Hell (2010) User Reviews

This one will stay with you for days

[sgbreton77 · 9/10 · 16 September 2010]

I just got back from watching this movie, and I feel like a just got a beating, unfortunately, it's a beating of reality, and it's not pretty.

First of all, it's a raw human drama that grabs you right from the beginning and doesn't even let you breath right until the end. It pretty much portraits the dark side of the human soul: violence, corruption, greed, murder, revenge etc. everything under the sad reality of the narcos and drug trafficking in Mexico. It's interesting that you see this from the point of view of the narcos. And it even has the virtue of using some dark humor that doesn't make the viewing more comfortable.

Script, production, cinematography and acting are wonderful, especially Joaquin Cosio, absolutely brilliant (no wonder why he was picked as one of Bond's villains in Quantum of solace). I found valuable the fact that it is a hard criticism to the government, the authorities, the police, the justice system, and not just the actual ones, but the ones we've had in the past 80 years, and that, in a way, it's a slap in the face to the celebration of the 200 years of independence.

That said, it has to be understood that it reflects only a part of Mexico's reality, though it's a brutal one. Just like after watching City of God you can't assume that Brazil's whole reality are the favelas, the same way it'd be wrong to assume that Mexico is just narcos killing each other.

Powerful and brutal, not an easy watch, but, in my opinion a must see for any movie fan.

Essential viewing for wealthy drug users. Very Impressive.

[whatalovelypark · 9/10 · 31 July 2013]

This makes movies like Scarface look second rate. It's well made and high quality. The subject matter is impressively dealt with, though there are no surprises for those that know the subject.

The characters have real warmth, even though the events are presented in cold, brutal fashion.

Most movies about the drug wars have a small Latino element. They assume the person watching has never heard of Mexico, they have clichéd characters and information overload so the movie-goer is 'educated'.

The story packs in quite a lot, but in a relaxed style.

It's probably one of the most believable gangster movies ever made. The characters are well developed. They never apologise for what they're doing, but they're aware of what they're doing.

Worth watching before if you're about to snort cocaine. Just to see where your money goes.

A sad Mexican reality

[sergio_ortega · 9/10 · 3 September 2010]

This is a picture of Mexico's reality: drugs, violence, corruption and zero opportunities to people. Estrada is a no-fear director that shows what are happening in my country, he told about corruption in police corps, army, politicians inclusive with president Calderon y former's presidents, the church (catholic) has a important role in the film. Damian Alcazar is a warranty, Joaquin Cosio, Gomez Cruz, Maria Rojo, Salvador Sanchez all of them great actors that make a brilliant movie. The story is about Benny Garcia (Alcazar) a deported Mexican who found his town worst than ever, without job and no money he was introduced to mob group by his best friend Cochiloco (Cosio). Love and violence, loyalty and human feelings is mixed in this picture. Congratulations to Estrada for his courage to say the things like are in a country like Mexico.

A must see Mexican movie

[cephalocereus · 10/10 · 11 September 2010]

"El Infierno" is a satirical approach to the actual social situation of Mexico. This movie was released few days before of The Bicentennial Independence Day celebration. That fact gives a plus to this movie because it shows in a "funny" way how brutal the reality in this country is. Director Estrada wants to show that there is nothing to celebrate in a Nobody's land, where the law is made for those to have the money to corrupt a whole system. "El Infierno" shows not only a harsh present, but also a hopeless future.

The main topic of this movie is, of course, drug-trafficking; but, in this case, is only a pretext to show that drug-trafficking is not the problem itself, because it is only the consequence of a very long "tradition" of arrangements between mafia and government. The most characters in this movie were very well performed. I said the most characters, because Maria Rojo's performance was not so good as the other actors. This movie is easy to see and although it contains brutal violence it will be never so brutal as the headlines at the daily news.

Brutal, sharp, overwhelmingly real and just extraordinaire.

[Dauphin_Bleu · 10/10 · 6 September 2010]

This is by far one of the most intense, realistic and utterly depressing portrait of Mexican reality nowadays. Given the fact that this film was released as part of the Mexican Independence Bicentennial, it is a slap in the face of the society, the government and the organised crime. Its tag line says it all: "Nothing to celebrate".

With much of irony, black comedy, and criticism, it disses everybody and everything: from the corrupted government institutions of a failed state, to the hypocrisy of a rotten Catholic church, to a de-humanised and selfish society. This film accurately reflects the current situation in Mexico. And it does with such mastery and accuracy, it shocks the viewer.

Best Mexican film this year by a wide margin. And one of the bests of all time.

A good movie, but especially a brave one...

[gcarpiceci · 7/10 · 20 December 2021]

What I found remarkable in El Infierno is not much its cinematic qualities, which by the way are not to be neglected: it is a well made movie with very good performances (in fact, there's a good deal of Narcos' actors in it...).

