REVIEW: ‘Nail in the Coffin: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro’ Holds Nothing Back

As a long-time fan of pro wrestling, I’m always intrigued by the life stories of the men and women who take part in the sport. It’s one thing to just be a fan and see them in matches, but it’s something else to know about what they’ve been through since the start of their career. With all of this in mind, I am very excited to be reviewing Nail in the Coffin: The Fall & Rise of Vampiro. The film, which is directed by Michael Paszt and produced by Epic Pictures gives viewers an inside look into the life and career of Vampiro, one of the greatest wrestling icons. From working behind the scenes at major wrestling events, stories from his past, life-threatening injuries, and the close relationship that Vampiro has with his daughter, the film holds nothing back. With this up-close and personal look at his life, viewers will have a deeper understanding of who Vampiro really is.

There were numerous elements in Nail in the Coffin: The Fall & Rise of Vampiro that I really enjoyed watching. One was the focus on his roles in two major wrestling promotions: Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide and Lucha Underground. It’s no surprise that Vampiro, who had spent so many years being a pro-wrestler, would be working behind-the-scenes. I can always tell whenever a producer who has nothing but love for pro-wrestling puts an entire event together. The passion and emotion is palpable and shows me that they care. There are scenes where Vampiro jumps with excitement or anger because something isn’t working. I’ll never be able to understand that sort of passion, but I’m sure that it comes from a genuine appreciation for the sport.

Another element from Nail in the Coffin: The Fall & Rise of Vampiro that I absolutely loved was Vampiro telling stories of his journey to being a pro-wrestler. While I’ve been a fan for over two decades, there’s a lot of history of the sport that I’m not knowledgeable on. I had heard about Vampiro before watching the film, but didn’t know much about who he was. Seeing some of the high and low points of his career show me his passion for the sport, but also how much he had to overcome. It’s such a different experience to hear a wrestler talk about their career, and what they’ve gone through rather than just seeing it. It makes things personal while also paints a better picture of how the business works. I’ll surely be looking up more of Vampiro’s matches in the future.

What stood out above all else in Nail in the Coffin: The Fall & Rise of Vampiro is the relationship that Vampiro has with his daughter. It’s clear that he truly cares about her from the moment that he starts talking about her. On multiple occasions, Vampiro brings up the point that he does this all for her, and I for one could tell that this was true. He also makes note in a scene that he puts his daughter first above everything else. That sort of dedication to being a father was both inspiring and phenomenal to see. In one particular scene, Matt Striker goes into full detail about Vampiro being an incredible father. It’s those moments that show me that kind of person that Vampiro is outside of the ring. It’s also clear that his daughter also cares about him, and finds ways to understand her dad’s passion for pro-wrestling.

One of the more darker sides that Nail in the Coffin: The Fall & Rise of Vampiro discusses is the major injuries that can occur throughout a wrestler’s career. There’s an emotional scene that shows Vampiro struggling to get down one step because of all the injuries he sustained. While fans enjoy the matches that wrestlers put on, it’s often the case that the real-life injuries that can happen become an afterthought. Vampiro also has a personal conversation with his doctor about wanting to put wrestling behind him because of everything he’s had to endure. While the dangers of injuries within wrestling is known, the scene shows just how bad it can be. Talking about the injuries is important because they’re a prominent part of the sport. It gives non-wrestling fans a better picture that not everything is “fake”, while also showing fans a side to the sport they might have never seen before.

Overall, I really enjoyed watching Nail in the Coffin: The Fall & Rise of Vampiro. Having seen other biopics and biographies on other wrestlers, this one stands above the rest. At its core, the film is about a wrestler and a family man who talks about his journey up to now. There’s something special about how personal the film was since nothing was held back. Whether it was his injuries or the love for his daughter, Vampiro opens up about major aspects of his life in such a meaningful way. I for one cannot wait to do more research on him and the impact that he made on the world of pro-wrestling.

Nail in the Coffin: The Fall & Rise of Vampiro is playing now in select theaters and will be available for purchase on September 8th.