Street thugs kidnap a middle class couple thinking they are wealthy. A ransom is arranged and the victims are dragged through a hellish nightmare in an urban underworld. An incalculable number of kidnappings happen daily in Latin America. This movie is based on actual events and is a subtitled Spanish film.

I just got finished watching this and all I can say is wow. There are few films that attain perfection. In fact, the list is so small you can probably count on both hands the films that can actually be considered perfect. This film unfortunately doesn't make that list, but it comes awfully close.

Classified more as a thriller than a horror, I had to review this because it gives us a prime example of the depravity of human nature. Before I even get into the plot, let me say that the direction, writing, and acting are all phenomenal. When you watch this you have to wonder if the actor who play the gang are actual street thugs. They all were amazing. Mia Maestro is also very good portraying a victim that has to play along to her captures wants.

One of the gang members is a family man who is playing with his toddler. When he's done he tells his son that he's going to buy him a car and a motorcycle so he can "pimp the bitches in the ghetto." This made me absolutely sick. What's really sad is that there are actually despicable human beings out there like this. This man also happens to be a rapist.

Upon watching this, I was reminded that there are two types of people: Those that are street smart and book stupid and those that are book smart and street stupid. I fall into the latter category and I'm so naive I'd be dead pretty quickly in this situation. I am aware that you do what your captors tell you, but I probably wouldn't be able to survive. This is my optimistic point of view.

The thugs introduce us to a game called "Venezuelan Roulette." Basically, while you're bound and gagged, they put one bullet in the chamber of a six-shooter, spin the chamber and point it at you. If you're not the winner, they keep going until you ARE the winner.

With that out of the way, here's the plot. Set in Venezuela, the story follows Martin and Carla. They are kidnapped after visiting an all night pharmacy. Martin is beaten very badly while Carla is driving the getaway car while the gang is in the car holding her at gunpoint. The behavior of the gang was really frightening because shit like this happens everyday.

This movie had me guessing what was going to happen next and wondering if Martin and Carla would survive the ordeal. It also had my heart pumping during several scenes. The ending builds up really nicely and gives us the ubiquitous twist, but this twist is acceptable.

This movie was exceptionally done and gives us a good look at street life in the ghetto. There's a little bit of nudity, some blood, and enough drug use for at least two movies. To make up for everything that's missing, this movie's chock full of violence and tension, which gives us a dose of realism which is scary in and of itself.

9 out of 10