"Punk Nunca Murio, No Mas Lo Olvidaste": Must-See Mexican Punk Films

As I revisit last summer's blu-ray release of Intrepidos Punks/La Venganza De Los Punks from Vinegar Syndrome, it made me think about other "punk" films from Mexico that should also be seen.

Here is an honest list of Mexican punk films that are must-see's (in no order & not intended to be a complete list) and I kept it close to the same eras as well because the Mexican punk scene truly thrived in the mid-1980's/early 1990's.

1. La Banda De Los Panchitos (1986)

   - I would like to consider this the "first" full-length punk film from Mexico. And by first, I mean a film that actually portrayed the punk characters in an accurate manor rather than exaggerated characters with crazy costumes on.

   
   

   Directed by Arturo Velazco, Panchitos is based on a notorious real-life Mexican gang called "Sex Panchitos Punk" along with allies & rival gangs "Los Buk's", "Los Pitufos", "Los Musgos", and "Los Z.R.". The film itself is very congested but intriguing too since it digs deep into this particular world of violence, poverty & survival. The film ends with a huge gang fight that basically looks very real. It is the most memorable scene of the film.

2. Nadie Es Inocente (1986)

   - More of an arthouse/documentary-style film than a typical full-length feature, Nadie Es Inocente digs very deep into the actual punk scene in the Mexico City neighborhood of Neza. It never exploits it. Nadie Es Inocente has streamed on Criterion Channel before alongside other films by Gregorio Rocha & Sara Minter.

   
   

   A detailed write-up about their Neza Punks films can be read here: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/8573-neza-calling-punk-at-the-margins-of-mexico-city

   

   
   
   
   

3. Olor A Muerte (1987)

   - Director Ismael Rodriguez Jr was not one to shy away from making films with heavy topics & making them very intense/intriguing as possible. After all, his legendary father Ismael Sr did make Nosotros Los Pobres, a classic film that is applauded for its beautiful music & touching story, but it's also a film that did not shy away from bringing (but quietly) awareness of sex-related diseases & featuring ultra-violent scenes.

Olor A Muerte came right after La Banda De Los Panchitos and while they do share a similar plot & final fight scene, it does however differ in various ways & features many memorable characters. RIP "Mensito". Read my full review here: https://www.trashmex.com/post/olor-a-muerte-1987

4. Pandilleros: (Olor A Muerte 2) (1992)

   - The follow-up to Olor A Muerte is much more unusual & exaggerated. Again, features a colorful set of characters & many violent scenes. Like the first film, the opening credits features interviews with real-life punks & vagabonds.

   

   
   

5. Pandilleras (1994)

   - Another title from Ismael Jr and this one solely focuses on female characters. This film too features colorful characters, lots of black clothing & chains, & a rapist who gets what he deserves and it is so satisfying & shocking to see. Opening credits also features interviews with real punks, goths & vagabonds.

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

6. Pandilleros Asesinos (1990)

   - This 1990 feature is quite the obscurity and one of my personal favorites. Jorge Luke stars as a "young" man who gets revenge on the sleazy punk gang that assaulted & murdered his young sister. He purchases an all-black motorcycle outfit and into the night he searches for his sister's killers & off's them one by one. A scene that I truly love from Pandilleros Asesinos is when 2 cops enter a small venue of sorts where a punk band are performing a catchy song called "La Pequeña Lulu" and many real-looking punk kids are dancing around having a good ol' time. And by the way, this was directed by La Banda De Los Panchitos director Arturo Velazco.

   
   

   Watch the full film on YouTube courtesy of Ricardo Martinez & Producciones "La Union": https://youtu.be/XtjtzGwv720?si=sgfzErFFCgqrW658

   

   
   

   

   
   

7. Ansia Asesina (1992)

   - Another obscurity from the 90's that features a street punk gang wearing swastikas, chains, tattered clothing, leather, & Clash t-shirts. A Miami Dolphins sweatshirt, too. Was this NFL team punk approved?

   Ansia Asesina is about a father who's entire family is killed by a street punk gang and his thirst for revenge is very strong and so much that he recruits a mentally-unstable woman to assist him in killing them in very unique ways.

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

8. Al Caer La Noche (1992)

   - Filmed around Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Al Caer La Noche features a street punk gang called "Los Chidos" and they kind of live up to that name since they're kind of chido (cool) at first, but ultimately they act the fools and kill someone who truly didn't deserve it. This also features a big fight scene amongst rival gangs. They all copied Banda De Los Panchitos..

   

   
   

   

   
   

9. El Virus Del Poder (1988)

   - Not fully a punk film since it's mostly about an AIDS epidemic, but the punk gang featured in the film is absolutely bonkers looking and similar to those of Intrepidos Punks. You'll see a lot of leather, spikes, chains, tattered clothing, and motorcycles. The scene where the punk gang kill an entire dance class is similar to the one in Olor A Muerte... Hmm..

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

10. Siete En La Mira (1985)

    - Siete En La Mira pre-dates all the punk films that have been mentioned on this list. Production year was 1984 and released in 1985. Siete En La Mira is a perfect example of how a film exploits punks and its culture. In an interview with leading actor Mario Almada, he describes the punks as "marijuana addicts" & "full of rage". The punk attire here consists of leather, feathers, chains, & they all seem to have martial arts skills & know how to properly fire guns.

Read my full review of Siete En La Mira here: https://www.trashmex.com/post/siete-en-la-mira-1985

11. Siete En La Mira II: La Furia De La Venganza (1986)

    - The second & final Siete En La Mira film. There is officially no part 3 nor a part 4. Don't let VHS/DVD re-titling of other films make you assume this.

    
    

Siete En La Mira II breaks away from reality since it is set many years after the first film and there's a lot of dabbling with witchcraft as well. I will say that this sequel is very incoherent, but man does it make up with a lot of violent scenes, great acting from both Jorge Reynoso & Alvaro Zermeño, and the opening credits is a dirt & fire funeral scene that features many punks in attendance & a speech read by the great Agustin Bernal.

12. Noche De Justicia (1988)

    - I was hesitant to add this one on the list, but ultimately I just had to because the gang in Noche De Justicia are very much punk and the exaggerated kind, too. They dress in studded-leather & denim, smoke marijuana, heavily consume alcohol, they murder & assault. They are sick fucks.

Read my full review of Noche De Justicia here: https://www.trashmex.com/post/review-noche-de-justicia-1988

13. Pandilla De Cadaneros (1987)

    - A SOV obscurity made around the time when the novela Quinceañera was on air, TV novela hunk Sebastian Ligarde stars as the leader of a Colonia Escandon based punk gang and they're of course ruthless & very violent. Again you’ll see a lot of chains, leather, denim & tattered attire here. Opening credits is all done by graffiti as well.