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6.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Hero of Nacozari remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for black-and-white historical dramas that don't care about modern pacing, maybe. If you need explosions or a fast-moving plot, skip it. This movie is for the kind of person who enjoys reading old plaques in town squares.
It feels like a movie made by people who really wanted to honor a local legend. There is a lot of weight on the shoulders of the lead, Ramón Pereda. He plays Jesus Garcia with this intense, slightly uncomfortable seriousness.
The film doesn't try to be flashy. It’s very much a product of its time. You can tell they were working with a limited budget, but they make it work by focusing on the faces of the people in the town. The stakes feel real because the movie insists they are, even when the production values are struggling to keep up.
There’s a scene near the middle that feels like it’s just padding out the runtime. Everyone is standing around looking concerned, and the camera lingers for about ten seconds too long. It’s like the editor fell asleep at the desk. But then, you hit the climax.
The train stuff? It’s surprisingly effective. For a film from this era, they manage to build a good amount of tension. It’s nowhere near the kinetic energy of something like Chasing Trouble, but it hits the right notes of dread.
I found myself thinking about how strange it is that we don't make movies like this anymore. No irony. No jokes. Just a guy doing a job, and that job being the difference between life and death for a whole town. It’s almost too simple.
It’s not going to change your life. It’s a bit stiff, and it certainly won't win any awards for modern storytelling. But there is something honest about it. It’s a dusty, earnest little film that knows exactly what it wants to say. 🚂