It is especially the courage of portraying the villains in a way that does not make them look like heroes; different from many movies on the same subject, the drug dealers in El Infierno are ridiculous, or idiots, or servants, or weaklings...anyway nothing that risks to create any admiration, even if only at unconscious level.

Best Mexican movie of the year

[eongay · 10/10 · 13 September 2010]

Estrada's "El infierno" is a must see movie. Estrada has come back again in force from La "Ley de Herodes" (Herod's Law). In that movie, Estrada made a well depicted view of Mexican society in the late 1990s and we couldn't get worse back then. How wrong we were: It has. The satire portrayed in El Infierno shows how we are really at the gates of hell in a civil war that nobody wants to see or acknowledge. The movie has spectacular shots of the San Luis Potosi Desert that serve as a framework to develop all the memorable characters in the film, like Damian Alcázar Benny that transforms itself from a naive character to a ruthless hit man; or Joaquín Cosío (Cochiloco) both salvage and family man. Even with the pessimistic mood and end message of the film, it is commendable that has been partially financed by public funds and that is having a well-deserved attendance in commercial theaters. Highly recommended.

Funny and shocking Mexican film

[Chaman1990 · 7/10 · 25 December 2012]

El Infierno is probably one of the best Mexican movies i've watched in a long time, it has lots of shocking scenes but they seem to be less shocking because of the comedy context. Anyway, the film depicts a terrifying reality in Mexico, and furthermore the director did also made focus on the international aspects of the situation, so it's also a critic not only to the corruption in Mexico but the international corruption.

On the other hand, actors are OK, they're not outstanding, but they did a great job to be a film from a country that doesn't have a strong film industry, the only bad thing in the movie is probably that the plot doesn't get to develop very well, so it gets kinda messy at the end. And i think it shows more a question rather than an answer to the problem.

Genius tastes better with a grain of salt

[Directrix_M · 10/10 · 23 September 2010]

I assure you that this movie's legacy will still be talked about in decades to come. Certainly, the sole fact that this movie came to be speaks wonders of how great cinema can be made in Mexico, together with its box-office companion, "Hidalgo".

There is a little something for everyone: emotional dilemmas, intellectual reflection, and scenes so well composed that they're worthy of being shown in film schools. For the general public, the tasteful black comedy, the strong symbolic images, as well as the numerous occasions it gives for yelling "burn!!" (or "pedradas", in Spanish) will be the most memorable.

The ideas behind the making of this movie are definitely genius, but it still should be taken with a grain of salt. It is a very simplified view of the lower levels of the narco industry, as it only portrays the case of how a small rural town, with typical small-town values and small-town conservatism, is affected. The movie has been warmly received by the Mexican public, who after only seeing the consequences of this battle against narco forces, have no idea of what this narco business really is about, and crave any type of inside scoop they can get their hands on.

This movie presents what feels like great insight in an easily digestible way.

ok but uninvolving

[gilleliath · 6/10 · 29 January 2023]

Mexican drug gang movies are the new Westerns; and with its desert small-town setting, two gangs struggling for supremacy, and a loner coming into the middle of it, this bears a certain resemblance to A Fistful of Dollars. It has all the sex, drugs, violence and rock'n'roll (well - mariachi music) you could want, but it keeps an ironical detachment from its characters and their antics which prevents you from really caring what happens to them. Its legacy will not be talked about in decades to come, I assure you, nor does it 'speak wonders' about Mexican cinema (although it does make an interesting comparison to the American Narcos series).

La Vida No Vale Nada----very dark comedy of the drug wars in Mexico

[peru1-595-630106 · 10/10 · 23 May 2013]

This synopsis of the drug wars in Mexico is a dark comedy which makes it watchable but also sad.

La vida no vale nada (life has no value). Is the theme of the characters and by implication most of Northern Mexico. And the here and now because of this drug money fueled nightmare is el infierno (hell) (original title).

Obviously the story is written for comical effect and the gangs made funny (they would assuredly not be in real life).

It is a digestible way to sum up a lot of truths. Social commentary comedy?

Very well filmed gives balance to the Telenovela versions of this conflict like El Hombre De Los Cielos etc...

I recommend this movie highly for any audience. You will look at Mexico differently.

Live wealthy & die young

[vallabrache · 6/10 · 27 January 2022]

A decent film with a powerful message about the link between poverty and crime. Many men get involved with such brutal gangs out of desperation to make a better living. Sometimes they have no other option.

This movie provides a look into what desperation can turn people into. It also details the vicious, endless cycle of crime and corruption.

Not the most amazing film - but definitely one with a sad but true message about the drug war.

