Santo Vs. The Riders of Terror (AKA Lepers and Sex)

Directed by René Cardona

Credits  

Producer

Guillermo Calderón, Santo

Cast

Julio Aldama, Mary Montiel, Santo, Armando Silvestre

contact

VGB

Mexico 1970 83 mins OV Spanish Subtitles : English
Genre Classique

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"Sheriff, something terrible has happened. Six lepers have escaped from San Lazaro!"

"But how is that possible? That means we're all in danger."

"Indeed, Leprosy is a highly infectious and lethal disease. As old as humanity itself. We have to do whatever we can to capture these men and avoid them being killed by the townsfolk. But don't forget, Sheriff, although they are infectious due to their disease, they still deserve compassion."

That, in a nutshell, is the plot of LEPERS AND SEX, also known (in shorter version that we'll get to in a moment) as SANTO VS. THE RIDERS OF TERROR. Okay, yes, the lepers team up with some outlaws and Santo comes to town to defeat the lepers, but that's still pretty much it. What the hell else do you want from a movie? Lepers, sex, Santo, cowboys, and lotsa gratuitous nudity—few movies have it all like René Cardona's LEPERS AND SEX does.

Movie #27 in the long-running SANTO film series starring the famed luchador wrestler, it was released in 1970 in the tamer, family-friendly version SANTO VS THE RIDERS OF TERROR, but the producers also added (without Santo's knowledge!) some sex scenes under the condition they would only be seen outside of Mexico (which they had also done previously for SANTO AND THE TREASURE OF DRACULA). Now, 54 years later (and 40 years after Santo's untimely death), it's been restored and is making its Canadian theatrical premiere at Fantasia 2024. Santo was a Fantasia staple in our early years and we're thrilled to bring him back to the big screen in a movie that proudly defies all logic in the name of good, over-the-top fun. If only more movies were like it. – Matthew Kiernan