News

The direct-to-video action film has its own distinct rhythm, a pulse I’ve followed since my days renting tapes from the local video store. Diablo immediately taps into that familiar beat. We meet Kris Chaney (Scott Adkins), an ex-convict whose world-weary face tells its own story before he even throws a punch.

He’s been smuggled into the vibrant, sun-drenched landscape of Colombia with a singular, dangerous task. His objective is to abduct Elisa, the daughter of the powerful crime lord Vicente. This isn’t a simple snatch-and-grab for cash.

The film quickly signals that Kris is operating from a place of grim duty, a promise to someone lost that puts him on a collision course with an entire criminal organization. The air is thick with the promise of violence from the opening frame.

The Saint, The Sinner, and The Spectre

The film’s engine is a triangle of well-defined personalities.

Ernesto Diaz Espinoza’s “Diablo” (2025) is a frantic actioner that, however, does little to resuscitate the genre. A film in this space needs not just a few darn good sequences pirouetting off the cliff of wild implausibility and solid craft but also anchoring itself to a fabric of earned emotion. There ought to be characters we can be at least marginally invested in or intrigued by. By randomly planting buried family history, sentimental dynamics in the narrative tangle, emotion cannot be miraculously elicited.

“Diablo” tries to insert emotion and engagement through lazy means that neither knows the map of dynamics or tie action into its folds. It’s a film that’s too scattered and harebrained, and effete to land its punches. There are assassins with private vendettas, an axe to grind, but the ruthlessness feels more meandering and drifting than locking into our trepidation. To top it all, the...

Ernesto Diaz Espinoza’s action thriller, Diablo, might not have much to offer in terms of story, but it does pack a punch and makes for an entertaining watch. The story follows the life of a fugitive who decides to kidnap a girl right after he gets out of prison for some unknown reason. So, let’s find out what the fugitive wanted and if he was able to achieve what he set out for.

Who kidnapped Elisa and why?

An anonymous man who had some sort of hidden agenda and, by the looks of it, seemed like a fugitive who was up to something, came to Colombia. This man started keeping track of the movements of Elisa, who happened to be the daughter of a criminal named Vicente. Vicente was an influential man, and that was why it was even more difficult to understand the motives of the anonymous man.

Plot: Kris Chaney, a recently released ex-convict embarks on a perilous mission. He kidnaps Elisa, daughter of Vicente, a powerful gangster, which puts them in danger from El Corvo, a psychopathic killer seeking revenge against Vicente’s family.

Review: It’s tough to stand out in the action space these days, but my ears perk up whenever I see Scott Adkins‘ name involved. No matter the film, Adkins gives it his all, and always provides some genuinely fantastic fight sequences. Now, he’s teaming up with fellow action star Marko Zaror to create a unique story of revenge. And despite all the death and chaos, there’s actually some heart and humor that makes Diablo stand out.

Diablo follows Kris (Adkins), an ex-con who wants payback, and does so by kidnapping the daughter of a powerful gangster who took his life from him. Unfortunately for Kris and, by extension, the gangster’s daughter Elisa,...

Kris, a recently released ex-con, sneaks into Colombia to kidnap Elisa, the daughter of Vicente, a powerful gangster. This puts them on the radar of not only every other gang in the country but also El Corvo, a psychopathic killer that even Vicente will not work with anymore.    Napoleon Bonaparte is credited with saying, If you want a thing done well, do it yourself. For long-time friends and adversaries, acclaimed stunt actors and action stars Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror, the opportunity arose to be very hands-on in this project, Diablo.   Adkins was involved as a producer, and Zaror was the fight choreographer. They teamed up with frequent Zaror collaborator, Ernesto Díaz Espinoza, the director responsible for helping Zaror burst onto the international...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

For fans of the action genre, Scott Adkins is one of the best underrated actors in the industry. After doing bit parts in Jackie Chan’s Hollywood ventures, Adkins gained significant fame in the role of Boyka. Adkins then went on to absolutely dominate the field of direct-to-vod releases, occasionally delivering bangers like Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, Avengement, and One Shot. And while his work was greatly revered by those who watch any and every action film (read: me), it was his turn as Killa Harkan in John Wick 4 that garnered him worldwide acclaim. The same can be said about Marko Zaror. He starred alongside Adkins in several movies and even played the final boss in Sultan, a Bollywood film starring Salman Khan. But it was his role as Chidi in the fourth John Wick film that got everybody to sit up and take notice. Now, Adkins and...

Ernesto Díaz Espinoza’s Diablo kicks off the action with the mysterious Kris Chaney (Scott Adkins) kidnapping the young Elisa (Alanna De La Rossa), who is the daughter of the powerful Colombian gangster Vicente (Lucho Velasco). Kris tells Elisa that he’s only fulfilling a promise he made to her deceased mother years ago, and you can probably guess what the actual twist is here. Vicente isn’t about to let Elisa get away, though, so he puts out a bounty on Kris’ head. One man who answers the call is the unrelenting and unrepentant El Corvo (Marko Zaror), who also has his own violent history with Vicente. Mat Sansom writes the script for Diablo, and it isn’t exactly a story bursting with too much novelty or surprise. It’s an action-centric tale told many times before in movies of the past – particularly in the ’80s and ’90s. Heck,...

