The Curse of the Aztec Mummy The Aztec civilization, which flourished between the 14th and 16th centuries in Mesoamerica, is known for its rich cultural heritage and complex religious beliefs. One aspect that captures the imagination of many is the legend of the curse of the Aztec mummy. According to the legend, the Aztec mummy was an ancient priest or ruler who possessed great power and wealth. The mummy was said to be adorned with precious jewels and protected by a curse, placed upon it as a means of guarding its tomb from intruders. This curse was believed to bring misfortune and death to anyone who disturbed the resting place of the mummy. The legend gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly during the golden age of Mexican horror films.
Julián de Meriche., Julián de Meriche|ACTOR., & Rafael Portillo|DIRECTOR. (1957). Curse Of The Aztec Mummy . VCI Entertainment.
The movie does not delve into the historical value of the treasure, and so we can save a discussion of that concept for when I get around to reviewing The Thing that Couldn t Die. Kidnappings, hypnosis, death threats, a death chamber full of snakes, and a wonderful jailbreak involving toy machine-guns that clearly don t fire anything ensue.
The legend gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly during the golden age of Mexican horror films. Movies such as "The Aztec Mummy" series showcased the curse and its potentially catastrophic consequences for those who dared to disturb the mummy's resting place. These films further fueled the public's fascination with the curse and its ominous powers.
The Curse of the Aztec Mummy / The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy
In Brief: It's a double dose of Mexican mummy horror — The Curse of the Aztec Mummy and The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy — and the films provide just the kind of entertainment those titles suggest. I wouldn't call them good, but, boy, are they ever goofy fun — with a maniacal super criminal, a masked wrestler, secret treasure, hypnotism, a snake pit, a really slow-moving mummy and, well, you get the idea.
While it is true that Mexican horror movies of the 1950s and early 1960s are perhaps the last (largely) unexplored area of classic horror cinema, it should immediately be noted that the Aztec Mummy trilogy has nothing at all to do with classic anything—except perhaps classic bad cinema. These films are not at all in the same league as the Abel Salazar productions—though his brother, Alfredo, had a hand in writing these. OK, so all Mexican horror is…well, a little on the goofy side. The Aztec Mummy movies, however, are somewhere in between amusingly screwy and flat-out crazy. All in all, the biggest identifying quality of the film is the difficulty in believing that these movies were written by adults. The feeling is more that they must have been dreamed up by schoolboys over the course of an afternoon or less. Like the better Mexican horrors, they steal wildly from the old Universal films, but whether the folks making them understood what they were copying is open to question.
You may wonder why the first film of the series is being skipped in favor of the back-to-back sequels. Well, that’s pretty simple: There doesn’t appear to be a watchable copy of The Aztec Mummy (1957). The scenes involving the Mummy himself are do dark that it’s almost impossible to tell what’s going on. But it doesn’t really matter because you get to see most of the first film as flashbacks in the sequels. (The third film, in fact, opens with nearly 20 minutes of flashbacks. In short, you’re missing nothing by not seeing the first movie.) Even without the first film, these two films include two doses of the supposed Aztec ceremony (they spent good money on all those peacock feathers and you’re going to see them!) where the Mummy, Popoca (Angelo De Steffani), is condemned to guarding a cheesy-looking breastplate and bracelet for eternity, along with his forbidden sweetie, Xochitl (Rosita Arenas), who is put to death for mousing around with Popoca. (All this is revealed by Xochtil’s current incarnation, Flor, under hypnosis.) This consists of some ear-splitting music, much dancing about and a song so bad I doubt it would have even charted on Aztec hit parade. We do, however, learn — based on the evidence — that the ancient Aztecs appear to have invented dry ice. (There’s educational value, see?) The third film, in fact, opens with nearly 20 minutes of flashbacks. In short, you’re missing nothing by not seeing the first movie — apart from another bout of the Aztec ceremony.
