Quien a hierro mata

Dark thriller with tension , suspense , twists and turns . The film is set in Cambados, Pontevedra (Galicia; northwest to Spain), there lives the legendary Galician drug dealer Antonio Padín (Xan Cejudo) and his delinquent sons (Ismael Martínez and Enric Auqueris) . Antonio is detained , incarcerated , but pardoned from the prison due to humanitarian reasons, after to have a terminal disease . His two sons, older and more intelligent Toño (Ismael Martinez) and younger and more violent Kiko (Enric Auquer), despising them openly in the belief that they two will ruin the family business. In the old people residence Antonio meets Mario, he is a prestigious nurse living in Cambados who expects his first baby with his six months pregnant wife Julia (Maria Valverde) ; however , Mario pretends to care Antonio worsening his health . Mario results to be a relentless avenger , he is broken by pain , rage and impotence for some deeds from his sad past and attempts to exact a revenge against the nasty peddlers . But Mario doesn't counts with Antonio's evil to pay Mario's cares. As Mario cares Antonio by day, but makes him sick by night as retribution. But he makes a difficult decision, to take justice on his own hands . Nevertheless , the merciless vendetta against drug pushers and drug sealers , leading to unexpected consequences . Then Mario begins his own investigations about the identity of three Capos of dope , father and children , and relentlessly attempts to carry out an implacable vendetta, then doing the right thing in this movie means choosing a side .

This is a thrilling and bleak Spanish film with high doses of suspense , busting police operation , chases , intrigue , plot twists , blood , and violence . Dealing with a few characters interwoven each other , such as : A drug dealer looking for rest, a nurse looking for revenge and two ominous siblings who attempt to take the control of the busines . This stirring story is filmed in slow-moving , following a similar realist and dark style to former successful films directed by Paco Plaza . While the look is suitable sinister and intriguing, the plot spreads to the surprising breaking point , including an unexpected final that turns out to be a little frustrating. Tragedies , frantic action , pursuits and turns abound as when Julia learns about Mario's new patient, causing a sudden bleeding that puts the unborn baby in risk ; at the same time, Toño and Kiko make a deal with a Chinese mob named Mrs. Kong in cooperation with a Colombian drug cartel, but things get awry . There stands out Luis Tosar giving a magnificent interpretation as a nursery chief and personal assistant , being really motivated by the vengeance . As the nurse acts as judge , jury and executioner , Charles Bronson-alike . Tosar plays splendidly the dutiful , stoic personal assstant and a man of few words, however, as the movie progresses we see layers to him, a man on the edge trying to balance . He has come face to face with violence within him spurred on by a violent act done long time ago , concerning an addict relative who died by overdose. The bond between nurse and his old patient is captured on screen, in contrast to his distant spouse who in her own way is trying to do the right thing ; despite Julia's request to Mario for leaving his revenge, he is unable to stop until see Antonio dead . The ending is a question in itself, what does vigilante justice really amount to, it is a matter of perspective is it not? . It is worth a viewing, only for the brilliant acting by Luis Tosar , it is sad to see the rest of the supporting cast could not match up to his on screen presence aside from perhaps the wife acted by Maria Valverde who did not have much dialogue either, perhaps intentional. Here the veteran Luis Tosar is well accompanied by a fine support cast , such as : Xan Cejudo as the aging, weak and ill Antonio who goes freely into a seniors residence instead to go his home with his sons . And the unsettling Ismael Martínez gives overacting as Toño who tries too free his brother from the jail , hurry up to save before being killed and aggressive Enric Auquer as Kike who goes wrong when the Colombian cartel demands him the lost money .

It packs a shading and adequate cinematography by Pablo Rosso , Paco Plaza's regular . Shot in location in Cambados, Pontevedra, and A Coruña, Galicia, Spain . Including a thrilling and screeching musical score by Maika Makovski . The motion picture was professional , though slowly paced by Paco Plazas .He is an expert on rare and terrifying atmosphere . Paco along with by Jaume Balaguero are the main Spanish filmmakers expert on terror cinema , both of whom have realized the box-office big successes as ¨Rec 1¨ and ¨Rec 2¨ , Rec Genesis among others . As he also proved to be an efficient and successful director with films as Second Name , Romasanta , OT , A Christmas Tale and Veronica .Plaza has achieved undoubted success , several awards and important reputation Rating 6.5/10 . Acceptable and passable .

I think most people would probably agree with me that, if this film was remade Hollywood style, the ending would be vastly different than this Spanish version. Generally, the acting was fine. No complaints about the cinematography, story and music, either. Pacing also wasn't that bad. What was missing? A satisfying conclusion, but your mileage may very.

The notorious kingpin Antonio Padín (Xan Cejudo) checks in a nursing home under the care of the nurse Mario (Luis Tosar), whose wife Julia (María Vázquez) is pregnant. When Padín's son Toño (Ismael Martínez) and Kiko (Enric Auquer) make a deal with the Colombian cartel without the agreement of their father, they are double crossed by the Chinese mafia and have to pay a large amount to the cartel. Meanwhile Mario plots revenge against Padín, since his younger brother was a victim of his drugs. When Padín learns Mario's intention, he also plots revenge against Mario.

"Quien a hierro mata", a.k.a. "Eye for an Eye", is a solid thriller directed by Paco Plaza. The story of revenge is very well disclosed and the conclusion is heartbreaking. The performances are magnificent but the film is not for everyone. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

Luis Tosar is a great actor!!! Fantastico Luis!!I I found the film very tense and exciting, it's for sure worth watching!! Certainly the best Spanish film I have seen in a long time.

I just don't understand how this narco criminals, had so much power, weapons.... etc... really anoying!! That's why I think the film loses some power towards the end!!! , a real freezing cold end.

Quien A Hierro Mata is definitely one of the better Spanish movies I watched this year. First of all I like revenge movies, it always gives me some kind of satisfaction, but most of the time in this genre the story is filled with a lot of bloodshed, torture and/or murder. In this movie it's more of a slow burner, but it certainly worked well. There is some suspense, the story is well written and constructed, you never get a boring feeling. And that's mostly due to the excellent acting from the whole cast, especially from Luis Tosar playing Mario. In my opinion Eye For An Eye deserves a higher rating, in this genre it's just much better than most of the other revenge themed movies.