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A narco finds Jesus in the slammer — but can he escape his past?
TMDB
68
IMDb
71

El despiadado (1990)

low-budget redemptionnarco-noir meets Sunday school90s Latin grit

Overview

Drama

Christian movie based on real events. Based on the real story of a drug trafficker, who paradoxically found his freedom inside the jail.

Flag of MXMXSpanish
Content warning
religiondrugsrealcristiano

Standout Aspects

Acting

Ciangherotti's raw desperation in the cell scenes

Production

Gritty Mexican prison authenticity on shoestring budget

Best for:Solo: Late-night soul-searching with zero distractions·Family: Parents with older teens for faith discussions
Heads up:Drug Use: Extended cartel trafficking scenes and addiction portrayal·Violence: Prison beatings and narco-world brutality
Paco del Toro

Director

Paco del Toro

ReleasedDec 25, 1990
Runtime1h 25m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonedark
Feelheavy
Armagedon Films

Top Cast

Fernando Ciangherotti

Fernando Ciangherotti

Pedro

Sebastian Ligarde

Sebastian Ligarde

El Cuñado

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Cultural

Part of Mexico's 1990s wave of 'narco-evangelico' films that blended gritty crime with conversion narratives for working-class audiences.

Trivia

Director Paco del Toro was a former actor who pivoted to Christian filmmaking after his own religious conversion, explaining the authentic desperation in Pedro's prison scenes.

Reviews

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