The cure of the Aztec mummy is a topic that fascinates both historians and archaeologists alike. The Aztec civilization, which flourished in what is now Mexico, had a rich and intriguing culture. One aspect of this culture was the practice of mummification, where the bodies of the deceased were preserved. The Aztecs believed in an afterlife and saw mummification as a way to ensure the deceased's journey to the next world. In the 19th century, an Aztec mummy was discovered in the ancient city of Tenochtitlan. The mummy was meticulously preserved, with its skin and many of its internal organs intact.
it’s 50s horror from Mexico. You know exactly what you’re getting into. I think half of this movie is our lead being kidnapped and beaten up and kind of escaping over and over. it happens at least two to three times☠️ Absolutely wild to think about how horror would change drastically just 3 years from this. Thank god.
Thought I d kick things off with the two mummy movies on my list, but thanks to a misdirected Letterboxd link to Plex, I m watching The Curse of the Aztec Mummy instead of The Aztec Mummy. The criminal mastermind Dr Krupp, alias The Bat, has been arrested by the police but his associates contrive to bust him out during a prison transfer.
The mummy was meticulously preserved, with its skin and many of its internal organs intact. This discovery sparked interest among scientists and archaeologists who sought to understand the mummification process used by the Aztecs. Over the years, numerous studies and examinations were conducted on the Aztec mummy.
The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957)
Director – Rafael Portillo, Screenplay – Alfredo Salazar, Story – Guillermo Calderon Stell & Alfredo Salazar, Producer – Guillermo Calderon Stell, Photography (b&w) – Enrique Wallace, Music – Antonio Diaz Conde, Art Direction – J. Torres Torija. Production Company – Cinematografica Calderon S.A..
Cast
Ramon Gay (Dr Eduardo Almanda), Luis Aceves Castaneda (Dr Krupp), Crox Alvarado (The Angel/Pinacate), Rosita Arenas (Flor), Jorge Mondragon (Dr Sepulveda)
Plot
The criminal mastermind Dr Krupp, alias The Bat, has been arrested by the police but his associates contrive to bust him out during a prison transfer. The masked wrestler known as The Angel tries to stop them but they get away. Krupp then sets about trying to obtain the artifacts of the Aztec Mummy once again but these have been reburied by Dr Eduardo Almanda. In order to find the way to the tomb, Krupp abducts Dr Almanda’s fiancee Flor, who recalled her past life as the Aztec Mummy’s forbidden love under hypnosis. Dr Almanda and The Angel try to stop Krupp’s plan.
This was the second of the Mexican-made Aztec Mummy films. The series began with The Aztec Mummy (1957) in which professor Ramon Gay conducts an experiment in hypnotic regression on his fiancee Rosita Arenas whereupon she discovers a whole other past life as an Aztec handmaiden. (The Bridey Murphy fad – for detail see the film version The Search for Bridey Murphy (1956) – in which a Colorado businessman claimed to have hypnotically regressed a housewife to recall her previous life in 19th Century Ireland had just caught the public attention and this was one of several films that quickly adopted hypnotic regression/past lives themes). They go in search of her tomb only to awaken the mummy of her former love. The Aztec Mummy was popular and spawned a series of sequels beginning with The Curse of the Aztec Mummy and followed by The Robot vs the Aztec Mummy (1958) and The Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy (1964) wherein the series was crossed over with the Wrestling Women who went through a five film series of their own.
The Aztec Mummy films are not very good. They are made on budgets that make the production values and shooting schedules of the serials of the 1940s look generous. Rafael Portillo’s camera set-ups are all the same ones used by serial directors – static master shots, usually from a medium or wide angle, and only occasionally cutting up within the space of a scene. The pace is dreary, something added to by the lack of musical score in many scenes.
The one scene where the action does perk up is where The Angel is trapped in a room with floor panels that slowly slide into the wall, leaving him having to hang by the light shade over a pit of snakes – although there is an anticlimactic denouement to the scene where he uses a radio he has on his person to call Dr Almanda’s young son to come and rescue him.
