Cadejo Blanco

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1:46

Cadejo Blanco

2023

2h 5m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

78%

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

Aug 22, 2024

4/4

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.

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

Aug 19, 2024

3/5

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

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Adam Graham

Detroit News

Jun 16, 2023

B

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.

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Andrew Murray

The Upcoming

Aug 27, 2024

4/5

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

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Aug 23, 2024

4/5

...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…

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Megan Fisher

Loud and Clear Reviews

Aug 19, 2024

3/5

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.

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Enrique P

@therealenriquep Jul 10, 2025

Karen Martínez>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 🛐

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Jonathan M

@RT88640902 Apr 23, 2023

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.

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Justin Lerner

Director

Karen Martinez

Sarita

Rudy Rodríguez

Andrés

Pamela Martínez

Bea

Karen Martínez

Sarita

Brandon López

Damian

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John Henry

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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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