Stereotypes Galore

[cegimes · 1/10 · 14 September 2010]

I was truly expecting a movie with guts, but instead I saw the same 1930's stereotypes of Mexican life, hopelessness and despair, alcohol, drugs, poverty all in a somber scenery of backward never advancing, ignorant, supposedly clever plot that finds any excuse to use expletives and show the macho role at its most mundane. There are certainly many realities sampled in this film, but it paints with a broad brush over the vastness of a country that for all its defects has provided for millions. I'm truly disappointed with El Infierno's view that in Mexico there is nothing more than drugs, violence, corruption, etc. But there is no view of the fact that there are people with jobs, there are people that have a head for business, there are so many examples that are clearly cast off. My opinion that this is reminiscent of films from the 30's is in regard to photographic aspects of the film, it seems that in Mexico we don't ever plaster any walls and that we can either only live in hovels or haciendas. There is always a fat corrupt politico and only brown skinned children suffer. As a Mexican I am truly offended that for all my efforts of getting up early to go to work and not falling into the category this film assumes is my reality, it is truly sad that this type of garbage is out there representing my country.

A good film

[perlfarben · 10/10 · 4 October 2010]

As a Mexican who lives in México I have to say that it is very different to read the stories about crime, death, drugs, etc. in the newspapers than watching this film that put names and faces to the people involved in this kind of lifestyle. Some of the reviewers are very offended with the stereotypes in this movie, but it is undeniable that this movie portrays just one piece of reality about a part of our society. The offensive part should be that the rest of us live our lives normally without thinking about these things. It seems that many of us live in a different country, so far from this hell, and this movie is a great remainder of the problems we have as a country. I think that many of us are indifferent to these problems; we do not even imagine that this "war" affects all of us. I have read some reviews in which the way of telling the story is questioned and criticised. Many people think that the comedy is unnecessary, that it is a safe and easy way to say this kind of things, but I wonder if people are ready to pay to watch a film that does not involve comedy or any kind of humorous situation... sad but true, our TV and cinema culture is pathetic. Good for Luis Estrada, not everything is tequila, mariachi loco, spring break and telenovelas in México.

Very good in its own way.

[michellangelof · 9/10 · 2 January 2019]

Many of my acquaintances did not watch this film accusing it of trying to "justify" the path of a narco or of being "another film of violence", something that at this moment perhaps they are already tired of watching.

But I didn't see any of this: In "El infierno" I saw a film with a very careful rhythm (Luis Estrada has improved) that enters a world of violence that is the daily reality of many Mexicans. Like others, I started the film laughing, I ended up almost shivering. Humor, which can be criticized by telling such a story, is an effective way of making the world in which Luis Estrada introduces us bearable, exposing with simplicity and realism situations that are more complex than they can sound and where everyone plays their part.

Luis Estrada, hand in hand with Damian Alcázar presents us with a third film that we didn't think possible in Mexico, where things are called by their name and make us think about what we have got or can get at.

Meh plot about a guy enjoying his mobster life and then remembering why he joined mob in first place

[gabriel_sanchez · 3/10 · 1 October 2021]

I stumbled upon this movie because of a Netflix recommendation. Probably a result of my liking on cartel, drug war, military, crime movies.

Benny is sent back to Mexico after 20 years in the US. When he returns home, Mexico is in chaos, overrun by the cartels. His mother is still poor, same as he, and his brother got killed while working for the cartels.

This would seem like your generic cartel plot, adding the "revenge" element to it, but it is not quite this. Benny wants to uncover the truth, but he ends up working for the cartel and taking his brother's girl and son as his family. He is reluctant, but then he starts enjoying his new life.

Benny is not likeable. He is a good man, but he is too naive and innocent. As soon as he joins the cartel, he starts doing "everything wrong" by consuming drugs and making out with prostitutes. Enjoying his new life of glory without thinking about the consequences.

The movie's plot is put into standby. After Benny joins Reyes' cartel, his pursuit for the truth about his brother's death is put aside by his greed and lust. Most of the movie is Benny hanging out. Only later we get back to the main thing.

Climax is what you'd assume it is. Nothing new, nothing spetacular.

I guess just skip this one.

Quite solid, for the most part

[sidsideris · 9/10 · 25 June 2013]

I enjoyed this movie, but I have yet to see a film show the depth of narco-violence in full honesty. Many related films (e.g. Infierno, Coyote, Sicario) touch on it, but they pull back always, and right when realism calls for naturalism (i.e. Today, a "simple" gun execution is considered a merciful fate; decapitations are a manner of death and do not occur after death). For instance, Infierno would have been a far different film had the Zetas been presented (although they are alluded to when Reyes gets help from the City of Reynosa). One has only to view how Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel compete with decapitation videos to understand that while Infierno has moments of suspense and horror, it does not create an overwhelming sense f dread.

Well acted and photographed otherwise.

