NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (March 2024): Indicator have transferred René Cardona's Santo vs. the Riders of Terror to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "4K restoration from the original negative", also for the 7-minute longer alternative softcore version, Lepers and Sex - included on the dual-layered Blu-ray disc. I was very pleased to see that the 2022 'Picture and Track restoration' was credited to longtime DVDBeaver friend, Peter Conheim... and knowing him it surpassed my own high expectations and does indeed look outstanding. So significantly in advance of the VCI Luchador films that we have reviewed (The Batwoman, The Panther Women and Santo in the Treasure of Dracula.) The two versions Santo vs. the Riders of Terror and Lepers and Sex are not seamlessly-branched but have high bitrates and we've compared a few frames below and they appear identical. I only saw one aberrant frame with light damage, HERE., there may have been a bit of fluctuating contrast and blue-ish leaning.  I was highly impressed with both HD presentations. Fabulous job, Peter!  

NOTE: We have added 58 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (16-bit) in the original Spanish language. Santo vs. the Riders of Terror has aggression with a wrestling-cum-bare-knuckles boxing match and crowd cheers, typical western effects; gunfire, horses etc. They have, authentically, modest depth but are very clean. The score was by Gustavo César Carrión (Rage, The Black Pit of Dr. M, The Witch's Mirror, The Brainiac, The Curse of the Crying Woman), sounding quite effective via the lossless transfer. Dialogue is consistent and audible. Indicator offer optional English subtitles for both features on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray offers a new commentary on the Lepers and Sex version by film historian and Mexican cinema specialist David Wilt, film historian and Mexican-cinema specialist (author of The Mexican Filmography: 1916 Through 2001.) He talks about Lepers and Leprosy (aka Hansen's disease) - informing that it is not highly contagious, he talks about the nudity of Lepers and Sex (Los leprosos y el sexo) version, the alternate titles of the film, cast members, the El Santo legacy and comic books, the scene transition style, interior and exterior locations, and so much more. It's a great commentary. Indicator include a 'never-seen-before' archival interview with co-star Armando Silvestre in which he discusses his involvement with the Calderón family for just over a dozen minutes. Western a la mexicana has lucha libre specialist and filmmaker the Killer Film, el critico enmascarado (the Masked Critic), assesses the film, its different versions, and its place within Santo's acting and wrestling career for just under 12-minutes. Cardona Bonanza spends 8-minutes with writer and Mexican genre film programmer of Trash-Mex, Armando Hernandez, who discusses René Cardona's career and the Cardona dynasty. Included are the alternative French opening credits, an original theatrical trailer and an image gallery of promotional and publicity material. The package has a limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by Colin Gunkel, archival essays by Doyle Greene, Olivia Cosentino and Brian Price, archival interviews with El Santo and Viviana García-Besné, and full film credits.

We've reviewed a few Lucha libre films on Blu-ray; VCI's The Batwoman, The Panther Women, and Santo in the Treasure of Dracula, plus Vinegar Syndrome's Santo vs. Doctor Death. We will be comparing / reviewing the past VCI's to Indicator's Panther Women and The Bat Woman - being released simultaneously with this, René Cardona's Santo vs. the Riders of Terror. Luchador films are the purest essence of 'eclectia'. They embody camp abundance and are fascinatingly opaque. Drink deeply from the kitsch pool - or not at all. 'Santo' was in at least 54 movies between 1958 and 1982. The character is more than a "masked professional wrestler" - he is a folk hero and one of the most famous and iconic Mexican luchadores. Santo has been referred to as one of the "greatest legends in Mexican sport". My favorite film description is for Santo in the Treasure of Dracula: "After inventing a time machine, Mexican wrestler, El Santo, uses it to go back in time to track down the location of Dracula's hidden treasure with the noble intention of using it to fund a children's hospital." Sweet. We hope that one, as well, will be given the 'Peter Conheim touch' from Indicator. Their Blu-ray here has more El Santo fun, a brilliant a/v presentation, and the softcore version of the film (see images below), with three scenes of, less erotic, nudity and/or sex. This was great - more please!

Gary Tooze