Watch Vampiro: Angel, Devil, Hero

Vampiro: Angel, Devil, Hero is a 2008 Canadian documentary about the life and career of Ian Hodgkinson, better known as Vampiro, a professional wrestler who gained popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s. The film was directed by Michael Paszt and produced by Paszt and Vampiro himself. The documentary follows Vampiro as he travels to Mexico, where he is currently living and working as the head booker for the Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide wrestling promotion. Through interviews with Vampiro, his family, friends, and colleagues, the film explores his personal and professional life, from his early days in the wrestling industry to his struggles with addiction and his current role as a mentor to young wrestlers.

Throughout the film, Vampiro is portrayed as a complex and multifaceted figure, hence the film's subtitle of "Angel, Devil, Hero". On the one hand, he is shown to be a fierce and intimidating wrestler, known for his dark and gothic aesthetic and his signature move, the Nail in the Coffin. On the other hand, he is also depicted as a caring and compassionate friend and family man, who has overcome numerous obstacles in his life.

The film delves into many of these obstacles, including Vampiro's struggles with drug addiction and his relationship with his estranged daughter Dasha. At one point, Vampiro takes a trip to the United States to visit Dasha, who is living in a halfway house, and the emotional reunion between father and daughter is one of the film's most poignant moments.

But the documentary isn't just a portrait of Vampiro's personal life - it also provides a fascinating look at the inner workings of the wrestling industry, both in Mexico and beyond. We see Vampiro working with young wrestlers, giving them advice and helping them to develop their characters and in-ring skills. We also get glimpses of the backstage politics of the business, as Vampiro negotiates with other promoters and tries to protect his wrestlers from injury.

One of the film's highlights is its coverage of Vampiro's feud with Konnan, another veteran wrestler who is also living and working in Mexico. The two men have a long and complicated history, with Konnan often serving as a mentor to Vampiro earlier in his career. But now, the two are bitter rivals, and their feud has spilled out into real-life confrontations and social media spats. The film does an excellent job of capturing the intensity and drama of their conflict, as well as the genuine respect and admiration that they still have for each other as performers.

Overall, Vampiro: Angel, Devil, Hero is a compelling and candid look at one of wrestling's most enigmatic and fascinating figures. It offers a deep dive into both Vampiro's personal struggles and the larger world of the wrestling business, and it does so with a level of honesty and authenticity that is rare in the genre of wrestling documentaries. Whether you're a diehard wrestling fan or just interested in compelling human stories, this film is well worth checking out.