Fernando Méndez's _El Vampiro_ is undoubtedly a Mexican horror film that has nothing to envy of Universal’s _Dracula_ in certain aspects. The set design, makeup, and character portrayal are exceptional, giving the film a dark and gothic atmosphere reminiscent of Tod Browning’s classic. The work of the director of photography is excellent, with remarkable camera handling and shot composition. The shadows, perspectives, and movements in the scenes create a captivating visual effect, establishing the film as an aesthetic reference within Latin American horror cinema.

However, not everything is so admirable. The artificial bats have visible strings that control them, breaking the illusion in key moments. Furthermore, the sound design, particularly the tension-building music, leaves much to be desired. The music enters and exits scenes abruptly, with no coherence or transition between sequences. This lack of sonic cohesion weakens the atmosphere that the visual team works hard to build. Additionally, the performances fall short. The lack of naturalness and overacting by some characters detracts from the seriousness of a plot that, in itself, already struggles to stay solid.

Speaking of the plot, the real Achilles' heel of _El Vampiro_ is its script. The story lacks sense and coherence, coming across as a collection of clichés and scenes that fail to form a convincing narrative. The dialogue is weak, and the characters’ motivations are poorly developed, causing the dramatic situations to lose weight.

Additionally, the continuity errors are evident. The actors’ positions change between shots without justification, and the inconsistencies in lighting are particularly noticeable. The shadows don’t match the established light sources in the scenes, revealing careless use of spotlights that alter the natural lighting arrangement on set.