Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
For Pablo Escobar family is everything. When young surfer Nick falls for Escobar's niece, Maria, he finds his life on the line when he's pulled into the dangerous world of the family business.
Escobar: Paradise Lost is a competent thriller that uses the personal romantic angle as an entry point into Escobar's world, a somewhat fresh perspective but not entirely novel. Benicio del Toro delivers a commanding, menacing performance as Escobar, elevating the film above its genre peers, while Josh Hutcherson holds his own in the lead. The cinematography captures the lush Colombian landscapes and creeping dread effectively. The plot, however, follows a fairly predictable trajectory once the stakes are established, and the romance angle feels undercooked. The ending delivers tension but lacks a truly memorable payoff. Overall a solid but unremarkable entry in the Escobar cinematic canon.