In this episode, we head to Mexico with “Mexico’s most violent film”, Atroz (2018) by Lex Ortega.  Taking social and political commentary to dark and shocking places, Atroz doesn’t pull any punches - it’s provocative and memorable. It challenges everything you thought you knew and more. Taking inspiration from Ruggero Deodato, renowned filmmaker behind Cannibal Holocaust (and is an associate producer), Ortega’s first feature is an endurance test worth taking.

My guest for this episode is Mikey Peralta Jr! Mikey is a Mexican-American creator who focuses on Latin American cinema with a social justice lens. He has a monthly column with Dread Central called Horror en Español. He also releases daily content on Tik Tok and Instagram about the horror genre and Latin culture.

He also wrote a fantastic article on Atroz in 2022 entitled: How Machismo Breeds Monstrosity in Mexico’s Most Violent Film: https://www.dreadcentral.com/editorials/427615/atroz-how-machismo-breeds-monstrosity-in-mexicos-most-violent-film-horror-en-espanol/ 

Music by Tony Ware

Editing & Images by Jessica Stuart

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Medical Notes:

1. Interview with Lex Ortega

2. Narco-Culture as a distortion of gender stereotypes: An aggravating factor in the situation of violence and conflict in society by Massiel Miranda Yanes and Shanny Valdes Salas 2019

3. LGTBT Rights in Mexico 

4. Mexican Men Confront Machismo 

5. How Machismo Breeds Monstrosity in Mexico’s Most Violent Film

6. Cultural Extremism: A New Subgenre 

7. Paramilitary