 | MOVIE DETAILS • Name: Dark Blood • Year: 2021 • Country: Colombia • Director: Harold Trompetero • Main cast: John Leguizamo, Adriana Barraza, Ramiro Meneses, Hernán Méndez, Álvaro Rodríguez, María Nela Sinisterra • Runtime: 83 minutes • TRAILER
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Dark Blood (2021) might not be the kind of movie that populates the pages in Ganiveta, but sometimes it is worth stepping aside from the wonderful worlds of horror, science fiction, and mystery and embrace life in all its cruelty and rawness. Because we are in front of a prison drama, but not the kind of sugar-coated American bullshit when it all is remorse, good intentions, and stupid faith finding. Here we face a movie where violence and filth run free.
It centers on Misael, a father who avenges the death of one of his sons by brutally murdering the man he thinks guilty of the actions, beating him to death with his own firsts. The movie opens with such a straight display of violence, bloody and visceral as it is, here no words are shared because the action speaks of itself. So, within the first seconds of running time, the main character finds himself inside of that Colombian jail, a location that is not going to leave.
A simple location, filled with disgusting characters, some of them to become friends, some of them will be foes, and some others will change sides moved by their own interest. The authority will impose its unfair power and the family will turn the back to the protagonist, them all with their inner demons. Like real life.
John Leguizamo is an undisputable Hollywood star, with a successful career of decades where he has been known for playing supporting roles in many classic films, from the essential crime drama Carlito’s Way (1993) to the already cult classic action thriller John Wick (2014). Still, he fears nothing when it’s the time to stick his face in the mud and star in such a visceral film, in a role that not many aspiring actors would be brave enough to take even if it was their break-through job. But he takes the reigns of the story and gives out a splendid performance in the skin of Misael, becoming an essential part of the film.
Well written, directed, and acted, Dark Blood (2021) is a crude tale where no one is completely innocent, and all the characters must carry with their guilts like big stone slabs on their backs. The slabs are heavy, but there is no turn back, only walk forward, deal with the consequences of your actions, and decide what is their new position in the world. And we must remember violence is always part of our nature.
RATE: 7/10
IMDB URL: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt14773112
