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Ghost Canyon

'Batwoman & The Panther Women: Double Feature'
(Maura Monti, Roberto Cañedo, Héctor Godoy, Ariadne Welter, Elizabeth Campbell, Tongolele, et al / Blu-ray / NR / (2006) 2021 / VCI Entertainment - MVD Visual)

Overview: 'Batwoman': After the body of a professional wrestler is found off Acapulco's coastline, the victim, by all appearances, is believed to have drowned.

However, the autopsy reveals a very perplexing and disturbing prognosis, when it's discovered the victim's pineal gland has been surgically drained of all fluid.

With this prognosis eerily imitating the findings in the autopsies of murdered victims in Hong Kong and Macao, the police turn the investigation over to Mario Roble, who enlists the help of a beautiful crime fighting luchador known as Batwoman.

'The Panther Women': In an effort to resurrect the dead leader of their satanic cult, the Panther Women must perform blood sacrifices in order for him to arise from his cold grave.

Using the wrestling ring as their sepulcher and their unsuspecting opponents as their blood sacrifice's, these beautiful sirens of Satan perform their life-resurrecting rituals, shedding much innocent blood.

However, the accomplishment of their goal is thwarted, after Captain Diaz becomes wise to their evil dealings and quest!

Blu-ray Verdict: In 'Batwoman' (1968), a series of murders involving wrestlers has the local police stumped. It seems there is a mad scientist in the area trying to create a fish-man (not sure why) and he needs the juice of the penial gland (don't they always need the penial gland!). Ergo, the police need help and agree to call in the fabulous Batwoman.

Personally, this movie has always been a 50/50 love/hate with me, meaning it was never either great, nor was it terribly horrible. And that fairly well sums up my feelings toward this movie, in general, here today watching it in its brand new 4K Restoration Transfer.

That said, it's more great than not, I guess and so lets tackle some highlights, shall we. Maura Monti is truly excellent as Batwoman.

She's fills her bat-bikini very nicely. I'm not sure, however, where she was carrying that gun she whipped out on occasion, but whatever! She's also decent enough in the action scenes and whereas Monti is no Bruce Lee when it comes to fighting, she still holds her own nicely.

Dr. Eric Williams - odd name for a mad scientist in a Mexican movie, me thinks - is great too, as it happens. He's uber-demented and a blast to watch. His plan may not make a lick of sense, but he's so into it, I didn't care! I also liked the fact that his assistant was named Igor. How randomly bizarre too!

The Fish-Man starts off as an action figure, but when hit with enough of Dr Williams' rays, he turns into the cheesiest monster imaginable! I loved it too and as it was 1968 when this was made, well, no CGI actually helps what we se on screen be more, well, acceptable!

There's more though to love, like the swinging '60s score and the hysterically ineffective police, but you get the idea. On the downside, there are way too many stretches in 'Batwoman' where there's not much going on.

I mean, it can definitely get a wee bit tedious with the car chases and what not and thank God the wrestling is kept to a minimum too! Overall, a fun watch and sure, ok, I'll admit it, well worth your time.

In 'The Panther Women' (1967) (aka 'Las mujeres panteras'), the police and a masked wrestler (!) must try and track down a Panther Woman who is killing people.

Before long they've got yet another monster to deal with and it all goes back to a group of ladies worshiping Satan.

'The Panther Women' is a film that never got a fair shake at a release in America back then (or at any time, in truth), so there wasn't a dubbing track done.

That said, and now released via this wonderous 4K Restoration Transfer, a lot of the fact that, and for years, anyone not on a first language basis with Spain would find it impossible to follow what any of the characters were saying, has been updated accordingly.

As for the film itself, well, personally, I think the greatest thing it has going for it are the two monsters! Also, being a red-blooded male, I thought the Panther Women, in general, looked rather good in their tights!

So too, of course, our lead Ariadne Welter as "Loreta Venusher" in her very own tights and oh yeah, the monster aspect of her face was pretty good too.

I also liked the creature that showed up towards the end and I'm sure he gave some children nightmares back in the day! The two of them should have shared a lot more screen time together, me thinks.

Sadly though Panther Woman and her attacks have a very limited time on the screen, but she admittedly does her damage and then performs a quick getaway (via a cutaway!).

Shot in 1967, the B&W cinematography is good, but it's easy to see why this wouldn't sell in America back then. Although there's plenty of wrestling, some decent action scenes and of course all of the low budget nonsense that you'd expect to see in a film like this (which America DOES love!)

The ending itself was quite good and overall 'The Panther Women' was most definitely a lot of fun with a generous mix of action, wrestling and horror. This is a Full Screen Presentation (1.33:1) enhanced to HD 1080p.

Amazon Purchase Link

www.MVDvisual.com





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