Santo vs. the Vampire Women

The best-shot film in the long career of El Santo, Mexico's masked wrestling icon. The silver-masked hero defends a young woman from a coven of vampire women, splitting his time between supernatural investigation and full wrestling matches that stop the plot cold. It is gorgeous black-and-white gothic pulp.

It later became a target of Mystery Science Theater 3000, to the annoyance of people who take Santo seriously, but on its own terms it is atmospheric and fun. The dubbing and the abrupt shifts to the wrestling ring are part of the charm.

The ideal entry point to one of world cinema's strangest franchises.