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Tag: Raúl Castillo

Movie Review: ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’ (2025)
(L to R) Maika Monroe as Polly Murphy and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlin Morales in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’. Photo by Suzanne Tenner. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

On Hulu from October 22 is ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle,’ a remake of the 1992 thriller that preyed upon the worries of parents and concerns about letting strangers into the family home.
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Directed by Michelle Garza Cervera (‘Huesera: The Bone Woman’) from a script by Micah Bloomberg (‘Sanctuary’), this new take on the story stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead (‘10 Cloverfield Lane’), Maika Monroe (‘It Follows’), Raúl Castillo (‘Task’) and Martin Starr (‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’).

Related Article: Mary Elizabeth Winstead Joins Maika Monroe in a New Take on ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’

Initial Thoughts

Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlin Morales in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’. Photo by Suzanne Tenner. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

It would appear that few films these days are safe from the remake treatment, but cult thrillers from the 1990s (even ones with the likes of Curtis Hanson at the helm) would seem to be fair game to receive a fresh coat of 2020s paint.

Yet in switching things up for ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’, the filmmaking team haven’t exactly found the right gear.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Nora and Lola Contreras as Josie Morales, Maika Monroe as Polly Murphy , Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlin Morales and Mileiah Vega as Emma Morales in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’. Photo by Suzanne Tenner. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Writer Micah Bloomberg takes the basic concept of Amanda Silver’s 1992 story –– a wealthy family dealing with issues hires a young woman as a nanny for their children, only for things to take a psychologically scary turn –– and has filled it with a few different, updated ideas, including themes of mental health and paranoia.

Yet in changing the focus of the film, he has also somehow drained it of tension or real entertainment value, leading to this coming off as a cheap-and-cheerless knock-off of the original.

Director Michelle Garza Cervera, meanwhile, who has horror experience on her resume, never quite overcomes the lackluster bones of the film, wasting committed performances that also are stymied by the words on the page and some chemistry problems.

Cast and Performances

Maika Monroe as Polly Murphy in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’. Photo by Suzanne Tenner. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Both Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Maika Monroe have succeeded in this genre before –– and Monroe has been in some excellent horrors –– but ‘Cradle’ simply wastes what they have to offer.

It doesn’t help that no one in the film really connects with anyone else, leaving them feeling truly like characters going through the plot motions rather than believable humans, while certain plot twists are telegraphed with all the subtlety of a baseball bat to the head.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Maika Monroe as Polly Murphy and Mileiah Vega as Emma Morales in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’. Photo by Suzanne Tenner. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Adding in same-sex subtexts and attempts to mimic the lurid power of the original don’t ever really paper over some serious cracks in this one.

It’s less rocking the cradle, more giving it a bored nudge.

‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’ receives 59 out of 100.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlin Morales in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’. Photo by Suzanne Tenner. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

What’s the story of ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’?

Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Caitlin Morales, an upscale suburban mom who brings a new nanny, Polly Murphy (Maika Monroe), into her home, only to discover she is not the person she claims to be.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’?
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlyn Morales
- Maika Monroe as Polly Murphy
- Raúl Castillo as Miguel Morales
- Martin Starr as Stewart
- Mileiah Vega as Emma Morales
(L to R) Maika Monroe as Polly Murphy and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlin Morales in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’. Photo by Suzanne Tenner. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

