The Man From T.I.O.!
Today's Film is Santo vs. Blue Demon in Atlantis, a 1970 Film that clearly leans into the Spy Genre. He's part James Bond, part Luchador. Is he the best of both worlds? Eh...no.
The Plot involves a Nazi Scientist trying to destroy the Earth, giving them a generous 10 day period to stop him. So kind...for a Nazi. Naturally, the only Agent who can stop him is...famous Luchador El Santo. Is it like those weird WWE Books that implied that their Performers fought crimes, using the touring schedule as a Cover.
Yes, that's a thing.
After fighting Dracula, other Monsters and Martians, will this be a cakewalk? To find out, read on...
A Mad Scientist- a former Nazi calling himself Achilles- threatens to destroy humanity.
Why?
Well, as he monologues in the Intro, we're all bad, violent and dumb.
Naturally, show us your superiority with...violence.
Also the Greeks are the Master Race.
Confusingly, the Spymaster sends a guy out to find El Santo and a Scientist who's key to stopping the bombs.
He then tells the Scientist- who was in the other Room- to go to Santo, but avoid the guy he just sent.
Huh?
In a rare turn, the mandatory match section has Demon and Santo against each other!
They fight to a draw- presumably leading to 'Fight forever' chants- until an attempt to drug Santo and Demon backfires- kind of.
Demon is drugged and taken.
After they test him and ask him to join, they just hypnotize him to work against Santo.
I think I saw this same bit in
Santo and Blue Demon Against the Monster. Poor Demon.
A lady Agent randomly shows up to help. She's definitely not evil.
This leads to a silly and prolonged Helicopter shoot-out involving Blue Demon, who already lost ANOTHER one-on-one fight on the ground.
Shocking twist- she was evil and they capture Santo, attempting to hypnotize him.
Santo attacks the Scientist's equipment to stop him from interfering and Santo...dies?
Oh, it was just a fake.
Santo escaped FYI.
In case you missed that this was trying to be like James Bond, here's our group- including a reformed helper of the Villain- entering the base via scuba suits.
More punching.
Demon redeems himself by saving Santo from the villain...who somehow wins a fistfight. Huh?
He gets speared...er, javelined.
The Stock Footage- clearly from some Italian Sword & Sandal Film- falls apart as our Heroes escape to a rescued world. The End.
A fun, if unoriginal Film. Is a wannabe-Spy Film with El Santo silly? Yes. Do I mind? No.
While I miss the Monsters, I still get the fights and nonsense. Enjoy those punches that sound like people hitting slabs of meat with a big old mallet.
It's definitely a 'mustard in your chocolate' effect at times as the man wearing a silver mask runs around like Ethan Hunt. The core of this Film is still an El Santo Film in all of the best and worst ways.
There's only one Wrestling Match bit though, so bonus. Seeing Santo do a middle rope dive in 1970 is a treat.
As a whole, I still enjoy the more typical Santo stuff, but this was a fun, odd treat. Say- what is the face you make when you stare at Stock Footage added in post, El Santo?
Next up, the Schedule returns to normal. There's not another Holiday on the 6th...is there?!?
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