Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Santo vs. the Riders of Terror Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 15, 2024

Rene Cardona's "Santo vs. the Riders of Terror" (1970) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include recent program with actor Armando Silvestre; new program with critic Armando Hernandez; promotional materials; and more In Spanish, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

I do not have a great deal of experience with the Santo films. Before they started appearing on Blu-ray, I had seen only a few, and all of them looked rough. They were all dubbed in English too, and I am unsure if these dubs were original. The recently restored Santo films that transitioned to Blu-ray have been pretty entertaining, and a few are surprisingly good-looking. Their production limitations still easily show, and some of their material still looks rushed, but I am beginning to find them charming in a way I did not think was possible.

Rene Cardona’s Santo vs. the Riders of Terror is my favorite thus far. It reminds me of Edward Dein’s Curse of the Undead, Amando de Ossorio’s Tombs of the Blind Dead, and even a few of Jess Franco’s exotic films. It is pretty rough around the edges but creates a lovely atmosphere, which in these types of genre films is usually the biggest attraction for me. Despite its production limitations, it is the most diverse of the Santo films I have seen to date as well.

Somewhere in rural Mexico, several lepers escape from a secluded asylum, form a gang, and begin stealing from the local farmers. When the lepers change their strategy and start harassing the residents of a small town, the concerned sheriff reaches out to Santo with a request for help. Santo promptly appears, but while discussing with the sheriff a strategy to protect the town and avoid a bloody conflict, a few outlaws partner with the lepers for a string of ambitious jobs that can make everyone very rich. After the first job, Santo realizes that the lepers are not acting alone and are desperate to live like normal people, so he hatches a bold plan to break their arrangement with the outlaws and help them peacefully coexist with everyone else.

All Santo films I have seen feature heavy melodrama in which bad characters do bad things and eventually get punished. Also, the melodrama produces plenty of scripted messaging about the ongoing clash between Good and Evil and the need to believe that the former will always prevail. Good does prevail, but always after Santo gives it a much-needed nudge.

Santo vs. the Riders of Terror continues the trend, but with one minor adjustment. For approximately thirty minutes, it portrays the lepers as classic villains who are destined to be punished by Santo, but then tweaks a few things and demands that the viewer sees them differently. The change is not surprising, and it does make sense, but I think that Cardona could have delivered a much more thrilling film if the lepers and the outlaws continued to work together for as long as possible.

The lovely atmosphere materializes because Cardona overlaps classic western and gothic horror aesthetics, while Santo is allowed to behave as he usually does. (The same overlapping occurs in Curse of the Undead as well). Sadly, it is very easy to tell that Cardona was trying to be creative as cheaply as possible because the quality of the visuals varies a lot and various transitions simply do not work well. The chosen locations have a limited appeal, too.

This recent release introduces two versions of Santo vs. the Riders of Terror. The first is the original theatrical version that was completed by Cardona. The second is a rather curious one. It is titled Lepers and Sex a.k.a. Los leprosos y el sexo and features some additional zesty footage. Apparently, Lepers and Sex was created by the producers of Santo vs. the Riders of Terror for the international markets, but without Cardona’s endorsement. Both versions are presented with original Spanish audio and optional English subtitles.

Santo vs. the Riders of Terror Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.67:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Santo vs. the Riders of Terror arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The film has been fully restored in 4K and looks wonderful in high-definition. I did notice several areas with very small fluctuations that affect density and color stability -- one of the more obvious ones is during the sequence where Santo jumps inside the wrestling ring -- but it is easy to tell that there are source limitations there. Elsewhere, delineation, clarity, and depth ranges from very good to excellent. A lot of close-ups, in particular, look terrific. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections and as a result all visuals, including the ones that are affected by the source limitations, have a very solid organic appearance. Color balance is excellent. All primaries and supporting nuances look healthy and lush, properly saturated as well. Image stability is very good. Only during the opening credits, there is a bit of shakiness that could have been addressed. There are no distracting age-related imperfections to report. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Santo vs. the Riders of Terror Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Spanish LPCM 1.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I did not encounter any distracting anomalies to report in our review. All dialog sounds very clear and sharp. There are some small balance fluctuations, but I think that it is easy to conclude that they are inherited. Why? Because the dynamic unevenness in places where music and effects are used, for instance, keeps reappearing throughout the film. The English translation is very good.

Santo vs. the Riders of Terror Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Lepers and Sex - an alternate, longer version of the film with a bit of nudity. Restored in 4K. In Spanish, with optional English subtitles. (85 min).

• Armando Silvestre: The New Sheriff in Town - in this recent program, actor Armando Silvestre, who plays the sheriff in Santo vs. the Riders of Terror, recalls how he earned his first acting part and some of the work he did for Universal. Silvestre also addresses his relationship with the Calderon family. In Spanish, with optional English subtitles. (13 min).

• The Killer Film: Western a la mexicana - in this new program, critic and filmmaker Killer Film discusses Santo vs. the Riders of Terror, the locations that were chosen for it, and its two versions. In Spanish, with optional English subtitles. (12 min).

• Armando Hernandez: Cardona Bonanza - in this new program, critic Armando Hernandez discuses Rene Cardona's background and cinematic legacy. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic David Wilt.

• Alternative French Titles - presented here are restored alternative French titles for Santo vs. the Riders of Terror. With music only. (2 min).

• Theatrical Trailer - presented here is a restored original theatrical trailer for Santo vs. the Riders of Terror. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (5 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for Santo vs. the Riders of Terror.

• Booklet - 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 technical credits.

Santo vs. the Riders of Terror Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Despite obvious production limitations, Santo vs. the Riders of Terror creates pretty good atmosphere while overlapping classic western and gothic horror aesthetics. It is still a B-film, like its predecessors, that delivers B-grade melodrama and action, but thus far it is the most attractive Santo film I have seen. After it was fully restored in 4K, it looks terrific on Blu-ray. RECOMMENDED.