Following up on the cult success of the original México Bárbaro, this assembles nine Mexican directors to deliver a fresh, fast-paced anthology of folklore, revenge, witchcraft and pitch-black humor. Like any omnibus feature, it is an uneven ride of hits, misses and bold swings, but it remains an essential watch for extreme horror enthusiasts.
La Leyenda de Juan Soldado (dir. Abraham Sánchez): Set in 1938 Tijuana, an unjustly executed soldier strikes a demonic bargain to return from the dead and exact bloody vengeance on the corrupt commanding officers who framed him. Bolstered by fantastic practical monster effects and a gritty period look, it’s a stellar opener.
Paidós Phobos (dir. Diego Cohen): A stressed-out mother keeps a mysterious, unseen child locked in an upstairs bedroom. While it builds effective tension and a moody atmosphere, its narrative payoff relies on confusing dream sequences that keep the emotional stakes at arm’s length.
Potzonalli (dir. Fernando Urdapilleta): A severely abused family decides they’ve had enough of their monstrous, pig-nosed patriarch. This darkly comedic, wildly bloody tale of domestic retribution culminates in a literal feast of vengeance that swings delightfully into grand guignol absurdity.
Bolas de Fuego / Fireballs (dir. Christian Cueva & Ricardo Farias): Two guys hire women to shoot adult content for an occult-themed project, only to realize the women are actual succubi harvesting life forces. The constant barrage of on-screen digital spam and amateurish effects may make this one hard to watch.
Vitriol (dir. Michelle Garza Cervera): A traumatized fashion model quietly plots a brutal payback against her assaulter using a bottle of sulfuric acid and a claw hammer. Wordless, deeply atmospheric and psychologically devastating, it carries the entire collection.
No Te Duermas / Do Not Sleep (dir. Sergio Tello): A young boy struggling to sleep after his grandmother’s passing is haunted by her grim superstitions regarding spiders and roaming spirits. Though rich in high-contrast photography and classic folklore dread, the low-budget creature design leaves the payoff feeling a bit hokey.
Ya Es Hora / It’s About Time (dir. Carlos Meléndez): Fed up with local mean girls, a bullied teen turns to Satanic rituals to curse her classmates. It’s a gross-out splatter fest that leans hard into chaotic carnage, even if the uneven CGI blood occasionally undercuts the practical makeup.
Exodontia (dir. Lex Ortega): A nightmarish, deeply disturbing descent into drug addiction and profound self-harm. Guided by a gas-mask-wearing demonic hallucination, the protagonist’s physical and mental deterioration makes for a brutal, bleak-as-hell closing note that will test even hardcore gorehounds.
While there is no uniting story, the idea of seeing Mexican creatives handling uniquely Mexican themes is the whole reason to see this film. I enjoyed it as much as the original.
Unearthed Films brings México Bárbaro II to Blu-ray with a stunning 1.080p presentation and robust audio tracks, rounded out by a selection of behind-the-scenes featurettes for select segments. You can get it from MVD.
