Why you can trust GamesRadar+
“My dream is to represent the beautiful women of my state,” repeats Tijuana lady Laura (Stephanie Sigman), auditioning for the eponymous beauty pageant in Gerardo Naranjo’s thriller.
She soon represents a sorrier statistic as she’s inducted into Mexico’s underworld of murderers and corrupt cops.
Brilliantly shot in long takes, each leading Laura further into unspeakable peril, it’s more an extraordinary feat of organisation than an affecting tragedy.
Sigman’s turn is committed and the set-pieces harrowing, but sympathy soon gives way to shellshock.
Matt Glasby is a freelance film and TV journalist. You can find his work on Total Film - in print and online - as well as at publications like the Radio Times, Channel 4, DVD REview, Flicks, GQ, Hotdog, Little White Lies, and SFX, among others. He is also the author of several novels, including The Book of Horror: The Anatomy of Fear in Film and Britpop Cinema: From Trainspotting To This Is England.
James Gunn has an update on Superman production as one key actor wraps filming
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes star Freya Allan teases potential sequel: "I know things"
How Destiny 2's narrative team wrangled 10 years of lore into a perfect finale with The Final Shape: "Magic has been so important to this franchise