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Gangster. Children. Horror. All in one. Interesting film, it literally plays like a modern dark fairytale. I loved how theu brought the fantasy and the horror elements into a what could've been a regular crime/drama. Well done.

In this dark fairytale written and directed by by Issa López, a gang of orphaned children battle to survive on the streets of Mexico amid the devastating backdrop of that country's drug wars. The kids are armed with three magical wishes to help them escape the clutches of the cartel that murdered their parents. This uncompromising movie sees López create a world that recalls the early films of Guillermo del Toro, imbued with her own gritty spin on magical realism to conjure a wholly unique experience. This is a movie with a real social conscience, López elicits solid performances from her young cast (who are all incredible). It's touching but unsentimental and quite often devastating (bad things happen to these kids), and is a movie that really gets its claws into you and refuses to let go.

Taking heavy inspiration from the work of Guillermo Del Toro (particularly 'Pan's Labyrinth (2006)' and 'The Devil's Backbone (2001)'), 'Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)' mixes harsh reality with dark fantasy. It's a little uneven in its blending of its two core elements; nevertheless, it's an engaging and palpable experience throughout. Even when it's at its most fantastical, it always retains a level of sobering realism. It isn't afraid to get heavy. The affair is sometimes a bit inconsistent when it comes to tone, as it attempts to blend the inherent innocence of childhood with the vicious circumstances of its setting, but it hits the right notes when it needs to. A large part of why it's so successful is that its lead actors are remarkably good, especially considering their young age and lack of experience. They ground the already grounded experience and make caring for the characters actually rather effortless. Ultimately, this is a well-made and compelling drama. 7/10

Dark, brutal & heartbreaking yet pierced with an unfeigned tenderness, Tigers Are Not Afraid (also known as Vuelven) blends the elements of horror, fantasy & social realism into one passionately crafted & exquisitely narrated fairy tale that's tough & touching in equal doses, and is further bolstered by strong & sincere performances from its young, novice cast.

Written & directed by Issa López, the film paints an unflinching portrait of everyday tragedy unfolding in modern-day Mexico, brought upon by the cartel violence in the wake of the ongoing drug war, and captures it through the eyes of children who are left orphaned & traumatised by these day-to-day atrocities. López's direction is top-notch, and her documentary-like approach delivers the desired impact.

The tone & treatment of López's latest film bears striking resemblance to the works of Guillermo del Toro but there's also an uncompromising quality to it that gives the story her own touch. The interaction between the kids retains its childlike simplicity, the unity they exhibit as a group brims with an authentic feel and these child actors with no prior acting experience are surprisingly natural at articulating the necessary emotions.

The horror aspects are neatly carried out, for the film's deserted setting & uncanny aura reeks with terror, plus the jump scares are effectively carried out as well. But the spectral touches are still no match to the terrifying & harrowing barbarity that's perpetrated by the cartels in this picture. At well-paced 83 mins, the narrative isn't longer than it needs to be although there are a few hiccups as far as editing goes.

On an overall scale, Tigers Are Not Afraid is an unadulterated depiction of the loss of innocence that's as gripping as it is disturbing, and as intelligently executed as it is deftly layered. Steered by Issa López's no-nonsense direction & excellent writing, strengthened by its raw camerawork, menacing score & impressive use of genre(s) elements, and all the more uplifted by stellar work from its novice cast, this Mexican horror lives up to its reputation for the most part, if not all. A definite must.

This is a great and necessary addition to the horror genre, and is very much worth a viewing for those who think horror genre can't blend with realism and fantasy to create a metaphor of beauty.