Confesiones Chin Chin is a Spanish feature film centered around the Cazador bar in Madrid where two queer actors, Vicente and Lolo, engage in a freewheeling conversation about sexuality, life, and more. During this process, they come across people like Sofia, Roberto, and various other eclectic people who are figuring themselves out in their own weird and unconventional ways. Whether or not these stories will positively influence Vicente and Lolo, or bring their friendship to an abrupt end, is what forms the crux of the narrative. I sat down for a virtual chat with its director and co-writer, Carolina Perelman, to learn about the authenticity of confessions featured in the film, her cinematic influences, and the relationship with food and sex.

Film Fugitives: You’ve claimed that the confessions that we hear in your movie are based on real-life stories. Can you tell us a little about how you came across these tales?...

The greatest achievement that any coming-of-age film can reach is the ability to allow an audience to walk in the shoes of someone else’s experiences. While there are recurring themes within different stories of adolescence that center on young love, the discovery of identity, and the acknowledgment of life’s more upsetting components, there are certain aspects that will be universally relatable. “In the Summers” does not contain any aesthetic novelties that would distinguish it from the great independent films of the last decade, but it does appear to be an entirely honest admission on the part of writer/director Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio in her feature film debut.

The most intriguing quality of “In the Summers” is its structure, as the film is cleanly divided into four different chapters that focus on a different summer in the lives of its protagonists. Eva (Sasha Calle) and Violeta (Lio Mehiel) have the type of friendly,...

Two of the scene-stealing stars of action movie magnum opus John Wick: Chapter 4 reunite, and throw fists and feet, in our first look at the upcoming action thriller Diablo. Action stars and martial artists Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror reunite in Diablo following their roles alongside Keanu Reeves in the fourth John Wick. The former starred as the scenery-chewing Killa Harkan, the head of the German Table, while the latter starred as the human battering ram Chidi, the second-in-command of Bill Skarsgård’s Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont. Now, the pair are together again and lighting up the screen in this tale of kidnapping, gangsters, redemption, and a psychopathic killer. You can check out the first image from Diablo below.

Scott Adkins took to social media to share the new image, providing a caption that should have action fans everywhere excited. “Are you ready for the best martial arts...

Right off the bat, Non Negotiable dives into high-stakes drama with humor and heart. It stars Mauricio Ochmann as Alan Binder, Mexico’s top hostage negotiator. His skill at reading people helps keep calm in crises but causes problems at home with wife Victoria, played delightfully by Tato Alexander.

When the President is taken, Alan faces his biggest challenge yet—made more personal when Victoria ends up in danger too. Meanwhile we meet the complex kidnapper Vicente, brought to layered life by Leonardo Ortizgris. Through his eyes, we learn how one wrong turn can derail a life, though his methods raise troubling questions.

This hostage thriller pulls us in with wit, pacing its reveals expertly. We root for Alan through nail-biting negotiation scenes, also cheering for Victoria’s spirit. Their relationship feels authentic; hits and humors rang true. Deeper still, corruption themes give food for thought long after closing.

While...

I am Vicente.

After kicking off February with discussions of Albert Lewin’s 1945 adaptation of The Portrait of Dorian Gray (listen) and the perfectly serviceable remake of Friday the 13th (listen), we’re delving into the twisted mind of Pedro Almodóvar with his 2011 thriller The Skin I Live In.

In The Skin I Live In, skilled plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas) has tried to develop a new super skin ever since his beloved wife was horribly burned in a car accident 12 years prior. Finally, Ledgard has created a skin that guards the body, but is still sensitive to touch. With the aid of his faithful housekeeper Marilia (Marisa Paredes), Ledgard tests his creation on Vera (Elena Anaya), a woman he keeps prisoner against her will in the basement of his Spanish mansion.

Being an Almodóvar film, there’s much more to this twisted plot than meets they eye.

Carolina's death leaves Damián and her forbidden love story unfinished, as they never get the chance to be together. Vicente's greed leads to a fatal confrontation with Carolina and Damián, ultimately resulting in Carolina's death. The shocking revelation that Raquel is the one who shot Carolina adds a layer of betrayal and revenge to the complex storyline.

Caer en tentación is a Mexican telenovela that ended on February 11, 2018, and the finale resolved some of the biggest questions of the show while leaving other storylines ambiguous. First premiering on September 18, 2017, Caer en tentación only ran for one season, but in the 102 episodes that arrived weekly, an exciting, romantic, and deadly story is told. The soap opera follows two couples, Raquel Cohen (Silvia Navarro) and Damián Becker (Gabriel Soto), and Carolina Rivas (Adriana Louvier) and Santiago Álvarado (Carlos Ferro). Due to a fender bender, their lives become entangled in ways they could never have guessed.

Upcoming film In The Summers starring Puerto Rican rapper René “Residente” Pérez Joglar, in his acting debut, and Leslie Grace has wrapped production in New Mexico, Deadline reports.

