Born in 1917, Estela Inda was a Mexican actress who made her mark in the world of cult film with her role in Attack of the Mayan Mummy (1964). Known for her diverse performances, Inda’s career began in the 1930s and traversed multiple genres, eventually leading her to become a respected acting teacher in Mexico. Her work in Attack of the Mayan Mummy highlights the blend of adventure and horror that characterized the genre during its time, cementing her place in the annals of cult cinema.
Attack of the Mayan Mummy
In ancient times, Aztec warrior Popoca (Ángel di Stefani) is buried alive after being caught having an affair with the temple maiden Xochitl (Rosita Arenas), who is put to death for her sin. Popoca must forever guard the tomb within the Great Pyramid of Yucatán where his lover's remains and the treasures of the Aztec are kept. In the present day, Dr. Eduardo Almada (Ramon Gay) decides to experiment with hypnotic regression on his fiancé, Flor Sepúlveda (Rosita Arenas in a dual role). Through hypnosis, Eduardo discovers that Flor is in fact a reincarnation of Xochitl, and uses her past memories to find the Aztec tomb of Popoca. The explorers steal a gold breastplate from the tomb, awakening the sleeping mummy, who pursues them endlessly trying to reclaim the stolen artifacts. The group flees to Mexico City with Popoca in pursuit. Meanwhile, Dr. Krupp (Luis Aceves Castañeda), one of Almada's colleagues who is also a master criminal known as the Bat, discovers the existence of the treasure and sends his thugs after Dr. Almada and Flor in order to retrieve the golden breastplate, which contains a key to the great Aztec treasure. Krupp's men converge on Flor's house in order to retrieve the treasure and run afoul of the mummy. The mummy retrieves his stolen items and returns with them to his tomb, taking Flor (who he believes is his beloved Xochitl) with him as a prisoner. Dr. Krupp is captured by the police and taken to prison. In the end, the scientists return to the pyramid and battle the mummy, holding him at bay with a crucifix. The leader of the expedition, Dr. Sepulveda (Jorge Mondragón), sacrifices his life to destroy the mummy with dynamite, collapsing the tomb onto both of them. Flor is then released from the hold her past held on her.