List of Mary Elizabeth Winstead Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Wolf Lake‘ (2001 – 2002)
- ‘Sky High‘ (2005)
- ‘Final Destination 3‘ (2006)
- ‘Death Proof‘ (2007)
- ‘Live Free or Die Hard‘ (2007)
- ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World‘ (2010)
- ‘The Thing‘ (2011)
- ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter‘ (2012)
- ‘The Spectacular Now‘ (2013)
- ‘A Good Day to Die Hard‘ (2013)
- ‘Kill the Messenger‘ (2014)
- ‘Fargo‘ (2014 – 2024)
- ‘Mercy Street‘ (2016 – 2017)
- ‘Swiss Army Man‘ (2016)
- ‘10 Cloverfield Lane‘ (2016)
- ‘Gemini Man‘ (2019)
- ‘Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)‘ (2020)
- ‘Kate‘ (2021)
- ‘Ahsoka‘ (2023)
- ‘Scott Pilgrim Takes Off‘ (2023)
- ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle‘ (2025)
Buy Mary Elizabeth Winstead Movies on Amazon
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October 26, 2025
‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’ (2025) Cast Interviews
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Premiering on Hulu October 22nd is ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’, which was directed by Michelle Garza Cervera (‘Huesera: The Bone Woman’) and is a remake of the classic 1992 film of the same name. The new movie stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead (‘10 Cloverfield Lane’), Maika Monroe (‘Longlegs’), Raúl Castillo (‘Smile 2’), and Martin Starr (‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’).
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Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Maika Monroe about their work on 2025’s ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’, their first reactions to the screenplay, their approach to their characters, and working with director Michelle Garza Cervera.

(L to R) Maika Monroe and Mary Elizabeth Winstead star in Hulu’s ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Winstead, Monroe, and Michelle Garza Cervera.

Related Article: Mary Elizabeth Winstead Joins Maika Monroe in a New Take on ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’

Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlin Morales in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’. Photo by Suzanne Tenner. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Moviefone: To begin with, Mary, were you a fan of the original movie, and what was your first reaction to the screenplay for this new updated version?

Mary Elizabeth Winstead: I hadn’t seen the original film, but I had a real awareness of it, and I was aware of what spoke to in terms of the genre and the feeling of it. So, it conjured up certain images and ideas in my mind when I heard the title. I think when I read the script, I was blown away by what felt to me like a modern telling of it, even though I hadn’t seen the original, I could sense that this was a very updated version just by the approach that it was taking. It felt very empathetic towards these female characters, both my character and Maika’s character in a way that was unusual to see from any genre film from years past. So that was exciting to me to know that we were going to be doing something that was likely bringing it forward and in some way. When I went to look back at the original film, I was just reading about it, and I could see that the plot was very different. So that allowed me to go, I’m going to leave that over here. We’ll do our thing and let it kind of stand on its own.

(L to R) Maika Monroe as Polly Murphy and Nora and Lola Contreras as Josie Morales in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’. Photo by Suzanne Tenner. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Maika, were you a fan of the original, and can you talk about your approach to playing this complex character?

Maika Monroe: I had seen the original a while back, and yes, it’s one of those movies you don’t forget. When I was told about this project and a remake, I was like, “I don’t know. What do you do with that?” I read the script, and I was just blown away by both these female characters that are so complex. It’s such a grounded story. I feel like this version is much more grounded and I think people can relate or put themselves in maybe both of our shoes. After reading it, I was like, “I must play Polly. I must do this”. I knew it would be a challenge. I knew it would be hard and something very different from anything I’ve ever done. But I had an absolute blast. I loved it and I love Polly. I fell in love with her an it was great.

(L to R) Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlin Morales and Maika Monroe as Polly Murphy in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’. Photo by Suzanne Tenner. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Mary, can you talk about Caitlyn and Polly’s relationship and creating that on set with Maika?

MEW: It was amazing because Maika is so talented and made it so easy. I think every day coming into set, I never knew what she was going to do or how she was going to be approaching it, or how much she was going to reveal to me or not. So, that was always exciting to be able to go into the scene and be in it with her and be very free in that sense of like, “Okay, this is this is what I’m kind of feeling and grappling with and let’s see what she throws at me in terms of where that’s going to take me.” So as an actor, that’s just fun. It’s so exciting to be able to live in that space and this whole film felt like that. We all had our characters, and we knew who they were, and we were able to step on set and live amongst each other and play out the scenes and let them be what they were. That’s just so fun as an actor. I loved every minute of it.

‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’ director Michelle Garza Cervera.

