Trash-Mex Tapes 1: It’s Just LA, bro

Armando Hernandez
2 days ago
3 min read

Foreword:

Back in May I began a themed-post on Instagram entitled “Trash-Mex Tapes” where I’d highlight some of my Mexican VHS collection. And while I will continue to post on Instagram, I’ve now decided to expand Trash-Mex Tapes on the website with more write-ups on the films, their releases, and of course post plenty of screenshots & video material—if permitted.

Trash-Mex Tapes will always consist of tapes that I own, have watched, and It will always also be something different as well because I truly believe that a variety of films is always fun to highlight.

If I’m in Los Angeles, that probably means I was dragged out there by someone or I ended up really wanting to attend something cool out there. Either way, the city is great for a while up until the grittiness of big city culture catches up to a small city guy like myself. I will say though, I do really love the street dogs out there. They’re just so different really. I also avoid downtown LA at night and adore Hollywood at night. Why the difference? Visit both yourself and you’ll see why. “Trust me, bro.”

Anyways, here’s 3 very unusual & maybe intriguing LA-set films made by some Mexicanos trying to dominate the Spanish-language home video market in the USA.

El Taco Loco Esta Aca (1988) Zbenk Inc/MGS Films Inc

Shot on tape around Hollywood, El Taco Loco Esta Aca stars the legendary comic actor Pedro Weber “Chatanuga” as “Nicolas”, the goofy proprietor of a taco truck alongside his dotting wife “Petra”. Legendary LA Spanish radio personality/Mexican actor Humberto Luna also stars in the film as himself & a sleazy car salesmen as well.

I would like to say mischief ensues all the way through the entire duration, but honestly the movie mostly revolves around other characters Nicolas encounters and it’s not all that interesting. There’s at least nice shots of the city during the late 1980’s and Chatanuga wears an admiring “Taco-Man”/Superman t-shirt & black leather vest. A Pac-Man shirt as well.

Barrio Sin Ley (1989) Video-Mex International

For almost an hour and a half, we watch a South Central street gang trashing up various local businesses, beating up people, assault women, rob a Tacos Mexico, rob a video store, and then getting involved in selling cocaine that clearly looks like white flour. The cops of course are trying to stop this gang, but it’s just too damn hard!

From actor/director Xorge Noble and producer Jorge Gomez, Barrio Sin Ley is worthy SOV schlock to see. Its home video release is also pretty hilarious since their English translation in the back description is full of typos.

Misión… Venganza (1989) Sierra Video/MGS Films Inc

Miguel Angel Rodriguez became the action star he is known today after leading the way in El Judicial (1984), an action-packed crime film that was very successful when it first came out. After El Judicial, Miguel starred in mostly action films and always as the lead of course. During the late 80’s, Miguel made Los Angeles his home and back & forth he made films in both Mexico & the United States and they were all action-crime films & mostly low-budget stuff like Mision… Venganza.

Like many of Miguel Angel Rodriguez’s films, Mision… Vengnaza is about a cop named “Jorge Romano” getting revenge on a crime syndicate that killed his brother. Mision… Vengnaza also features corruption amongst the police, lots of random shootings, and a rooftop fight scene with Super Nintendo-sounding music playing.

Mexican villain actor Noe Murayama stars in Misiòn as the villain of the film who’s called “El Japones” and Noe’s so-called “son” Claudio Rojo Rojo plays a cop who’s just kind of there and not doing much at all. His death scene is pretty brutal at least.

Rumor Mill: Claudio & Noe were gay lovers. This would explain why Claudio was only in movies that starred Noe and was always by his side when not filming. Noe had claimed to people in the industry that Claudio was his son, but it was previously unheard of that Noe had children.

Factual: Noe’s real-life niece “Junko” had confirmed before that her uncle never had any children. His marriages with several women were never-lasting—according to hometown lore.