Tigers Are Not Afraid Review

5 star hard hitting Mexican supernatural horror.

Tigers Are Not Afraid, originally known as Vuelven,  is a Mexican crime-fantasy horror film, written and directed by Issa López (Ladies Night, Three Sundays) and set amidst the devastation of the Mexican Drug War. It is now released for the first time in the UK on Blu-ray, Digital and DVD courtesy of Acorn Media International.

“Since the beginning of the drug war in 2006, 160,000 have been killed and 53,000 have disappeared in Mexico. Entire areas of some cities are turning into ghost towns. There are no numbers for the children the dead and missing have left behind.”

Estrella (Paolo Lara) is a young girl living in Mexico. During a lesson about fairy tales, a  shooting takes place near to her school and while they are taking cover on the floor her teacher gives her three wishes in the form of pieces of chalk.

The school is closed as a result and Estrella returns home, only to find that her mother is not there and she is alone. This is the first time she sees the stream of blood snaking across her floor. Later that night, she uses her first wish, that her mother come home, and something does, but not in the way she hoped.

Hungry, she ventures into the streets and there she meets up with a group of homeless children led by Shine (Juan Ramón López). He seems to have set up a little family, with Pop (Rodrigo Cortes), Tucsi (Hanssel Casillas) and the baby of the group Morro (Nery Arredondo).

They reluctantly agree to take her in, with one condition. She must use the gun that Shine has taken from the leader of the Huascas Gang, Caco (Ianis Guerrero – La Bandida) to kill him. The consequences of this night will have repercussions that no-one concerned could have foreseen, as these children sink deeper into the darkness that surrounds them.

Tigers Are Not Afraid is a magnificent film. It is an unflinching look at the effects of the drug war, seen through the eyes of innocent children, who put in some truly awesome acting performances. There are also some very impressive special effects, both 2D for the animated graffiti and 3D later on.

It could be a depressing film, but while the subject matter is dark, the interaction between the children is magical and the introduction of fairy tale elements gives it an other worldly feel. We never truly understand the relationship Estrella has with the ghosts that surround her, but she does and that feels like the only thing that matters.

This is a great film, eye opening and harrowing and leaving a lasting impression. With it’s blend of realism and fantasy, it’s a very different and dark take on the coming of age film, well worth adding to your collection.

“Once upon a time, there was a Prince who wanted to be a Tiger. Tigers never forget. They’re hunters. Their eyes can see in the dark. They have fangs to break bones. Tigers are not afraid.”

Tigers Are Not Afraid is available to buy now on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Platforms.