Tigers Are Not Afraid is not just a horror film, it’s so much more than that. It’s a heartbreaking study of how drug cartels destroy lives. What happens to the children of the unfortunate victims of the violence and havoc that cartels inflict? Director Issa López addresses this question in her directorial debut.
After Estrella’s mother disappears she joins a group of street kids who have all been orphaned by cartel violence. Estrella soon accepts that she too is now an orphan when her mother makes her otherworldly presence known, and she wants vengeance. To add to the orphan’s woes, the cartel is searching for them as El Shine is in possession of a dead cartel member’s phone. A phone that holds incriminating evidence. With only three magical wishes as their protection and her mother’s guidance, Estrella and the orphans play a deadly game of cat and mouse as they try to stay one step ahead of the cartel.
Tigers Are Not Afraid is not a typical horror. There aren’t jump scares, there’s very little gore or blood. The horror derives from the plight of the street kids and the fact that the Mexican government all but ignores the problem. As a parent, it makes the viewing experience extremely harrowing as tragedy strikes unexpectedly. And yet the experience is tempered by moments of sheer unadulterated joy that the children discover in their surroundings. A pool of fish in a crumbling deserted hotel and a stage for a talent show.
What sets Tigers Are Not Afraid apart from other horror films is its gritty fairy tale and fantasy elements. A graffiti tiger drawn by El Shine bursts from its cage and a thin trail of blood follows Estrella home after school.
The Blu-ray has more extra features than are indicated on the packaging, which is a nice surprise. The Making Of feature is an interesting mixture of what you can expect from such features, but it also includes footage of an acting coach showing the child actors how to convey feelings and emotions that they will not have had to deal with in their young lives. The exception is Juan Ramón López who plays El Shine, as he has lost his parents to cartel violence and is cared for by his aunt. The results are worth it as every single performance is simply wonderful. The acting so real and natural that the kids could be the characters they are portraying in a documentary. The standout performance is the six-year-old Nery Arredondo who plays Morro. He conveys childlike wonder despite seeing such horror that he has lost the power of speech.
Guillermo del Toro interviews Issa López at TIFF in which she reveals that she wrote Tigers Are Not Afraid during a traumatic time of her life. Her father had died, as had her dog and she had experienced a horrible relationship breakup.
The casting sessions are an interesting watch and the deleted scenes, whilst noteworthy, wouldn’t have enhanced the finished film.
There are also three photo galleries that focus on concept art, graffiti art, and behind the scenes.
Finally, the director’s commentary reveals Issa López’s abhorrence of the Mexican government’s failure to help the street kids and her enjoyment of working with such a fantastic cast.
Tigers Are Not Afraid is a beautiful, lyrical, poignant, and heartbreaking film from an exceptionally talented director. Del Toro clearly agrees as he is producing Lopez’s next project, a werewolf western.