With The Curse of the Aztec Mummy , the Aztec Mummy sequels began the habit of including lengthy amounts of stock footage recapping scenes from the previous film – although there is only a few minutes worth of footage here, this was allowed to take up three-quarters of the running film of the subsequent The Robot vs the Aztec Mummy . The disappointment of this film is that despite the title claiming to be about the Aztec Mummy, the mummy only turns up at the 51 minute mark (of a 63 minute film) and most of the show is about the routine stuff of the villain Dr Krupp’s escape from custody and attempts to abduct the heroine.
One of the other oddities about The Curse of the Aztec Mummy is that it throws a masked wrestling superhero into the mix. This was one of the very first appearances of a luchadore (masked wrestler) hero in a film. The first luchadore film to appear was the non-genre The Magnificent Beast (1953), which was apparently a great success; the first genre attempt was The Body Snatcher (1957), which came out only two months before this. El Santo, the most famous of the masked wrestlers, only made his first appearance on movie screens the year after this. The Angel is not strictly a wrestler as we never see him in the ring, although he does employ fight moves. He is perhaps the only masked wrestling superhero on Mexican screens to be unmasked and have his identity revealed at the end.
Full film available here
The evil Dr. Krupp, once again trying to get possession of the Aztec princess Xochitl's jewels, hypnotizes her current reincarnation, Flor, to get her to reveal the jewels' location - Xochitl's tomb. Confusion reigns as Krupp and his thugs are opposed by Flor's lover, Dr. Almada, his assistant, and wrestling superhero, El Angel. Krupp finally meets his match, however, when he comes up against Popoca, the warrior mummy who guards Xochitl's tomb.
Scientists analyzed the materials used for mummification, such as resins and herbs, to better understand the conservation techniques employed by the Aztecs. Through experimentation and analysis, researchers were able to determine the specific ingredients and methods used in the mummification process. However, the most fascinating aspect of the cure of the Aztec mummy lies in its potential medicinal properties. It was believed that the mummy contained medicinal substances that could be used to cure various ailments. Some scientists hypothesized that the mummy's well-preserved organs might hold medicinal compounds that could be extracted and utilized in modern medicine. Through detailed analysis and extraction techniques, researchers were able to isolate several potentially beneficial substances from the Aztec mummy. These substances were then subjected to further testing to assess their effectiveness in treating various diseases and conditions. Some promising results were obtained, leading to further exploration of the mummy's medicinal properties. While the cure of the Aztec mummy has not revolutionized modern medicine, it has provided valuable insight into ancient cultures and their medical practices. The study of the mummy and its medicinal compounds has contributed to our understanding of traditional healing methods and the use of natural substances in medicine. In conclusion, the cure of the Aztec mummy is a captivating subject that encompasses the preservation techniques employed by the Aztecs and the potential medicinal properties of the mummy. This topic continues to intrigue researchers, shedding light on the ancient civilization and its contributions to medical knowledge..
Reviews for "Investigating the Aztec Mummy's Ancient Medicine Techniques"
1. Jennifer - 2/5
I found "Cure of the Aztec Mummy" to be quite underwhelming. The plot was confusing and poorly executed, leaving me feeling disconnected and disinterested throughout the film. The acting was also subpar, with stiff performances that lacked any genuine emotion. Additionally, the special effects were outdated, even for a film of its time, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I was disappointed with this film and would not recommend it to others.
2. Robert - 1/5
"Cure of the Aztec Mummy" was a complete waste of time in my opinion. The storyline was predictable and unoriginal, with cliché plot twists and unimpressive dialogue. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to root for or care about their fates. The quality of the production was also lackluster, with cheap special effects that made the film feel amateurish. I was left feeling unsatisfied and regretful that I wasted my time watching this movie.
3. Samantha - 2/5
I was expecting a thrilling and suspenseful horror film with "Cure of the Aztec Mummy," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was slow and dragged on, leading to a lack of tension and excitement. The acting was average at best, with performances that failed to evoke any genuine fear or emotion. Additionally, the plot felt convoluted and poorly developed, making it difficult to fully understand the story. Overall, I was disappointed with this film and would not recommend it to fans of the genre.