Nothing to celebrate?

[lucianaorendain · 10/10 · 11 February 2020]

This movie raises the indissoluble link between politics and drug trafficking. Through the use of irony, the film uses such a situation in a place of the north of Mexico, devastated by irrational violence, extensive corruption and economic crisis. The panorama is heartbreaking and without prospects of exit: skepticism reigns. "Nothing to celebrate," said graffiti on the poster of the film at the foot of the poster of Mexico alluding to the Mexican bicentennial, at which time it was announced. Nothing to celebrate, except that a film so brutal, so fiercely violent and so overflowing would operate the effect of a catharsis.

Greatest Satire for the WOrst of Mexico in the 2010's

[emanuellelibra7 · 10/10 · 5 April 2020]

This, as many other movies in which Damian Alcazar has participated, is a great satire of the worst in México. Whatching this movies brakes my heart every time, but reminds me of that which mexicans should work hard to eliminate: organized crime.

Corrupt Country, Corrupt Indsutry

[horrorborro · 1/10 · 28 September 2010]

If there is one thing true about this movie is that everything flows through corruption, even the Mexican film industry. This film shows nothing new, (it only reasserts the fact, regardless of the plot, that people only want to watch bloodshed and a bit of soft porn, and even that, the easiest task, is poorly achieved considering the crimes drug-lords have done through this past decade; I can assure that its not out of consideration to the victims family) on the contrary, it distracts the viewer from what is really important and tries to soften it with bad and harmful jokes. Drug-lords are not like this movie shows them, there are more than 2 links between drug-lords and small-time drug-dealers. No one could change so easily between sides. And the ending is nothing more than old fashioned political propaganda; to any viewer Mexico would seem like the 1940's, fat corrupt officers, drug-lords sons of bitches, whores in every town. The filmmakers only watched the news for a couple of days and believed they know how everything goes, Mexico is really worse than that.

To all those who say it's a sad Mexican reality...

[WholeGrain · 8/10 · 24 September 2010]

This movie shows the reality of corruption, church and drug traffic but don't make it sound like everyone in Mexico is a slave to this. What the director did was focus on some drug trafficker and what he moves up his cartel's ladder but Mexico is just like all of the countries in the world, there are opportunities for everyone who really looks for them and the people in general are not dehumanized they are scared by what they see in the news and what they see in papers which is only the bad news. In all the time I've been here I have only heard s h i t in the news and what people say they heard. Sure the economic crisis hurt the people but that's everywhere not just in Mexico. This is a good movie but don't be a victim and say it's a sad reality, instead do something about it, demand the government what you want because in the end the people have the power to do anything.

A movie that will leave you laughing and thinking

[taylorpace · 9/10 · 21 January 2023]

I have seen a lot of movies, and I put this one up there with the best of them.

The satire on the Mexican police, narcos, politicians, greed, morals, is all on a different level, and though it is often very funny throughout, it artfully weaves in some very serious, dark, and gritty elements. A very artfully done commentary on various elements of Mexican Narco/political culture; It's a movie that will leave you laughing and also thinking.

As someone who speaks Spanish (but not Mexican Spanish), I found the access to Mexican slang, music, and culture in general to be one of the most enjoyable parts about the whole movie too.

The Best Movie of 2010

[lic-guzman · 10/10 · 21 September 2010]

This is a great movie, better than inception, better than machete, and better than the expendables, even better than avatar, is pure sex, drugs, and narco music, is funny as hell, the acting is great, the scenarios are great, the beautiful girl Elizabeth Cervantes is beautiful, you will fall in love with this movie, great director.

This kind of satirical and humor reminds me Emir Kusturica's films, the cast of this film is full of actors that know what they are doing, all details in this movie are perfect and it has good cameos.

This is a controversial movie, it has some blood, some guns, some nude scenes, mixed in the perfect way.

Excellent but they show a terrible Mexico,

[jabrahammendez · 10/10 · 16 October 2010]

I think that is an excellent movie, the acting and the direction are great, but the only part that I hate about the movie was the way that the director and the writer shows Mexico, with skinny cows and ugly dogs and a horrible town that almost there are anymore, thats not Mexico, we have cosmopolitan cities like Monterrey, Guadalajara, DF, and we know that we have a lot of problems with Narco and violence, but that is not a good image of Mexico in the world in the way that they make this dark humor comedy. I like the director is like the 2 part of "Herodes Law" that was excellent and it was with Damian Alcazar, one of my favorite actors, Elizabeth Cervantes I haven't see her before , is a surprise she is very good actress and very sexy about the rest of the cast there just great!!!!

The drug trafficking problem

[DogePelis2015 · 10/10 · 5 September 2021]

It is a good movie directed by Luis Estrada; the plot is violent and raw and the acting is excellent; it is recommended.