Night of the Bloody Apes (1972)

Night of the Bloody Apes is the title of the 1972 English language version of the 1969 Mexican horror film La Horripilante bestia humana (“The Horrible Man-Beast”), also known as Horror y sexo (“Horror and Sex”) and as Gomar—The Human Gorilla. The film was directed by René Cardona and is a remake of his 1962 film Las Luchadoras contra el medico asesino (“The Wrestling Women vs. the Killer Doctor”; U.S. title Doctor of Doom), the first in a series of films blending elements of the lucha libre and horror genres.

The plot concerns a mad scientist who transplants a gorilla‘s heart into his dying son, saving his life but transforming him into a monstrous, ape-like creature who embarks on a rape and murder spree before being brought to justice by a luchadora (female wrestler). The plot of Night of the Bloody Apes does not concern the luchadora bringing the ape-man to justice—rather, she has a much less pronounced role in the plot.