The plots to these movies scarcely bear discussion. The overall story involves mad scientist/super criminal Dr. Krupp (played with hammy glee by Luis Aceves Castañeda) — professionally known as “The Bat” — and his efforts to get his mitts on Popoca’s breastplate and bracelet in order to locate the “treasure of Aztecs.” This — and the translation of the inscriptions — requires the unwilling help of Dr. Eduardo Almada (Ramón Gay), his fiancée, Flor, their assorted family members and the comic relief hanger-on, Pinacate (Crox Alvarado). Kidnappings, hypnosis, death threats, a death chamber full of snakes, and a wonderful jailbreak involving toy machine-guns that clearly don’t fire anything ensue. The second film, The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957), throws in a masked wrestler called The Angel, who tools around in a 1954 MG TF — apparently mindless of the potential for an Isadora Duncan demise with his cape fluttering perilously near the wire wheel knock-offs. He turns out to be…well, we’ll leave that to the film’s skillful plotting. Mostly, he just shows up and strikes wrestler poses. The third film only mentions him once in passing. How quickly they forget.
The final film, The Aztec Mummy vs. the Human Robot (1958) is easily the dumbest of the lot, which also means it may just be the most entertaining. Though released the following year, it supposedly takes place five years later — with The Bat up to his old tricks, except now he’s invented a radium-infused robot with a dead guy inside. When I was a kid, I used to spend summers with my grandmother in Concord, NC, and up (or down) the road was a family with a couple of kids I didn’t much like, but who were about my age. One of them had built himself a cardboard robot suit, which memory assures me was more impressive and believable than the one in this movie. In other words, this robot is divinely amusing. Whether or not — even with his deadly radium touch — he’s a match for Popoca remains to be seen. And you’ll have to watch the movie to find out.
The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Curse of the Aztec Mummy and The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy Thursday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.
SHAREAbout Ken Hanke
Head film critic for Mountain Xpress from December 2000 until his death in June 2016. Author of books "Ken Russell's Films," "Charlie Chan at the Movies," "A Critical Guide to Horror Film Series," "Tim Burton: An Unauthorized Biography of the Filmmaker."
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.
While the curse of the Aztec mummy is primarily a work of fiction, it is rooted in real archaeological discoveries and beliefs of the Aztec civilization. The Aztecs had a rich religious and supernatural worldview, in which curses and spiritual protection played a significant role. Archaeological sites, such as the Templo Mayor in Mexico City, have revealed sacrificial remains and offerings made by the Aztecs to appease their gods and protect their tombs. In recent times, archaeological research has shed light on the true nature of the Aztec mummies. These mummies were not cursed and did not possess supernatural powers but were instead preserved through meticulous burial practices such as desiccation and wrapping in cloth. The purpose of these mummification practices was to honor the deceased and ensure their journey to the afterlife. Despite the lack of evidence supporting the curse of the Aztec mummy, the legend continues to captivate the imagination of many. It serves as a reminder of the fascination and enduring allure of ancient civilizations and their mysterious practices. Whether rooted in fact or fiction, the curse of the Aztec mummy stands as a testament to the power of storytelling and our human desire to uncover hidden secrets of the past..
Reviews for "Arizona Archaeologists Investigate the Aztec Mummy Curse"
- John - 2 stars - The Curse of the Aztec Mummy had so much potential to be an exciting and thrilling adventure, but it fell flat on so many levels. The acting was subpar, with the actors delivering their lines with zero emotion or conviction. The plot was predictable and lacked any real depth. The special effects were outdated and laughable. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this film and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a quality action movie.
- Sarah - 1 star - The Curse of the Aztec Mummy was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The storyline was confusing and poorly developed, leaving me feeling completely lost throughout the entire film. The acting was atrocious, with the actors appearing uninterested and bored. The special effects were extremely low budget and failed to create any sense of awe or wonder. This movie was a complete waste of time and I would advise anyone considering watching it to choose something else.
- Michael - 2 stars - I had high hopes for The Curse of the Aztec Mummy, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, with important details and explanations missing. The acting was mediocre at best, with the characters lacking depth and believability. Additionally, the dialogue was poorly written and cringe-worthy at times. While it had potential, this film ultimately fell short and left me feeling unsatisfied.
- Amanda - 1 star - The Curse of the Aztec Mummy was a complete disaster from start to finish. The storyline was confusing and convoluted, making it difficult to follow or care about what was happening. The acting was wooden and devoid of any real emotion. The special effects were so poorly executed that they were comical instead of impressive. There was nothing redeeming about this film, and I cannot understand how anyone could enjoy it. Save yourself the agony and skip this movie.