Monstrous Femininity and Heroic Masculinity: “El Santo” versus “Las mujeres vampiro”

Abstract

Abstract This article interrogates the framing of Mexican film heroes (El Santo) and monsters (Vampire women) through the lens of gender studies, specifically focusing on representations of the “monstrous feminine” in the form of vampire women in Santo contra las mujeres vampiro (1962) and Santo en la venganza de las mujeres vampiro (1970) who destabilize traditional gendered hierarchies and queer desires. However, much as their “bad woman” (mala mujer) celluloid predecessors, these women are framed as aberrations to be punished and the films ultimately reinforce more traditional gender roles.