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5 Reasons Horror Fans Should Watch Lucha Underground

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Over the decades, the world of professional wrestling has played host to quite a few characters seemingly intended to delight horror fans, most prominently the WWE’s zombie-like Undertaker and his demonic brother Kane. Mick Foley’s crazed Mankind character, and Bray Wyatt’s sinister cult leader also deserve mention.

In the last few years though, a new wrestling company has emerged, one that caters more directly to genre fans than ever seen before. Premiering in fall 2014 on the El Rey cable network, Lucha Underground is truly unlike any other wrestling program, presenting multiple characters and storylines sure to delight those who enjoy spending time on the darkside.

In honor of Lucha Underground’s Netflix debut earlier this week, iHorror presents a list of five great reasons that any horror lover should consider watching the show, assuming they haven’t already.

Lucha Underground - Johnny Mundo kicking Killshot

1 – Lucha Underground is executive produced by Robert Rodriguez

This first one is a no-brainer, as Lucha Underground counts among its executive producers noted genre filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, director of such kickass flicks as From Dusk Till Dawn, The Faculty, Sin City, and Planet Terror.

Rodriguez’s stylish influence can be felt all over the show, especially through characters such as the serpent-like Kobra Moon, who seems like she would fit right in with Santanico Pandemonimum.

Lucha Underground - Kobra Moon

2 – Lucha Underground’s storylines regularly include the supernatural

Ancient Aztec myths and superstitions play a huge part in Lucha Underground’s narrative, and the series is far from shy about incorporating the supernatural and otherworldly into things.

For example, one of the company’s biggest villains is a gargantuan brute named “The Monster” Matanza Cueto. Portrayed as nearly invincible – and adorned in a mask that would make Jason Voorhees blush – Matanza was first introduced as a literal caged beast, fed victims to rip apart in torrents of blood.

Then there’s Mil Muertes, Lucha Underground’s human personification of death itself, and his ghost-like manager Catrina.

Mil has been killed and subsequently resurrected more than once, each time seemingly more powerful than he was before. Catrina is prone to teleporting at will, and disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Lucha Underground - Mil Muertes and Catrina

3 – People get murdered, in brutal fashion

Lucha Underground’s on-screen boss, Dario Cueto, is quite the ruthless bastard, and doesn’t hesitate to remove his enemies from the picture permanently.

In addition to the hapless victims that he’s fed to his monstrous brother Matanza, Dario recently beat a wrestler who displeased him to death with a small bull statue.

The force necessary to do this required multiple shots, complete with flying blood splatter. One assumes that Lucha’s body count will only continue to grow as the seasons go on.

Lucha Underground - Dario and Matanza Cueto

4 – This show isn’t PG, and matches often test the limits of hardcore wrestling

For those annoyed by the WWE’s generally kid-friendly nature and glaring lack of blood in things like cage matches, Lucha Undergound semi-regularly features matches of a more hardcore variety, complete with gushing gashes of gore that would make Cactus Jack smile.

A good example of these are the Grave Consequences matches. Similar to a WWE casket match, Grace Consequences only ends when one combatant is locked inside an airtight coffin.

In Lucha though, the fact that there are no rules is readily apparent, with the aforementioned Mil Muertes showing himself to be a particular master of brutal savagery in this setting.

One of Lucha’s bloodiest matches took place on the inaugural Ultima Lucha show, which caps off each season of the series. That’s another great thing about LU, storylines actually take place within seasons like a normal TV show, with a beginning, middle and end. No dragging things out forever here.

Anyway, the match in question pitted hardcore wrestling legend Vampiro against his then-protege Pentagon Jr., and featured such delightful implements of torture as light tubes and a freakin’ flaming table. Vampiro also wore this badass outfit to the ring:

Lucha Underground - Ultimate Lucha Vampiro

5 – Ever wanted to see a dragon fight a terminator?

Finally, this last slot will be used to highlight a few more of Lucha Underground’s most memorable characters that I didn’t get to in the above sections.

First up is Drago, a luchadore with one of the most amazing masks ever seen. Also, he’s a goddamn dragon. He doesn’t just think he’s dragon, in the context of the show, he is one, and occasionally breathes fire. That’s just awesome.

Lucha Underground - Drago

 

Next is the massively muscled Cage, Lucha’s equivalent to The Terminator. His battle cry is “I’m not a man, I’m a machine,” and he lives up to it on a regular basis. Not only is he probably the strongest person on the roster, he’s also amazingly athletic, sometimes flying around like a cruiserweight.

Lucha Underground - Cage

Then there’s Sexy Star, arguably LU’s most prominent female wrestler, and the company’s first female champion. In Lucha, there’s no gender divide, with men and women competing as equals. Despite the size disadvantage that Sexy has against guys like Cage or Mil, she never backs down and never gives up.

Lucha Underground - Sexy Star

Finally, there’s The Mack, a good-natured street fighter that seems like he’d be right at home at in a blaxploitation flick. A notable rival of Cage, The Mack also has an aptitude for flying around, and loves to employ the Stone Cold Stunner as a finisher.

Lucha Underground - The Mack

That’s not even mentioning several names sure to be familiar to followers of WWE, such as the brash Johnny Mundo (formerly John Morrison), his buddy P.J. Black (formerly Justin Gabriel), and lucha libre legend Rey Mysterio Jr.

Lucha Underground - Rey Mysterio

Lucha Underground seasons 1 and 2 are now available to stream on Netflix. Season 3A is now available for purchase on iTunes, with season 3B set to premiere on El Rey on May 31st.

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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