La Soga (The Butcher's Son) (2009)

44% of critics liked it
(16 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(434 ratings)

"La Soga" is an edgy, action-drama, combining the gritty reality of movies like "City of God" and "Amores Perros." It is the personal journey of a brave man who risks everything to find justice, a visceral and gripping story of redemption that lays bare brutality and corruption. "La Soga" is set in… More "La Soga" is an edgy, action-drama, combining the gritty reality of movies like "City of God" and "Amores Perros." It is the personal journey of a brave man who risks everything to find justice, a visceral and gripping story of redemption that lays bare brutality and corruption. "La Soga" is set in the neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic and Washington Heights, New York.-- (C) Official Site

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Josh Crook
Written By: Manny Perez
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International

In Theaters: Aug 13, 2010 Limited
On DVD: May 3, 2011
Studio: Screen Media Ventures

Critic Reviews

Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
Although at times the film gets bogged down in psychological murkiness, the relentless pace and brooding charisma of its star overcomes its narrative deficiencies.
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
The film's explicit depictions of regional violence have upset some audiences, but there's no denying their impact: those butchered pigs are only the beginning.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
For some reason, the film, directed by Josh Crook, has a schmaltzy happy ending that's out of step with the rest of the story.
Aaron Hillis, Village Voice
The subgenre's clichéd two-way street of corruption and redemption predictably sees our antihero finding liberation in a childhood sweetheart while facing down the crooked lawman who led him to a life of transgression.
Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
It's nearly impossible to discern crook from cop in the handheld, trigonometric angles and slice-and-dice editing of La Soga.
Jerry Portwood, New York Press
The focus could have been refined and made for a simpler tale. As is, it's a thrilling ride -- as long as you don't try to dig too deep into the narrative structure.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
From 'Shots! Shots! Shots!' to 'Hot! Hot! Hot!'
Kam Williams, Sly Fox
From 'Shots! Shots! Shots!' to 'Hot! Hot! Hot!'
Michelle Orange, Movieline
A film loaded with interest that somehow fails to be interesting.
Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
A captivating, well-acted, intense and suspenseful thriller that suffers from excessive flashbacks and a contrived romantic subplot.
Sam Adams, AV Club
Even a breaking glass is filmed in slow motion and accompanied by ominous soundtrack pounding -- unless that thud is the movie hammering the same point home again and again.
David Noh, Film Journal International
This emptily callous film tries to be an edgy expose of the Dominican criminal world, but plays more like a particularly juvenile game of shoot-'em-up.
Clay Cane, BET.com
Despite its flaws, which are minimal for a movie that doesn't have millions of dollars like the big Hollywood flicks, 'La Soga' keeps the audience engaged right to the last frame. This is a gritty urban drama that transcends language and culture.
Lisa Rosman, Time Out New York
Rings painfully familiar.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
So is this anguished assassin guilty of a Faustian bargain with his chosen profession, or its victim? Maybe only the the satanic carnival Lechones dancing at his doorstep know for sure. Or in other words, the devils made him do it.
Harvey S. Karten, Rotten Tomatoes
The best movie about a vegetarian butcher that you'll see this year.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

J P

I really liked this movie. I thought it was intense and had pretty well developed characters. La Soga was a really interesting character. In the beginning, I didn't like him too much, but then as the movie progressed I liked him a lot. His girlfriend was a pretty shallow… More
I really liked this movie. I thought it was intense and had pretty well developed characters. La Soga was a really interesting character. In the beginning, I didn't like him too much, but then as the movie progressed I liked him a lot. His girlfriend was a pretty shallow character though, and the plot had a little bit of depth, but not as much depth as it probably could have. La Soga was a deep character, but the rest were just shallow characters that helped move the plot along. The ending was bad. Like I hated it. They director went down a completely different path with this movie. The whole movie was kind of depressing and gloomy. The fact that this movie had a "happily ever after" ending was really messed up. It didn't fit the rest of the film at all. The one part that really didn't make sense to me about La Soga was the fact that he didn't eat meat. So obviously his dad was a butcher, and he was taught to be a butcher too. I understand that after seeing how the animals die, and how traumatic it was, he refused to eat meat ever again. However, even years later, he still butchers animals. So, he is able to kill them, but he doesn't eat them? Isn't that kind of a waste? Wouldn't he want to eat the meat and you know be thankful to the pig for providing him with food? Rather than killing the pig and never touching it again? I just didn't get that. I mean he killed it...it's already dead, so he might as well eat it or else the pig died for nothing right? I just thought that was pretty stupid.
John M

Good production values for a low budget film and good acting from the main characters and most of the cast and good pace but the story feels empty, cliché, flaw and lack of depth. "La Soga" is entertaining but uninteresting piece of Dominican cinema. At the end La Soga… More
Good production values for a low budget film and good acting from the main characters and most of the cast and good pace but the story feels empty, cliché, flaw and lack of depth. "La Soga" is entertaining but uninteresting piece of Dominican cinema. At the end La Soga (Rope) didn't tie me up tight.

Cast

            Manny Perez as Luisito 'La Soga'

            Denise Quinones as Jenny

            Juan Fernández as General Colon

            Paul Calderon as Rafa

            Hemky Madera as Tavo

            Alfonso Rodríguez as Franco

            Joseph Lyle Taylor as Simon Burr

            Margo Martindale as Flannigan

            Fantino Fernandez as Young Luisito

            Leslie Cepeda as Young Jenny

            Diego Rafael Sanchez as Young Tavo

            Miguel Angel Martinez as Luisito's Father

            Jean Johnny as Fellito Polanco

            Gerpis 'Shino' Correa as Wellington

            Danilo Rodriguez as Felipe Manuel Peralta

            Sharlene Taulé as Margarita

            Johanny Sosa as Police Commander

            Celinés Toribio as President's Assistant

            Jose Perez as Rafa's Cousin

            Ulysses Terrero as NYC Thug

            Anais Martinez as NYC Thug's Wife

            Anibal O. Lleras as Rafa's Crew #1

            Henry Santos Jeter as Rafa's Crew #2

            Coco Cabrera as Carlos Batista

            Sixta Morel as Reporter

            Yuri Martinez as Guard #1

            Jalsen Santana as Guard #2

            Anthony Marte as President Fernando Linares

            Pachy Mendez as Rafa's Wife

            Mery Collado as General Colon's Wife

            Carmen Brugal as Dona Irma

            Elvira Grullon as Luisito's Aunt

            Robinson Aybar as Efrain

            Joshua Lucero as Domino Player

            Pedro Cruzmonty as Pedophile

            Ericson Batista as Boy at Hotel Room

            Ramona Liriano as Dona Irma's Maid

            Cleotilde Tavarez as Fellito's Mother

            Gilberto Tejada as Guard at General's Mansion

            Nelson Baez as The Butcher

            Gerardo Mercedes as Wellington's Crew #1

            Diogenes Rubio as Wellington's Crew #2

            Yojansel Reyes as Rafa's Son

            M. Patricia Tejada as Jenny's Cousin

            Guillermo Estrella as Jenny's Suitor

            Danilo as Bully at Prison

            Fernando Luna as Carnival Mask Dancer

            Danny Lebron as Franco's Henchman in NYC

            Janet Gonzalez as Girl in Rafa's Apartment

            Carmen Fernandez as Nurse
See full cast