Secuestro express (2005)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Jonathan Jakubowicz

Writer:

Jonathan Jakubowicz (writer)

Release Date:

10 March 2006 (Mexico)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Young couple Carla (Maestro) and Martin (Leroux) are abducted by three men and spend a terrifying night in Caracas as they wait for Carla's father (Blades) to hand over the ransom.

Plot Keywords:

Caracas | Drugs | Money | Ransom | Gay

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Mía Maestro	...	Carla
Rubén Blades	...	Carla's Father
Carlos Julio Molina	...	Trece
Pedro Perez	...	Budu
Carlos Madera	...	Niga Sibilino
Jean Paul Leroux	...	Martin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dalila Colombo
Elba Escobar	...	Drugstore Cashier
Dimas González	...	Guardia
Miguel Ángel Landa	...	Police's Councilor.
Balmore Moreno	...	Oficial Briceno
Ermahn Ospina	...	Marcelo
Rider	...	Cangrejo

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, drug use, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

USA:86 min | Argentina:90 min

Country:

Venezuela

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | Venezuela:PG-13 | Argentina:16 | Ireland:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Italy:VM14 | Singapore:R21 | Greece:K-13 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Caracas, Venezuela

Company:

Tres Malandros

Trivia:

Other than Mia Maestro and Ruben Blades, the entire cast of the movie is of non professional actors. They did six months of rehearsals to get to the level we see on screen.

Quotes:

Budu: Put some butter on that!

Movie Connections:

References Pulp Fiction (1994)

Soundtrack:

War Dogs

Almost a perfect film

This film, along with "Man on Fire" proves that kidnapping surely makes for good drama. "Secuestro Express" shows the underbelly of a society that is decaying as we speak, a place torn apart by economics and class differences, and a place that is unforgiving and cruel to most of its population.

The 24-hour drama follows a kidnapped couple and their victimizers as their drama unfolds. "Secuestro Express" is rawer than its American predecessor, with its crude language, relentless references to social abuse and sexual references. There are times when I couldn't help feeling sick in my stomach because here was a film where anything could happen. The dialog is frank, the portrayals are very realistic, and the tone of the film is very dark. There are almost no moments when one can feel any respite from the tragedies happening on the screen.

Maestro does a wonderful job as the victim who fully understands what is happening to her and her fiancé and might at times relate to her captors' experience. The last 15 minutes of the film are likely to provoke some heated discussion, as the film reaches its climax. Special mention should go to the actor portraying Budu, a new villain to match in the annals of cinema.

Overall the film delivers and barely misses reaching perfect score because of its production values. Nevertheless its very assured direction, impressive camera-work, and excellent acting prove that bloated budgets and talentless actors might be an endangered species.