Exile Content Studio, a Candle Media Company, worked with Lexicon Development, 1868 Studios and Luz Films to produce the indie feature. Along with Residente and Grace, Sasha Calle and Lío Mehiel will star in director Alessandra Lacorazza’s feature debut.

The film tells the story of two sisters, Violeta (Mehiel) and Eva (Calle), who visit their father Vicente (Residente) during the summer,...

Exclusive: The indie feature In The Summers has wrapped production in New Mexico and Deadline has your first look at stars René “Residente” Pérez Joglar, in his acting debut, Sasha Calle (The Flash), Lío Mehiel (Mutt) and Leslie Grace (In The Heights) below.

Exile Content Studio, a Candle Media Company produced the project in association with Lexicon Development, alongside 1868 Studios and Luz Films.

From writer and director Alessandra Lacorazza in her feature debut, In The Summers tells the story of Latine sisters, Violeta (Lío) and Eva (Calle), who visit their loving but reckless father Vicente (Pérez Joglar) every summer. He creates a world of wonder but under the fun facade, he battles addiction which gradually erodes the magic, culminating in a devastating tragedy. Vicente tries to make up for the past, but wounds aren’t easily healed.

Grace portrays the character of Yenny. The character of Violeta will also...

Click here to read the full article.

The Sundance Film Festival is heading back to Park City with a recently announced line-up that includes the latest feature from directors Nicole Holofcener and Ira Sachs, biodocs about Brooke Shields and Little Ricahrd, and adaptations of titles Cat Person and Eileen.

Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente, director of programming Kim Yutani, and senior programmer John Nein talked to The Hollywood Reporter about this year’s fest, from Covid contingencies to lessons learned from Jihad Rehab.

Heading into the fest this year, how did you all come to the decision of a hybrid model?

Vicente This seems to be the running question. We have two years of a digital festival. Last year we had designed a hybrid festival, but ended up having to pivot to online due to the rise of the Omicron. We felt that while we’re gonna prioritize in person,...

The 2023 Sundance Film Festival lineup landed with week with a lot of potential — and not only because of the 110 features expected to premiere in Park City next month. The first in-person Sundance in 2020 (knock on wood) finds America’s most prominent festival returning to a radically different lineup, as distribution models keep shifting and the future of the movies is a bigger question mark than ever before.

However, in an interview with IndieWire this week, Sundance program director Kim Yutani, senior programmer John Nein, and Sundance Institute CEO Joanna Vicente projected confidence about the caliber of the selection and the continuing importance of Sundance to provide a launchpad for filmmakers at the start of the year. (New Sundance director Eugene Hernandez started in November and did not participate in the selection process.)

Here, the trio highlight some of the intriguing titles from this year’s lineup and what to expect from the marketplace.

Click here to read the full article.

Take two.

After last year’s in-person festival was canceled at the last minute because of the winter Covid-19 surge due to the Omicron variant, the Sundance Film Festival is returning to Park City for the first time since 2020 with a line-up of 101 feature-length films, representing 23 countries, that was annoucned today.

The U.S. Dramatic Competition section features thirteen titles. The Jonathan Majors-fronted Magazine Dreams, Randall Park’s directorial debut Shortcomings, and the latest from Will Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum’s Gloria Sanchez, Theater Camp, are among those vying for the top festival prize.

As for non-fiction, several bio-docs centered on big-name talent are festival bound, including Michael J. Fox (Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie), Brooke Shields (Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields), Little Richard (Little Richard: I Am Everything), and Judy Blume (Judy Blume Forever). Years past have seen docs on Taylor Swift,...

Click here to read the full article.

Jehane Noujaim started her filmmaking journey with HBO’s The Vow in 2009. The award-winning director attended an introductory class for Nxivm’s personal growth Executive Success Program (“Esp”), where she would go on to meet the self-help marketing corporation’s leader and founder Keith Raniere and his co-founder Nancy Salzman. The pair, now convicted felons, were eventually examined in The Vow and now, interviewed for The Vow, Part Two, which premiered Oct. 17, more than a decade after that initial class.

But, back in 2009, Noujaim says she didn’t get the kind of balanced access she was looking for, so she put the project aside. She went on to make other documentaries like Startup.com (2001), focusing on the dark side of the internet boom; Control Room (2004), about the Al-Jazeera network amid the U.S.-Iraq war; and The Square (2013), looking at the unrest in...

Nicole Kidman and cinematographer Ed Lachman will be honored with tributes at the 2017 IFP Gotham Awards, the IFP said today.

The tributes are an annual feature of the Gotham Awards. This year’s roster also includes the previously announced Al Gore (Humanitarian Tribute) and Blumhouse Productions founder Jason Blum (Industry Tribute).

Additional 2017 tributes will be announced in the coming weeks.

Kidman will be presented with the Actress Tribute. “She has consistently sought out roles of complex characters and delivered them with unforgettable, iconic performances that have unequivocally placed her amongst one of the greatest actresses of our lifetime,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of IFP and the Made in NY Media Center.

About Lachman, who will receive the Cinematographer Tribute, Vicente said, “His creative contributions to independent films along with his collaborations with countless filmmakers are legendary. His talent to transform what viewers see on screen is one of a kind and worthy of recognition.