Grave Robbers (Ladrones de Tumbas)

Grave Robbers is exactly the kind of late-’80s horror discovery I love. You’ve got a satanic killer buried with an axe in his chest, a group of teenagers dumb enough to disturb the tomb, and then the movie just turns into this nasty supernatural slasher with a surprisingly high body count.

The killer has a great presence, the deaths are mean and memorable, and I love how the movie mixes occult horror with that Friday the 13th-style stalk-and-kill structure. It feels familiar enough to scratch the slasher itch, but the Mexican setting and satanic mythology give it its own personality.

The release is excellent too. Vinegar Syndrome restored it in 4K from the original 35mm camera negative, and the disc includes a Rubén Galindo Jr. interview, commentary from The Hysteria Continues, reversible artwork, and newly translated subtitles.

And that Chris Barnes variant slipcover is killer. It was limited to 3,000 copies, and it fits the movie’s dark, supernatural vibe perfectly. Grimy, ******, fun, and exactly my kind of slasher. Easy 5/5. 😁

Demons with a little bit of Indiana Jones. This was fun

I never heard of Rubin Galindo. . . What a error of fate! He is so underated, this little gem is slasher Ala Nightmare on Elmstreet dream logic goodness!

All of Ruben Galindo Jr’s horror film’s I’ve purchased from Vinegar Syndrome have been great! Grave Robbers was no exception! Beautiful transfer. Love the slipcover. Will be watching again!

it Rules