Directed by: Alfredo B. Crevenna
Stars: Santo, Grace Renat, César Sobrevals
Language: English | Subtitles: English
Country: Mexico | Imdb Info
Also known as: La furia de los karatecas
Description: Before diving into Santo’s last film, let’s take a moment to explore some lucha libre history.
El Santo’s career was winding down, especially after a dramatic encounter with death itself. In 1981, the trio Los Misioneros de la Muerte (The Missionaries of Death), consisting of El Signo, Negro Navarro, and El Texano, emerged as a formidable force in the UWA promotion. During a main event at El Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, they faced off against El Santo, Huracán Ramírez, and Rayo de Jalisco.
During this match, the legendary El Santo, clad in his iconic silver mask, collapsed from a heart attack. His life was saved by Ramírez, and the legend of Los Misioneros de la Muerte grew, branding them as the villains who almost killed El Santo. They became the most notorious heels in Mexico, but eventually, they were defeated in Santo’s last match on September 12, 1982. In this match, Santo teamed up with Ramírez, Gory Guerrero, and El Solitario against Los Misioneros and Perro Aguayo.
In that same year, Santo starred in his final film, a sequel to “El Puño de la Muerte” (The Fist of Death), which was filmed concurrently. The movies revolve around a sisterly war between twins Kungyan, who is evil and dresses in black, and Queria, who is good and dresses in white. Both roles are played by Grace Renat, whose impressive physical presence is notable.
Grace Renat left home at 14 to become a showgirl alongside her older lover. By 24, she was a single mother and an exotic dancer in Tijuana’s most infamous nightclubs. She was eventually awarded the title of Diosa de la Noche (Goddess of the Night) by Mexico’s Asociación Nacional de Actores. Renat became a star, appearing in films like “Las Muñecas del King Kong,” “Pink Zone,” and “El Hombre sin Miedo.
The plot of Santo’s final film involves a star crystal that looks like it came from Wicks ‘n Sticks, a Jungle Goddess descending from the sky to marry a prince, assassins, zombies, Satanic rituals, and numerous dance numbers. It’s a wild, low-budget spectacle reminiscent of “Mortal Kombat,” featuring an aging lucha libre star and the younger star Tinieblas as the villainous assistant.
Critics may mock the film for its shoestring budget, fake fights, and child-like special effects, but it has a charm that’s undeniable. The movie opens with El Santo parachuting into the jungle while wearing a cape—an image that alone makes it worth seeking out.
In one memorable scene, Kungyan dances so fervently that she conjures a monster, then sends killer apes after Santo and a karate expert on the day of his wedding. Additionally, director René Cardona, known for films like “Santa Claus vs. the Devil” and “Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy,” appears as Professor Williams, a friend of the hero.
The movie was shot at Vizcaya Museum, an Italian Renaissance home in Miami’s Coconut Grove, which also appears in “Airport ’77” and “Nude on the Moon,” and Coral Castle, an oolite limestone wonder created by Edward Leedskalnin. Coral Castle inspired Billy Idol’s song “Sweet Sixteen” and appears in “The Wild Women of Wongo.
In summary, Santo’s final film is a delightful and eccentric blend of action, fantasy, and lucha libre history, capturing the essence of a bygone era in Mexican cinema.
Members Only Video
Film information, full movie description, and selected notes are available to all visitors. Screenshot galleries and restored uncut streaming videos are available only for active members.
Already registered? Please log in to watch this movie.
