The Panther Women (Las mujeres panteras)
Director René Cardona Cast Ariadne Welter, Tongolele, Elizabeth Campbell
The Panther Women (Las mujeres panteras) plunges into the wild world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema, where (brilliantly named) fierce female wrestlers Loreta Venus and The Golden Rubi find themselves caught in a whirlwind of dark magic. The pair wind up pitted against the Panther Women, a glamorous and satanic cult of werepanthers waging relentless war against the descendants of the druid who once killed their ancient leader. With the mesmerizing exotic dancer and vedette Tongolele adding to the intrigue, The panther women serves up a heady dose of pulp thrills and high-energy action. This film delightfully blends gothic horror with the world of lucha libre, featuring a knock-off version of El Santo and a bevy of bloodthirsty, impeccably made-up wrestlers.
The Bat Woman (La mujer murciélago)
Director René Cardona Cast Maura Monti, Roberto Cañedo,
The Bat Woman (La mujer murciélago) takes you on a rollicking ride through 1960s Mexican pulp cinema, where lucha libre meets superheroes meets The Creature from the Black Lagoon. In picturesque Acapulco, a series of wrestler murders prompts the enigmatic Bat Woman, played by Maura Monti, to investigate. A deranged scientist is behind the mayhem, capturing wrestlers for his twisted experiments, and it’s up to Batwoman, who is also a coral diver, a wrestler, a markswoman, and super spy, to stop him. Clad in a cape, cowl, and bikini, Monti delivers high-octane action and epic car chases. As Warner has shelved their recent Batwoman film, this remains the only big-screen Batlady to date. The Bat Woman delivers a uniquely thrilling, action-packed blend of suspense, intrigue and camp, with Monti’s unforgettable performance as the one and only Batwoman stealing the show.
Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.
Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.