MF: Finally, Maika, what was it like for you collaborating with director Michelle Garza Cervera on set?

MM: Michelle’s incredible, genuinely one of my favorite directors I’ve ever worked with. She was very precise. She knew exactly what she wanted but was incredibly collaborative and was open to all our ideas and trying it in a different way and that was the perfect recipe. I just feel like she’s born to direct, and I think her career is going to be massive and incredible. I cannot wait to see what she does next.

‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’ premieres on Hulu October 22nd.

What is the plot of ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’?

Suburban couple Caitlin and Miguel Morales hire seemingly sweet Polly to take care of their newborn baby. But Polly’s true motives have little to do with singing lullabies — much to the horror of the couple.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’?
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlyn Morales
- Maika Monroe as Polly Murphy
- Raúl Castillo as Miguel Morales
- Martin Starr as Stewart
- Mileiah Vega as Emma Morales
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlin Morales in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’. Photo by Suzanne Tenner. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

List of Mary Elizabeth Winstead Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Wolf Lake‘ (2001 – 2002)
- ‘Sky High‘ (2005)
- ‘Final Destination 3‘ (2006)
- ‘Death Proof‘ (2007)
- ‘Live Free or Die Hard‘ (2007)
- ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World‘ (2010)
- ‘The Thing‘ (2011)
- ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter‘ (2012)
- ‘The Spectacular Now‘ (2013)
- ‘A Good Day to Die Hard‘ (2013)
- ‘Kill the Messenger‘ (2014)
- ‘Fargo‘ (2014 – 2024)
- ‘Mercy Street‘ (2016 – 2017)
- ‘Swiss Army Man‘ (2016)
- ‘10 Cloverfield Lane‘ (2016)
- ‘Gemini Man‘ (2019)
- ‘Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)‘ (2020)
- ‘Kate‘ (2021)
- ‘Ahsoka‘ (2023)
- ‘Scott Pilgrim Takes Off‘ (2023)
- ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle‘ (2025)
Buy Mary Elizabeth Winstead Movies on Amazon
October 20, 2025
Movie Review: ‘Smile 2’
Naomi Scott in ‘Smile 2’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Opening in theaters on October 18th, ‘Smile 2’ looks to prove itself worthy on the horror sequel front by shaking up the character list but keeping its core concept –– of a terrifying, demonic curse that leaves victims with a rictus grin –– intact.

With one character crossing over (Kyle Gallner’s Joel) to keep the demonic parasite spreading, the focus this time settles on Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), a Taylor Swift-alike pop star already struggling with some serious issues of her own.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Smile’

Will ‘Smile 2’ make you happy?

Ray Nicholson in ‘Smile 2’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

How much you enjoy ‘Smile 2’ might depend on your appreciation for the 2022 original and, in a change from how that movie derived the majority of its scares, your stomach for noisy jump scares.

Because make no mistake –– there are a lot of those in this movie, and while the first couple are effective, the law of diminishing returns quickly kicks in. It’s also a little disappointing that, despite finding a fresh target ripe with possibilities, the sequel also suffers from feeling like a repeat of the first film, albeit in ways we won’t spoil here.

Still, Finn finds some interesting angles on the tropes we’ve come to expect from the ‘Smile’ films and star Naomi Scott gives a truly committed performance, less scream queen and more trauma queen as Skye goes through a nightmare of very personal proportions.

Script and Direction

Naomi Scott and Director Parker Finn on the set of ‘Smile 2’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

With Parker Finn returning to write and direct, he’s managed to maintain his vision from the first movie. The ethereal, unseen parasitic demon creature has managed to make it to pop star Skye, and it’s her slow breakdown that powers the film.

On the verge of a huge tour, Skye finds herself plunged into a situation where she can’t figure out what is real and what isn’t, and no-one is likely to believe her. The script goes to some fun places, building a suitably creepy atmosphere and finding inventive ways for Skye to be isolated from those around her.

