SANTO in THE DIABOLICAL HATCHET
(Rise Above Entertainment, 1964)

By Brian Thomas

The second of three Santo vehicles directed by Jose Diaz Morales in the mid-1960s, this adventure of the Man in the Silver Mask attempts to provide an origin story of sorts.

During another routine wrestling match, El Santo’s victory is interrupted when a black masked man carrying a big hatchet suddenly appears in the ring, attacking Santo and everybody else. After the bulletproof mystery man disappears as suddenly as he appeared, Santo uses a Way-Back machine invented by his scientist pal Dr. Zanoni to venture psychically back to the 17th century. There he learns how his ancestor’s rival for the hand of Dona Isabel lost a duel, and entreated an evil demon to grant him eternal life so that he could strike at his enemy through descendants forever.

In turn, the first Santo was created when the wizard Abraca gave him his mask, which gives him extra energy and endurance – just like steroids!

Back in the present, Santo thumbs through real estate guides looking for his nemesis’ lair, while the black mask kills both Zanoni and Santo’s girlfriend.

A somewhat important film to Santo fans is given an incredibly threadbare production (the wizard’s cave is the size of a phone booth), which is further damaged by obvious padding (Santo spends ten minutes wandering around the villain’s lair before any action starts). For fans only – nap fare for all others. The DVD includes the “Best of El Santo” documentary featurette common to most discs in the Rise Above series, a photo gallery made up of screen grabs, and a trailer collection (actually edited together clips).