Atolladero

I was interested in the discrepancy between this film's current star rating on IMDb (4.9 out of 10) and the very enthusiastic reviews given by some users. This review is trying to get at the heart of that discrepancy.

Briefly, the title refers to a small town in Southern Texas close to the Mexico border. In this future, a sort-of feudalism has been reinstated. Small towns are owned and controlled by rich lords (in this case "the Judge," who is over a hundred years old and has a hankering for young boys). Everyone in the community essentially works for him. Atolladero follows two policemen, one a cynical veteran just trying to make it to retirement and the other an ambitious younger one wanting to go to the police academy in Los Angeles. The problem is that The Judge gets to decide who stays and who leaves Atolladero. The younger policeman plans to approach The Judge at the dogfight that day, where the Judge should be in a good mood. However, things take a dark turn.

Atolladero tries hard to be cult movie. It has an interesting science fiction meets western ambiance. The actors are all good. Iggy Pop seems to be having a good time as the crazed, half-Indian security guard to The Judge. The production design is interesting. Yet, for all of that, Atolladero is not as much fun as it wants to be. Only one scene, involving a mechanized K-9 unit, really grabbed me.

I think the film needed a stronger director, maybe an Alexa de la Iglesia, at the helm. Although made during the time of Spanish cult films, like Iglesia's Accion Mutante or Juanma Uloa's Airbag, Atolladero lacks the energy of those films. Instead, it is trying for a certain mood or ambiance. Occasionally, the film hits that mood, but often it misses. Take for instance the final showdown between the weary, older policeman and Iggy Pop. This should be the big scene in the movie, yet, like another reviewer noted, it is thrown away, almost completely off screen. Maybe putting the expected showdown off-screen was the point, but it made for a frustrating change of pace, instead of a refreshing one.

Atolladero is not bad really, but it is a bit too self-aware and not as exciting as it should be. The film is a mood piece that clearly works for some people (the strong reviews), but not for the majority (the somewhat harsh 4.9 rating).

Cult movie set in a turbulent and post-apocalyptic future , year 2048, Sonora desert , Texas, at a place called Atolladero where rules The Judge , a more than 150 year old man , he is supported by his enforcer underlings , and especially by an evil killer played by Iggy Pop . At a gas station called Texaco get together various outlandish characters , a veteran cop: Joaquin Hinojosa , his younger colleague: Pere Ponce , a preacher , an ominous henchman: Iggy Pop, and other strange roles . Things go wrong , when after a discussion the young cop is pursued by the band of the old judge , formed by evil hoodlums as the half Indian Madden : Iggy Pop, Sal : Félix Rotaeta and the partner himself , Nick : Joaquin Hinojosa, among others .

This is a moving, outlandish thriller with noisy action , chills , shootouts , black humor , chases , car crashes and lots of violence . This was a doomed film in low budget that suffered financing cuts , several interruptions , and death of a great actor during shooting :Félix Rotaeta. The picture pays tribute to the comic books world , including an agreeable homage to Silver Surfer by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby .The movie takes parts of known films as Mad Max series , Spaghetti/Paella Westerns , and Spanish filmmakers as Alex De la Iglesia and Pedro Almodovar . The cast is pretty good such as : Pere Ponce as an upright cop man who attempts to leave the corrupt place and begin a new life in California by drafting in in the L.A. Police Academy , and the Punk idol Iggy Pop in one of his longest intervention in cinema. And other very secondaries and cameos as Benito Pocino as a villager , Ariadna Gil and Mónica Van Campen .

The picture is well set in atmospheric wastelands scenarios similar to Spaghetti Western . However , no being shot in Almería , but in Bardenas Reales , Navarra , that bears remarkable resemblance to Almeria. Evocative and brilliant cinematography in yellow color style by Carlos Gusi. Although , a perfect remastering being utterly necessary, because of the film copy is wort-out. Thrilling and adequate musical score in Ennio Morricone wake , including attractive songs sung at the beginning and the end by Iggy Pop . And state-of-art special effects by the time , being carried out by the prestigious company DDT , which a bit later on, would win an Academy Award for Pan's labyrinth . The motion picture was originally directed by Oscar Aibar , being his film debut and it was a big effort to make it . Oscar Aibar is a good artisan , writer , producer and director . As he has realized a few but good films , such as : Platillos volantes , El Gran Vázquez , and has directed some episodes of the long series Cuéntame. Rating :6/10, decent , acceptable and passable film that will appeal to Science Fiction aficionados.

I first saw a trailer for this film around 2 years ago and it took me as long again to locate it. As I settled under my quilt to view it I was mesmorised by the opening soundtrack [fantastic]. From then on in, I was in for a real treat. Even though it is not violent, I found it very disturbing and I still don't know why that is the case. I think maybe the lack of value for human life emanating from each character made me feel vulnerable. Whatever the reason, it is priceless, and the Judge makes you shiver. Anyone who enjoys films totally off the beaten track should enjoy this one.

Watch it!

"Atolladero" (name of a small southern town) takes place in the middle of the 21st century where a few (very few) decent people are surrounded by loads of vile and corrupt men (on both sides of the law). One good cop wants to get out of this bleak and wretched place and of course everybody wants to hunt him down. The 150-year old (!) Judge controls everybody and his major evil henchman is Iggy Pop (in his biggest role to date - he's dubbed in Spanish, though). The pace of the movie recalls "Dead Man" and the few but neatly done computergraphics suits the film. Everybody's wearin' cool outfits - no futuristic fashion statements here. And no technocrap soundtrack; Iggy did the titlesong and the rest is pure Ennio Morricone influenced. This "Django meets Mad Max" tale is visually haunting and should not be missed even though the ending is a kind of a letdown.

'Atolladero' is a very impressive debut from writer/director Oscar Aibar that will appeal to fans of Alex de la Iglesia's 'Accion Mutante' and 'El Dia de la bestia'. All three films share a similar bizarre sense of humour and a willingness to ignore genre restrictions. I don't know what was going on in Spain in the mid 90s but I wish some of the originality and vitality of these movies could be imported right now to Hollywood, U.S.A.

The movie is set towards the end of this century where we are told the towns between the major cities have become lawless wastelands. Atolladero is one such hell hole, and is run with ruthless efficiency by the 150 year old "Judge" and his evil henchmen. The Judge's right hand man is Madden, a half Indian psychopath played by punk legend Iggy Pop. Local cop Lenny (Pere Ponce) is one of the few decent men in town. Tired of the corruption and perversion endemic to the area he decides to quit his job, and start a new life in L.A. To do so he must go against the Judge and his nasty cronies as no-one leaves Atolladero alive.

This movie is really fresh and interesting. It combines elements of the post-apocalyptic SF genre ('Mad Max', 'A Boy And His Dog', 'The Ultimate Warrior,etc.) with classic Sergio Leone nihilism, and large lashings of Alex Cox subversion, and Garth Ennis' sick humour. Highly recommended.