Director Parker Finn on the set of ‘Smile 2’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

As a director, Finn has a real knack for finding great angles and the film looks superb –– even if he might want to sometimes lay off the upside down shots. One or two is a trademark style, but the sheer number of them here becomes wearing.

But he gets good work out of the cast and keeps a careful hand on how it all develops. One sequence in particular, which features Skye’s backup dancers (we won’t say exactly how) is one of the eeriest scenes in a movie this year to date.

Performances

Naomi Scott in ‘Smile 2’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Naomi Scott as Skye Riley

Scott has been better than some of her past movies have deserved, and here she plays Skye with just the right amount of creeping desperation and paranoia. Whether she’s glugging water to keep a handle on her past addictions.

While Skye isn’t ever completely sympathetic, Scott does imbue her with some much-needed personality, and you’re intrigued to see where her story goes.

Rosemarie DeWitt as Skye’s mother

Rosemarie DeWitt in ‘Smile 2’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

DeWitt has a somewhat thankless character to play in the pushy but charismatic stage mother who loves her daughter but also has a driving interest in keeping the cash flow going. Yet the actor does the best she can with a small role and is creepily convincing later in the movie when Skye begins to see increasingly dark visions.

Peter Jacobson as Morris

Peter Jacobson in ‘Smile 2’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

As a character with a connection to one of the entity’s past victims, Morris has a personal stake in taking it down –– and might just have come up with a way to do so. While Jacobson is mostly tasked with delivering exposition, he does it well and is believable.

Supporting cast

Miles Gutierrez Riley in ‘Smile 2’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Much of the rest of the cast are playing smaller supporting roles, but a few do make an impact. Dylan Gelula is good value as Gemma, one of Skye’s friends who has been estranged from her for a year or so while the pop star, after suffering serious injuries from a car accident, dived into drugs and drink. There’s a sparky interplay between the two women and their shared history is suitably evoked through dialogue alone.

Miles Gutierrez-Riley also works well as Jacob, an assistant to Skye and her mother who provides the majority of the laughs with which Finn leavens the horror. And spare a thought for the various, mostly uncredited people who must sport wide, creepy smiles as the different incarnations of the demonic presence.

Final Thoughts

(Right) Naomi Scott in ‘Smile 2’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

While it does try to play with the format a little, Finn here mostly plays the hits, albeit with a nice line in understanding what made ‘Smile’ work. It’s not a perfect horror movie, occasionally relying on lazy scare tactics, but it’s a worthwhile follow-up to the original and one that also has a nice line in self-aware laughter to keep things interesting.

While we won’t directly discuss how it all ends, the finale does posit some interesting questions for where the world of ‘Smile’ could go next –– and we’d be interested in seeing exactly how the writer/director gets himself out of the corner into which he’s seemingly painted himself.

‘Smile 2’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Smile 2’?

About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.

Who stars in ‘Smile 2’?
- Naomi Scott as Skye Riley
- Rosemarie DeWitt as Elizabeth Riley
- Kyle Gallner as Joel
- Lukas Gage as Lewis
- Miles Gutierrez-Riley as Joshua
- Peter Jacobson as Morris
- Raúl Castillo as Darius
- Dylan Gelula as Gemma
- Ray Nicholson as Paul
Naomi Scott stars in Paramount Pictures Presents a Temple Hill Production of a Parker Finn Film ‘Smile 2’.

Other Naomi Scott Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Lewis‘ (2007 – 2015)
- ‘Terra Nova‘ (2011)
- ‘By Any Means‘ (2013)
- ‘The 33‘ (2015)
- ‘Power Rangers‘ (2017)
- ‘Aladdin‘ (2019)
- ‘Charlie’s Angels‘ (2019)
- ‘Anatomy of a Scandal‘ (2022)
- ‘Modern Love Tokyo‘ (2022)
Buy Naomi Scott Movies on Amazon
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October 17, 2024
‘Cassandro’ Interview: Director Roger Ross Williams
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Opening in theaters on September 15th before premiering on Prime Video September 22nd is the new biopic ‘Cassandro,’ which is based on the life of lucha libre wrestler Saúl Armendáriz and was directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams (‘Music by Prudence’)

‘Cassandro’ director Roger Ross Williams.

