUMMY, the main story idea of a man falling in love with the princess and being cursed to being buried with her as a mummy. Like CAPTAIN MARVEL, inexplicably there is a masked idiot (why the mask and why the silly getup?!) who leads a gang of thugs in an effort to steal and do naughty things. And, like BRIDE AND THE BEAST, a woman is hypnotized--only to reveal that she is reincarnated from an amazing past life. Considering that this film came out one year before BRIDE, you wonder if Wood saw this Mexican film and just "borrowed" from it.
As far as the technical merits go, it's an okay time passer but it sure has its flaws. Fortunately for the movie makers, however, they had access to Aztec pyramids near Mexico City. Unfortunately, they had no idea how to light these indoor scenes and as a result they are very dark and difficult to see (oops). Also, while the Aztec ceremonial scenes look pretty good, the music really, really is ear-splitting and annoying. I suggest using your DVD's fast-forward button after you feel you are about to scream! The mummy itself looks okay, but you sure aren't about to assume the costume was designed by a special effects master. As for the dialog and acting, it was fair to middling. The worst of the actors was the lady (Flora) as she was very wooden. Pinacate's part was also poorly written, as he apparently was meant as comic relief but just came off as a cowardly idiot. The rest were decent but that is all.
Overall, not at all a terrible film but unfortunately not super-exciting either. While the story is less goofy than THE AZTEC MUMMY VERSUS THE HUMAN MONSTER, it also has few laughs. A decent time-passer.