She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Panther Women (Las Mujeres Panteras) plunges into the wild world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema, where (brilliantly named) fierce female wrestlers Loreta Venus and The Golden Rubi find themselves caught in a whirlwind of dark magic. The pair wind up pitted against the Panther Women, a glamorous and satanic cult of were panthers waging relentless war against the descendants of the druid who once killed their ancient leader.

With the mesmerizing exotic dancer and vedette Tongolele adding to the intrigue, The Panther Women serves up a heady dose of pulp thrills and high-energy action. This film delightfully blends gothic horror with the world of lucha libre, featuring a knock-off version of El Santo and a bevy of bloodthirsty, impeccably made-up wrestlers.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.