SANTO Y BLUE DEMON CONTRA LOS MONSTRUOS (1970) | The Wildest Lucha Libre Horror Movie Ever?

SANTO Y BLUE DEMON CONTRA LOS MONSTRUOS (1970) d. Gilberto Martínez Solares (Mexico)

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In 1970, Mexican cinema delivered one of its most delightfully chaotic spectacles with Santo y Blue Demon Contra Los Monstruos, a film that perfectly captures the wild, genre-blending energy of the lucha libre boom. Starring two of Mexico’s most iconic masked wrestlers, El Santo and Blue Demon, the movie drops its legendary heroes into a plot that’s equal parts classic horror, sci-fi pulp, and pure wrestling fantasy. It’s a world where monsters roam freely, mad scientists hatch improbable schemes, and every problem can be solved with a well-timed flying drop-kick.

THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957) 4K Blu-ray Review

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) d. Terence Fisher (UK)

Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing), imprisoned and awaiting judgment, recounts to the local priest the dark path that led him to his fate. A brilliant, driven, amoral young scientist, Victor is obsessed with mastering life and death. With the reluctant assistance of his former mentor Paul (Robert Urquhart), he assembles a living creature from stolen body parts, convinced he is on the verge of a world-changing breakthrough. As Victor’s quest comes closer to fruition, his fiancée Elizabeth (Hazel Court) senses a disturbing shift in him, while the duplicitous maid Justine (Valerie Gaunt) grows increasingly frustrated with Victor’s waning attentions. Paul desperately tries to pull Victor back from the brink, but the reanimated being (Christopher Lee) proves far more dangerous and unpredictable than anyone could have expected.

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1980): The Most Controversial Found-Footage Movie Ever Made!

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1980) d. Ruggero Deodato (Italy)

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Despite its reputation as one of the most controversial exploitation films ever made, Italian director Ruggero Deodato’s Cannibal Holocaust (1980) occupies an unexpectedly important place in cinema history. Its blend of documentary aesthetics, media-critique, and staged “found footage,” anticipated techniques that would later become mainstream, showing up in everything from reality television to modern horror franchises.

HAMMER IN 1960: BRIDES OF DRACULA, TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL, HELL IS A CITY, AND MORE!!

BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960) d. Terence Fisher (UK)
THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL (1960) d. Terence Fisher (UK)
NEVER TAKE SWEETS FROM A STRANGER (1960) d. Cyril Frankel (UK)
HELL IS A CITY (1960) d. Val Guest (UK)

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Celebrated for its distinctive brand of horror and suspense, Hammer Films has left an indelible mark on British cinema and influencing filmmakers around the world. The year 1960 was especially significant for Hammer, as it was a time when the studio was solidifying its identity as a horror juggernaut, but also experimenting with genres, and pushing the boundaries of storytelling, atmosphere, and visual style. Tonight, we’ll focus on four films from that year: Brides of Dracula, The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, Never Take Sweets from a Stranger, and Hell is a City. Each representing a different facet of Hammer’s evolving approach, from Gothic horror and psychological thrillers to socially conscious drama and gritty crime narratives.

SCARE-A-THON 2025 FINAL RESULTS!!!

And that, my Autumnal Aficionados and Allies, brings us to the end of Scare-A-Thon 2025 and yet another OCTOBER HORROR MOVIE CHALLENGE!

In its humble origins, the Challenge itself has always been to watch (at least) one fright flick for each of those glorious 31 days that make up the month of October, 16 of which being first time viewings. In 2010, I launched the annual Scare-a-Thon to coincide, raising funds and awareness for various charities and organizations along the way. 

With this being the 15th installment, I wanted to try something a little different: Rather than simply watching movies and reviewing them as in years past, I held interviews with a wide assortment of fellow fright fans, highlighting the community itself alongside these movies we hold so dear. It turned out to be a marvelous experiment!

Thanks to the generous hearts and minds of fans like you, over $7,700 has been raised for the INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, with additional funds still coming in, making this the most successful Scare-A-Thon EVERRRRRRRR! (The fundraiser link will remain open for another week, so if you would like to make a donation, there is still time!)

**CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!!**

Thanks to all my guests who showed up at all hours from across the globe to chat on the HORROR 101 with Dr. AC YouTube channel, as well as everyone who participated in some way, whether it be making a contribution, liking a Facebook/Instagram post, watching or listening to a partner podcast, leaving a comment, suggesting a movie, attending our Terror Tuesdays lectures at the Chicago Public Library, or even just sharing what YOU were watching this month.

Below are the 18 "official" Scare-a-Thon events (with links to the episodes), as well as a list of the various horror titles viewed for the October season. Before we get to that, however, there is the usual assemblage of useless factoids to ponder while you're thinking ahead to next year's costume.

Have fun!

CHALLENGE STATS:
Total Movies Watched: 33
First Time Views: 16
Total Scare-A-Thon Donations: $7,722

THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985) Turns 40: Why We’re STILL Hungry for Brains!!

THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985) d. Dan O’ Bannon (USA)
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART II (1988) d. Ken Weiderhorn (USA)
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 3 (1993) d. Brian Yuzna (USA)
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD: NECROPOLIS (2005) d. Ellery Elkayem (USA)
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD: RAVE TO THE GRAVE (2005) d. Ellery Elkayem (USA)

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With a nod to undead kingpin George A. Romero (courtesy of a story credit from Night of the Living Dead co-writer John Russo), medical warehouse worker James Karen (Poltergeist) reveals to protégé Thom Mathews (Friday the 13th: Part 6) that NOTLD was actually based on a true story, stemming from a reanimating chemical, 2-4-5 Trioxin. And wouldn’t you know it, there just happens to be one canister left downstairs. Before you can say, “don’t touch thates ar,” corpse rising from their graves, licking their moldering lips, and unlike the lumbering shamblers of old, these zombies move with a purpose.