What is the plot of ‘’Cassandro’?

When Saúl Armendáriz (Gael García Bernal) starts competing in the macho world of Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling, he’s always cast as the runt. After he meets Sabrina (Roberta Colindrez), Saúl gains not only a professional trainer but also a friend who helps him create a new character in the ring. Together they debut ‘Cassandro,’ a radical subversion of Lucha Libre’s stereotypical role known as the Exótico. Flamboyant and powerful, Cassandro turns lucha on its head. But Cassandro also upends Saúl’s own life, throwing into tumult his relationships with his mother Yocasta (Perla De La Rosa), his secret lover Gerardo (Raúl Castillo), and his absent father Eduardo (Robert Salas).
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Who is in the cast of ‘’Cassandro’?
- Gael García Bernal (‘Werewolf by Night‘) as Saúl Armendáriz / Cassandro
- Roberta Colindrez (‘Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)’) as Sabrina
- Perla De La Rosa (‘One Man’s Hero‘) as Yocasta
- Joaquín Cosío (‘Savages‘) as Lorenzo
- Raúl Castillo (‘Knives Out‘) as Gerardo / El Comandante
- Bad Bunny (‘Bullet Train‘) as Felipe
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Roger Ross Williams about his work on ‘Cassandro,’ why he wanted to make a movie about the popular Mexican luchador, why Gael García Bernal was the only actor who could play the role, and how his background as a documentary filmmaker uniquely qualified him to direct this particular movie.

(L to R) Gael García Bernal and Roger Ross Williams in ‘Cassandro.’ Photo: Alejandro Lopez Pineda © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.

Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about learning of Saúl Armendáriz’s incredible story and his relentless spirit, why you wanted to make a movie about him and the themes that you wanted to explore?

Roger Ross Williams: The first time I met Cassandro, I went down to interview him and I fell completely in love with him. He has this positivity and inner spirit, inner glow that I just couldn’t believe. He’s so charismatic and he’s so positive. Even the challenges in life, he’s embraced them and used them in his character, and he’s authentically himself. I thought that was just a beautifully inspirational story to tell, and that’s why I wanted to tell the story. I want to make inspirational films, I want to tell inspirational stories about people who’ve overcome great odds. To me, it was about self-love, and he is someone that exemplifies that.

Gael Garcia Bernal in ‘Cassandro.’ Credit: Courtsey of Alejandro Lopez Pineda © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Cassandro’

MF: Why was Gael Garcia Bernal the right actor to bring Cassandro’s story to the screen?

RRW: What other actor could play this role? He is one of the greatest actors in Mexico. He had the emotional and the physical chops to take this on, where he learned to wrestle. He spent months working with real luchadors learning to wrestle. He did most of his own stunts himself. It’s like he really threw himself into this role and I knew that that’s the kind of actor he is. So, ever since I saw ‘Y Tu Mamá También,’ and then of course ‘Bad Education,’ I knew that Gael was the actor. There was no other actor who could play this role, so I didn’t stop until I got him to say yes.

(L to R) Gael García Bernal and El Hijo del Santo in ‘Cassandro.’ Photo: Alejandro Lopez Pineda © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

MF: Finally, since this is a biopic, do you think that your background in documentary filmmaking uniquely qualified you to make this movie?

RRW: I was open and flexible to, really, changes and creating things, and making magic happen on set, but also I was obsessive about the authenticity of the film. It’s a border story, it’s about a very specific community, it’s about a very specific world of lucha libre, in a very specific place of Juarez and El Paso. So capturing that in an authentic way was so important and so key to the story. I think because I’m a documentarian, those little details that, when I talk to someone either from that community or from the Latinx community, they’re like, “Wow, you nailed it. You got this world so right.” Because I did the research, and I spent time there. I spent time with the real Cassandro, and it was really important to me.

