El gato montés: A messy, passionate fever dream

Is it worth your time?

Look, if you have zero patience for old-fashioned, high-stakes melodrama that moves at its own stubborn pace, you’re going to hate this. It’s loud, it’s dramatic, and it feels like it’s constantly trying to wring every drop of emotion out of a stone. But if you dig stories about childhood oaths and men with too much pride, you might actually find something here that sticks.

The whole thing starts with these two kids making a pact that feels way too heavy for their age. It sets the tone for the rest of the movie, which never really lets up on the gas. It’s like watching a long, drawn-out operatic argument that happens to have a camera pointed at it.

Notes from the couch

Juanillo breaking out of prison? That moment felt surprisingly rushed, like the movie wanted to get him back into the sunshine as fast as possible. But then we spend forever just watching people look at each other with intense, unblinking stares. It’s a bit of a weird balance.

Sometimes, the background characters just stand there looking like they aren't sure if they should be clapping or running away. It gives the whole thing this strangely hollow, stage-play feeling. It’s not quite as polished as Couple on the Move, but it has this raw, scratchy energy I sort of grew to like.

• The lighting in the prison scenes is oddly bright, which makes the whole 'suffering' bit feel like a minor inconvenience.
• Soleá’s transition to El Macareno’s protection happens so fast I almost missed it while grabbing a snack.
• There’s a specific look the lead gives when he’s jealous—it’s actually kind of funny if you watch it for more than five seconds.

It’s nowhere near as cohesive as Shooting Straight, but it isn't trying to be. It’s just obsessed with its own drama. 🎭

I couldn't help but think about how much this movie relies on the audience just *accepting* the madness. It doesn't bother explaining why things happen, it just moves to the next dramatic outburst. It’s messy. It’s not perfect. It’s definitely not for everyone. But for an hour or so, I was actually invested in whether these two ever figured their mess out.

Don't expect it to change your life. Just watch it for the weird, slightly unhinged rhythm of it all.