Facing El Chapo

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Christopher D @CQDinNYC 3 days ago I’m very glad I never have to make the choices of a Mexican federal police officer. I’ll just stay in my recliner, thank you very much. Great movie. Very effective storytelling. See more JM M @jmmch 4 days ago Excellent movie. Real facts about the capture of El Chapo that didn't were shown in the news. It shows that there are still honest Mexican police and army, willing to risk their life while combating the mexican cartels. Brave men. See more Michael H @MH614CBUS Sep 13, 2026 Excellent move! Enjoyed the movie even knowing the story. See more Marco L @decatur555 Sep 10, 2026 A tense, hard and surprisingly effective police thriller about the almost accidental arrest of El Chapo. What works best is that it does not try to explain the whole Mexican drug war or turn the criminal into a glamorous myth. It stays close to two tired federal policemen, a stolen car, a routine shift and the terrifying moment when chance places them face to face with one of the most dangerous men in the world. The dirty, realistic look makes the danger feel physical, while the relationship between Alfonso Herrera and Noé Hernández gives the film its human core: distrust slowly becoming a fragile kind of trust. El Chapo is not the hero here, but a burden, a threat and a test of corruption, fear and survival. The opening takes a while to find its pulse and some familiar thriller mechanisms are visible, but once the pressure builds it grips hard. Exciting, uncomfortable and very solid, it understands that heroism can be nothing more than being terrified and still choosing not to break. See more khalil L @Kilalani Sep 8, 2026 It was fine, but was missing that crazy fight scene that you thought that would come See more Ashequl I @Tofa13 Sep 7, 2026 Chava Cartas’ Facing El Chapo (2026) delivers a gripping, straightforward recreation of the real-life 2016 operation that led to the recapture of Mexico's most notorious drug lord. Focusing primarily on the two federal officers trapped in a high-stakes standoff while holding El Chapo, the screenplay maintains a tight, claustrophobic atmosphere that keeps the narrative moving at a solid pace. The psychological tension surrounding massive cartel bribes and constant death threats prevents the story from ever feeling boring. However, the film is held back by bland execution. The action sequences feel generic and lack weight, while the lead performances remain fairly flat, treating the characters more like law-enforcement tropes than fully developed people. While it doesn't quite stick the landing as a top-tier action thriller, it remains an entertaining, worthwhile watch for fans of real-world crime stories. See more Read all reviews

Facing El Chapo

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