Gael García Bernal in ‘Cassandro.’ Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Cassandro’:
- ‘Vision Quest‘ (1985)
- ‘No Holds Barred‘ (1989)
- ‘Ready to Rumble‘ (2000)
- ‘Nacho Libre‘ (2006)
- ‘The Wrestler‘ (2008)
- ‘Win Win‘ (2011)
- ‘Warrior‘ (2011)
- ‘Foxcatcher‘ (2015)
- ‘Fighting with My Family‘ (2019)
- ‘Cassandro, the Exotico!‘ (2019)
Buy Tickets: ‘Cassandro’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Gael García Bernal Movies On Amazon
September 25, 2023
Movie Review: ‘Cassandro’
Gael Garcia Bernal in ‘Cassandro.’ Credit: Courtsey of Alejandro Lopez Pineda © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

Opening in theaters on September 15th before premiering on Prime Video September 22nd, ‘Cassandro’ introduces mainstream American audiences (at least those who may not have seen 2019 documentary ‘Cassandro, the Exótico!’) to a boundary-pushing Mexican wrestler.

Gael García Bernal plays the main man in affecting and well-rounded fashion, though the movie itself never quite channels the flair of subject Saúl Armendáriz.
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What’s the story of ‘Cassandro’?

(L to R) Gael García Bernal and Roger Ross Williams in ‘Cassandro.’ Photo: Alejandro Lopez Pineda © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

When Saúl Armendáriz (Bernal) starts competing in the macho world of Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling, he’s always cast as the runt.

After he meets Sabrina (Roberta Colindrez), Saúl gains not only a professional trainer but also a friend who helps him create a new character in the ring. Together they debut ‘Cassandro,’ a radical subversion of Lucha Libre’s stereotypical role known as the Exótico.

Flamboyant and powerful, Cassandro turns Lucha on its head. But Cassandro also upends Saúl’s own life, throwing into tumult his relationships with his mother Yocasta (Perla De La Rosa), his secret lover Gerardo (Raúl Castillo), and his absent father Eduardo (Robert Salas).

Who else is in ‘Cassandro’?

(L to R) Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio and Gael García Bernal in ‘Cassandro.’ Credit: Courtsey of Alejandro Lopez Pineda © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

The cast for the movie also includes Joaquín Cosio, Yavor Vesselinov, Leonardo Alonso, Carmen Ledesma, Javier Escobar, Lorenzo Constantini and Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, AKA Bad Bunny.

Related Article: Gael Garcia Bernal is a Unique Mexican Wrestler in the First Look at ‘Cassandro’

Does ‘Cassandro’ win in the ring?

(L to R) Gael García Bernal and El Hijo del Santo in ‘Cassandro.’ Photo: Alejandro Lopez Pineda © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

Co-written (with David Teague) and directed by Roger Ross Williams, ‘Cassandro’ takes an understated approach to the world of someone who never was, at least in the ring. Armendáriz’ story is one of struggle and triumph, ego and self-destruction, pride and hope. And, yes, while it has previously been chronicled by the 2019 documentary, that doesn’t detract from the appeal of the movie.

With a nuanced, emotional and typically great central performance by Bernal, the movie is anchored by his portrayal of the man, who suffered rejection from his father and had to hide who he truly was from most of the people around him.

Aside, that is from his doting mother Yocasta, (Perla De La Rosa, proving to be every bit the match for her onscreen son) with whom the young Armendáriz has spent most of his life. Their relationship is one of the highlights of the movie, wreathed with sadness but also joy at their close bond.

(L to R) Gael García Bernal and Perla De La Rosa in ‘Cassandro.’ Credit: Courtsey of Alejandro Lopez Pineda © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

When Saul starts to develop the persona that will change the macho world of Lucha Libre, you see him come alive in a way he’s never been able to before. Williams chronicles it all with a steady eye and calm perspective, letting the story unspool in slow-burn style.

