Belzebuth, the latest from Mexican director Emilio Portes, is a bilingual, heavy-hitting, religiously-center death fest. Boasting quite possibly the highest death count of characters under age ten, the gut punch of multiple mass murders of children is felt throughout the final scene of the film. The cast is led by Joaquin Cosio who delivers a performance of vast emotions that at times elicits the utmost empathy; the film also features genre fave Tobin Bell in a face-tattooed supporting role. Given Portes’ previous experience with horror-comedy, it should be no surprise that the sparse comedic lines throughout the film are effective in their tension reduction. The balance of unspeakably horrific events and optimism for the future should put this film on everyone’s must-see list.
Belzebuth screened at Cinepocalypse 2019.