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 The Batwoman to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "4K restoration from the original negative". A text screen before the presentation states "This restoration of LA MUJER MURCIÉLAGO / THE BAT WOMAN (1968) was made from the original 35mm camera negative and optical soundtrack by Permanencia Voluntaria in collaboration with Academy Film Archive, Paso Del Norte and Cinema Preservation Alliance." and "Picture and Soundtrack Restoration by Peter Conheim - Cinema Preservation Alliance / Red Channels" Peter is a longtime DVDBeaver friend and subscriber. We reviewed VCI's Double Feature of Panther Women and The Bat Woman HERE and have compared captures below. Although there really is no comparison - the Indicator is a massive upgrade looking significantly superior, tighter, more balanced colors, better composition with mostly more information in the accurate 1.66:1 frame, (the VCI was 1.78:1 with 'head-chopping'). This is most notable in the underwater footage. This has minor inconsistencies which are surely infused into the original. Grain textures are consistent. Peter does it right again - and this is a revelation as the best the film has ever looked on digital. 

NOTE: We have added 70 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. The Batwoman has a few aggressive moments and the Gill-man's grunting growls plus some science lab bubbling. I could find little information on a credited score for The Batwoman, aside from journeyman Antonio Díaz Conde (Plunder in the Sun) as the musical director with Leo Acosta (La mujer del diablo) as the uncredited composer of the funky jazz music used in the film. It's quite kitschy and suits the film perfectly. Indicator offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Mexican cinema specialist David Wilt, film historian and Mexican-cinema specialist (author of The Mexican Filmography: 1916 Through 2001.) He talks about the box office for the theatrical film, DC's aggressive protection of their superhero names including the 'Batwoman' name and how this film got  a 'free-pass' from that litigation. David talks about the cast's careers starting with Roberto Cañedo (Dr. Eric Williams) who he appeared in over 300 films, David Silva (playing José the 'fake blind' Lottery Seller,) Armando Silvestre, Maura Monti and many more plus details on the director René Cardona, the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, the El Santo legacy, Batwoman's connection to Lucha libre cycle - citing other films in the genre, locations (Acapulco), cars used and significantly more. He's so knowledgeable since thee is very little written about the film online. Bat of Nine Lives has a new interview with 80+ year old Maura Monti, the Bat Woman herself, discussing her life and short but prolific career in Mexican genre cinema for shy of 20-minutes. Adventures in Mexicolour is also new and has journalist, writer and indie editor of Belcebú, and formerly DC Comics, Mauricio Matamoros Durán examining the position of The Bat Woman within the Mexican and international pop and comic-book culture of the time. It runs over 20-minutes. Fantastique Creatures spends time with José Luis Ortega Torres, film critic, teacher, and author of the book Mostrología del cine mexicano, exploring the representation of monsters in early Mexican genre cinema. It runs almost 1/4 hour. Indicator include 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 Dolores Tierney, archival essays by Doyle Greene and Andrew Coe, archival interviews with Maura Monti, and full film credits.   

René Cardona's The Batwoman is premium kitsch catnip. It's so appealing to have the Mexican Luchador cinema extend beyond El Santo. This has sexy Maura Monti in her best and most notable role. She commands the screen as the confident hero, frequently donning her purple bikini and cape. She is lovely eye-candy. Monti's career was relatively short but she was also in Santo vs. the Martian Invasion, La muerte en bikini, and S.O.S. Operation Bikini among a handful of other films. Her character here appears wealthy and carefree, battles criminals as the masked 'Batwoman', and wrestles on the side also training at the gym with her doting colleagues. She enters the film by parachuting (ala Raquel Welch in Fathom) onto a beach. The Batwoman is so much fun with underwater fights, a mad scientist, karate chops, a special min-gun and a, science-lab derived, fish-man (appropriately named 'Pisces') for our modern young heroine to contend with. Magnificent. The Indicator Blu-ray is at their usual complete standard - a definitive, restored, a/v presentation, interviews, booklet - these films are gaining a new spotlight (thank you Peter Conheim et all for the restoration - also Santo vs. the Riders of Terror) and I couldn't be more in favor. An absolute keeper - throw this on in-a-loop during your next party - and keep the margaritas flowing. Absolutely recommended.   

Gary Tooze