There are familiar beats to be found for sure, but Armendáriz’ story is a fascinating one. And refreshingly, the script doesn’t shy away from the fact that despite his game changing impact on his sport, Armendáriz’ fame doesn’t automatically translate into full acceptance in his private life, as his main relationship has to be kept a secret.

This gives the film some extra power and significance, and makes it stand out from others of the genre –– be they sports or other biopics (and it’s for good reason, since we are suddenly, pleasingly inundated with stories about Latino people achieving long-held dreams that offer different takes on the culture). It’s something worth celebrating.

Where does ‘Cassandro’ fall down?

(L to R) Roberta Colindrez and Gael García Bernal in ‘Cassandro.’ Credit: Courtsey of Alejandro Lopez Pineda © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

Not everything about the movie works as well as its central performance(s).

The slow, focused approached to Armendáriz’ life works well when it is showing him struggling to find acceptance, working menial jobs or facing barriers in his personal life, but it sticks around for the wrestling scenes, and that only sporadically succeeds.

Cassandro as a character is wild and spontaneous, and the matches might have benefitted from a little more flair to keep up with him. There are fleeting moments where his skill as a wrestler translates (and Bernal clearly threw himself into training to be convincing), but it’s never quite as entertaining as the man himself.

Also, for a story about such a unique real-world character also hits a few of the standard points that you’d expect in a sports biopic such as this, though those are thankfully kept to a minimum.

Gael Garcia Bernal stars in ‘Cassandro.’ Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video © Amazon Content Services LLC.

There will, of course, be concerns about a straight actor such as Bernal playing a gay icon, but he quickly puts aside such worries with his sympathetic portrayal. Outside of that, his affair with a closeted fellow luchador is rarely quite as authentic.

Yet perhaps the biggest issue with the role is not one of sexuality, but of age. While Bernal at 44 does convincingly channel the much younger Armendáriz during his early days (he debuted as a wrestler in his pre-Cassandro era) at the age of 18, and the movie stars there.

It can be distracting at times to see Bernal playing the role, and it might have worked to have someone else play him as a teen (as Williams obviously does when he’s shown as a young boy), so as not to make you wonder why someone of at least 30 is in such a situation.

‘Cassandro’ is certainly an underdog story worth telling, even if the dramatic film that has resulted isn’t always able to properly contain it. But it looks at his life with an unflinching gaze and, when it lets him be himself, and as in Lucha itself, it shines.

‘Cassandro’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

“Cassandro’ will release globally on Prime Video in 2023.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Cassandro’:
- ‘Vision Quest‘ (1985)
- ‘No Holds Barred‘ (1989)
- ‘Ready to Rumble‘ (2000)
- ‘Nacho Libre‘ (2006)
- ‘The Wrestler‘ (2008)
- ‘Win Win‘ (2011)
- ‘Warrior‘ (2011)
- ‘Foxcatcher‘ (2015)
- ‘Fighting with My Family‘ (2019)
- ‘Cassandro, the Exotico!‘ (2019)
Buy Tickets: ‘Cassandro’ Movie Showtimes

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September 23, 2023
First Look at Gael Garcia Bernal in ‘Cassandro’

Gael Garcia Bernal stars in ‘Cassandro.’ Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video © Amazon Content Services LLC.

True life stories are always good fodder for movies, and ‘Cassandro’ has a great, inspiring one to tell. Gael García Bernal, most recently seen in Marvel’s Disney+ Halloween special ‘Werewolf by Night’, is starring as wrestler Saúl Armendáriz, and a first look image is online.

Though scripted, the new movie comes from Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Roger Ross Williams, who wrote the script with David Teague and Julián Herbert. Williams and Teague previously worked together on their award-scoring ‘Life, Animated’, about a family who uses Disney animated movies to reach their withdrawn autistic son.

Though Armendáriz’ name might not be that well known outside of wrestling circles, his is a fascinating story.

