Cadejo Blanco

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1:46

Cadejo Blanco

Released Apr 21, 2023

2h 5m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Sarita goes out dancing one night at the insistence of her free-spirited sister, Bea. Uncharacteristically, Sarita dances the night away, heading home alone when the party drags on too late. The next morning, after calling friends and neighbors, Sarita begins to panic when she realizes that Bea never made it home. The police are indifferent and unhelpful, but Sarita suspects that Bea's disappearance has something to do with Andrés, her sister's dangerous ex. Realizing she must take matters into her own hands, Sarita finds a way to befriend him and infiltrate his gang. With an unwavering determination, Sarita becomes increasingly involved with Andrés and the ruthless, violent underworld of Guatemalan street gangs. Praised for its "gritty authenticity" (Screen Daily) and cast with almost entirely non-professional actors, Cadejo Blanco is an intense, nail-biting thriller in the vein of Sin Nombre and Maria Full of Grace, that digs deep into the underbelly of gang culture.

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David Jenkins

Little White Lies

Lerner’s slowburn saga deconstructs and admonishes a system where boredom begets anger and anger begets violence, and the hardnut lieutenants in these organisations go about their grisly business simply because, once you’re in, you’re in for life.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 22, 2024

Full Review

Cath Clarke

Guardian

Not so much an out-and-out suspense thriller as a character study powered by an outstanding lead performance by Karen Martínez.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 19, 2024

Full Review

Adam Graham

Detroit News

Justin Lerner's dark exploration of life in Central America has a cold worldview that recalls "City of God" and features a strong central performance from star Karen Martínez.

Rated: B

Jun 16, 2023

Full Review

Andrew Murray

The Upcoming

Cadejo Blanco is a taut slow-burn drama that’s led by a phenomenal turn from Martínez in the starring role.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 27, 2024

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...a tough film in every way…Karen Martínez gives an excellent performance, making us care about the kind of story which is deemed barely worth reporting in the media, but is forcefully brought to life here…

Rated: 4/5

Aug 23, 2024

Full Review

Megan Fisher

Loud and Clear Reviews

The mix of reality and melodrama, recalling the neorealist film movement, gives Cadejo Blanco a raw emotional power. [...] Cadejo Blanco works best when it is able to balance together the documentary and the crime thriller.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 19, 2024

Full Review

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Enrique P

Karen Martínez>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 🛐

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/10/25

Full Review

Jonathan M

There are only six professional actors in this film. It truly is a thrill where the authenticity speaks through the screen. Justin Lerner's best film to date.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/23/23

Full Review

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Justin Lerner

Director

Karen Martinez

Sarita

Rudy Rodríguez

Andrés

Pamela Martínez

Bea

Karen Martínez

Sarita

Brandon López

Damian

The Winter Lake

74%

29%

The Winter Lake

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John Henry

0%

22%

John Henry

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Here Before

86%

53%

Here Before

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Cadejo Blanco: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Sarita goes out dancing one night at the insistence of her free-spirited sister, Bea. Uncharacteristically, Sarita dances the night away, heading home alone when the party drags on too late. The next morning, after calling friends and neighbors, Sarita begins to panic when she realizes that Bea never made it home. The police are indifferent and unhelpful, but Sarita suspects that Bea's disappearance has something to do with Andrés, her sister's dangerous ex. Realizing she must take matters into her own hands, Sarita finds a way to befriend him and infiltrate his gang. With an unwavering determination, Sarita becomes increasingly involved with Andrés and the ruthless, violent underworld of Guatemalan street gangs. Praised for its "gritty authenticity" (Screen Daily) and cast with almost entirely non-professional actors, Cadejo Blanco is an intense, nail-biting thriller in the vein of Sin Nombre and Maria Full of Grace, that digs deep into the underbelly of gang culture.

Director: Justin Lerner
Producer: Mauricio Escobar, Justin Lerner, Jack Patrick Hurley, Ryan Friedkin, Pedro H. Murcia
Screenwriter: Justin Lerner
Distributor: Film Movement
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Crime
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 21, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 14, 2023
Runtime: 2h 5m

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