Víctor, a psychopath, loves carving crosses onto women post-mortem, blames paedophile priest and mother-in-denial for his behaviour, falls in love with one of his intended victims and decides to give up his adopted lifestyle. An alcoholic detective (he’s mourning his sister’s passing), eventually tracks down Víctor, and manages to break his habit with the bottle.
Acting
Alberto Guerra commits to the unhinged killer-with-a-conscience bit.
Direction
Rafael Lara Ruiz shoots Mexico City like moral rot seeps into concrete.
Director
Rafael Lara Ruiz
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title refers to 'Thou shalt not kill,' though the original Spanish 'El Quinto Mandamiento' carries more Catholic cultural weight than the English translation suggests.
Rafael Lara Ruiz's background in Mexican television drama bleeds through in the soap-operatic twist of the killer falling for his victim — a move that divided critics between 'bold' and 'exploitative.'
MX