An American-born luchador wrestler who grew up near the U.S.–Mexican border in El Paso, Texas, he was a young man with dreams of competing at the highest levels in wrestling. Armendáriz moved to Mexico and began training in one of the sport’s hotspots, Ciudad Juarez.

But while some thought his homosexuality would be a hindrance in such a machismo-driven industry, he soon rose to the top of the Mexican wrestling world by embracing a flamboyantly gay persona known as “Cassandro.” The character––who became known as “the Liberace of Lucha Libre”––proved to be a huge hit with wrestling fans, and he eventually became the first foreign-born wrestler to win a world title.

“Cassandro’ will release globally on Prime Video in 2023.

Cassandro is considered an LGBT icon and a legend in the arena of wrestling, so this is an important role for Bernal to get right. But he certainly seems to strike the right note and look in the initial image.

‘Cassandro’ also stars Roberta Colindrez, Perla De La Rosa, Joaquín Cosío, and Raúl Castillo. The movie has yet to confirm a release date, but it’ll debut on Prime Video next year.

And 2023 is shaping up to be a big year for cine-wrestlers, as ‘The Nest’ and ‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ director Sean Durkin is working on a new movie about the sport called ‘The Iron Claw’.

That drama has Zac Efron and ‘The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White bulking up to play part of the legendary Von Erichs wrestling dynasty. It’s also without a release date from A24 just yet but should be out at some point in the new year.
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December 7, 2022
Adam Sandler Stars in the New ‘Hustle’ Trailer

(L-R) Juancho Hernangomez as Bo Cruz and Adam Sandler as Stanley Sugerman in ‘Hustle.’ Photo: Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2022.

Adam Sandler is a fan of basketball – especially the New York Knicks – and he does sometimes slip the sport into his movies. But ‘Hustle’ marks the first time he’s starring in an entire movie about the subject, and the trailer is now online.

‘Hustle’, directed by Jeremiah Zagar, with a script by Will Fetters and Taylor Materne, is the story of an ambitious basketball scout who takes on a big challenge – one that could boost or shatter his career.

Stanley Sugerman’s (Sandler) love for basketball is unparalleled, but the travel weary Philadelphia 76ers scout who has higher ambitions of being a coach remains stuck on the road looking for the next unknown talent.

His search around the world leads him to Spain, when he discovers Bo Cruz (NBA player Juancho Hernangómez), an incredible streetball player with a troubled past. Stanley and Bo connect on and off the court, with their passion for the game and as loving family men who want to prove they can win, in basketball and in life. With the support of Stanley’s wife, Teresa (Queen Latifah), can the underdogs come out on top?

Director Zagar earned healthy reviews for his previous movie, ‘We Are the Animals’ and has been working on short films since then. Writer Fetters has worked on movies such as the Oscar-winning 2018 version of ‘A Star is Born’ and romantic dramas ‘The Best of Me’ and ‘The Lucky One’. Materne, meanwhile, has mostly been a producer on movies including ‘The Longest Week’ and has a new basketball documentary, ‘Nothing But Net’, in the works.

One of the biggest players behind the scenes of this one is LeBron James – the basketball icon, veteran of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers, who has been making big strides in movies while keeping his career on the court moving. The ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ star is one of the producers on this movie, and we’re certain he’ll have offered his expertise for the basketball scenes.

This is the latest collaboration between Sandler and streaming service Netflix, and while most of his output for the company has been largely skewed towards his comedy side – ‘Hubie Halloween’, for example, or ‘Murder Mystery’ (which already has a sequel in production – ‘Hustle’ represents more of a grounded blend of dramatic and comedic, though nowhere near as intense as the likes of ‘Uncut Gems’. He also has sci-fi drama ‘Spaceman’, which tells the story of a man raised in the Czech countryside who dreams of becoming the country’s first astronaut.

The likes of Ben Foster, Robert Duvall and Raúl Castillo also star in the film, which arrives on Netflix on June 8th.

Adam Sandler as Stanley Sugerman in ‘Hustle.’ Photo: Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2022.
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May 11, 2022