Coyote Cage

A top-notch thriller about a real, little-known horror that many people face when looking for a better life. The fight scene at the beginning is better than many big-budget movies, and the acting ranges from good to excellent, which are both impressive in a micro-budget film. Some of the special effects were practical and shot very well to make them convincing.

I was especially impressed with the villain and really liked the characters and acting of the "coyote" (a person who helps people cross the border undocumented, not the animal) and the ex-general. I wouldn't mind seeing them in more films.

Following in the footsteps of Gregory Nava's breakthrough indie film "El Norte", some 30+ years later we find "Coyote Cage", by director Michael Perez, with screenplay by Devin O'Leary. This is an excellent entry in the ongoing tale of immigrants coming to America by paying Coyotes to smuggle them across the border. Michael L. McNulty plays Guero, the good Coyote who cares, with warmth and self-deprecation. You just like the guy. The majority of other coyotes want only to exploit those seeking a better life by inflating the cost. This movie boasts excellent performances by its cast, which includes Carlos Enrique Almirante who delivers one of the most sinister bad guys I've seen in years. The story is well-focused with nice pacing. Technical aspects are very good, with strong, evocative cinematography and a thoughtful soundtrack. You will find yourself rooting for the good guys to make it through their perilous journey. Definitely worth watching!

I saw Coyote Cage at its world premier, so this is a very early review. It's a micro-budget horror/thriller/drama that punches well above its budget. The writing and directing are good-to-excellent, and the acting is far above what you expect to see in a film with a budget this low. When all I can nitpick is little things like the lighting and color correction of one shot here and there, it's a pretty great indie movie.

The film follows a diverse group of illegal immigrants crossing the U. S. border from Mexico who end up in the very real and all-too-common situation of being tormented in a stash house so the cartel behind their "coyote" (the term for a guide who helps illegals cross the border for a fee) can extort their families. While there is plenty of torture and death, the movie avoids depicting the sexual violence that often happens in these stash houses in real life, though it does make note of it in the introduction. There are some decent action scenes as well as gore, torture, and suspense, making this a movie that's hard to fit into a single genre.

The three actors with the most lines are all top-notch, especially the villain, played by Carlos Enrique Almirante, a veteran Spanish-language actor in his first English-language lead role. The whole movie hinges on his performance and he delivers. The only sub-par acting is from a couple of very minor characters who are only in one or two scenes each.

The film is far from flawless, but the flaws all come from the tiny budget and are still very few. The lighting in one of the outdoor night scenes is overly harsh, as such scenes usually are in micro-budget films because the lighting setup and cameras required for shooting a dark-looking nighttime scene outdoors, where you can still see what's happening, can cost more than this entire film. This is a flaw you see in many films with the much greater budget required to qualify as a B-movie, so it's hard to fault a micro-budget film for it. There are a few moments of "just okay" acting, and the gunshots and gunshot wounds are plug-ins, though they're well-done plug-ins. Using realistic guns and squibs with proper safety procedures for even one shot would probably cost more than this entire movie. Despite the budget, there are decent practical effects, including a couple of very nice gore shots that wouldn't be out of place in a Hollywood horror film.

The sound system and/or acoustics in the theater where I saw this was pretty poor, so I can't speak to the sound design if seen with a good system. The movie was shot digitally and the color correction necessary for that is mostly quite good, without the washed-out, too-much-brown you see in some movies that want to appear "gritty." Since the movie takes place almost entirely in the desert, there is more than enough brown already, so this is a very good thing. It does lead to one unnatural-looking gore shot early on where the fake blood didn't take to the color correction very well and appears far too bright, but the rest of the movie looks fine.

My rating of 8 is sort of an average. For a micro-budget indie film, it's more like a 9; for a drama or horror film in general, it's more like a 6.5-7. It's hard to say who I'd recommend this movie to because it fills so many niches. It has elements of torture-horror (like the Saw movies,) thrillers, action, drama, and even a dash of documentary because it's based on a real but not well-known situation that affects thousands of people each year. If some of those are things you like, or if you just want some entertainment while learning a bit about the border-crossing experience, see it when it hits the festivals or streaming services.

"Coyote Cage" is a cinematic masterpiece that immerses audiences in the harrowing journey of illegal or undocumented migrants. From the very start, the film grabs your attention and never lets go, pulling you into a world filled with danger, desperation, and resilience.

What sets "Coyote Cage" apart is its unflinching portrayal of the harsh realities faced by migrants as they navigate treacherous terrain, the murky waters of exploitation. The film doesn't shy away from depicting the brutal truths of this experience, but rather confronts them head-on, forcing viewers to confront the injustices faced by vulnerable populations.

The cinematography is nothing short of breathtaking, with gritty backgrounds that transport you to the heart of the action. Whether it's the barren landscapes or the crowded detention centers, every scene is meticulously crafted to evoke a visceral response from the audience. You can almost feel the hunger gnawing at your stomach and the thirst parching your throat as you follow the characters on their perilous journey.

But beyond its stunning visuals, "Coyote Cage" shines in its portrayal of the human spirit. Despite facing unimaginable hardships, the characters in the film display incredible resilience and courage as they fight for a better life. Their stories are both heartbreaking and inspiring, leaving a lasting impact on anyone who watches.

In the end, "Coyote Cage" is more than just a film - it's a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring hope for a brighter tomorrow. It's a must-watch for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the immigrant experience and the struggles faced by those who dare to dream of a better life.

Having worked on this as 1st AC and being the Action Cinematographer for the bathroom fight scene, I was BEYOND shocked at how wonderful this film turned out! Without giving away spoilers...

The film follows a band of immigrants fleeing to pursue a better life elsewhere. Throughout their journey, each character faces challenges they never thought they'd 1. Encounter and 2. Be more horrendous than what they left.

The character development is solid throughout as each face their own challenges. The pacing is good with captivating moments throughout. And, the locations are plentiful helping to provide a great visual aesthetic to the story and everything happening "in the moment!"

Even though I worked on this, watching this a year later, I swear I forgot most of what I had done in this film LOL So, when I watched it at the premiere, I felt like I was watching this for the first time; cringing, gasping and, cheering at precise moments that the Director intended!

Great job to all the Crew and Cast! And, most importantly, bravo to the Director and Producer's for pushing through and finishing this, ensuring this story made it to the big screen!