El pico

One of those where were you when you first saw it films. Extraordinarily gloomy in its outlook, the only redeeming character being the dying mother.

The acting is also variable though very styylised. Gritty, unpleasant, urban and claustrophobic, the storyline just concentrates on unkowing self destruction for all.

Manzano is not a subtle actor which serves to emphasise the physicality on screen rather than any emotional nuances. The subject drugs and their impact is laboured to literal death here, but that approach works.

Ultimately very disturbing if you have western susceptibilities. The result is very effective cinema which the director did not take on board personally, a crying shame!