El Mariachi (1992) User Reviews

Robert Rodriguez's feature film debut!!

[Captain_Couth · 8/10 · 16 August 2005]

El Mariachi (1992) was a fine debut for film maker Robert Rodriguez. He makes the most of his minuscule budget and makes a very entertaining action film. The story behind the making of the film is even more interesting than the movie itself. You can tell from this movie that Robert Rodriguez had a bright future in the movie business.

The story is about a musician who's trying to find work in a Mexican border town. None of the places he visits wants to hire a guitar player for their business. Meanwhile another man comes to town carrying a guitar case, he's no musician. He's a notorious hit man for a local gangster. When their paths cross, nothing but trouble lies ahead for the El Mariachi. Can the poor dude survive the week without being killed? Who is this guitar carrying killer? Why is he in town? What are the local crime boss' motives? To find out you'll have to watch EL MARIACHI!!!

An interesting debut that showed lots of promise. The movie was followed by a pseudo-sequel/remake a few years later with a bigger budget and a cast filled with a lot of named actors.

Highly recommended.

Its a good small budget film

[patomartinezfgo · 6/10 · 20 May 2017]

I have loved some of Robert Rodriguez's later works like Sin City, so I was pretty excited to see this movie.

The movie is extremely small budget and it really feels like it is more expensive than that. I mean, Robert Rodriguez makes this movie look like it had much more money spent on it, and that is because of his creativity and resourcefulness.

The directing is really good. I loved many of the shots and scenes in this movie and the way they are edited.

My problem with the film or at least my dilemma is... I just find this movie OK. The main actor and character itself is pretty lousy, the movie is too long for its own good, and the story is just OK.

Many people argue that this might be justified because of the low budget. But I do believe that all of the story problems don't have anything to do with the budget. It is not as if I don't like low-budget films, I LOVE "The Evil Dead" and other low-budget films. I just find this movie uneventful, and sometimes boring.

I think this film is the kind of film you should only watch once and move on with your life. I do recommend you to watch it though.

Good debut movie

[ivanmessimilos · 6/10 · 6 July 2021]

I really appreciate this work from Robert Rodriguez. The so-called low-budget film, shot for just $ 7,000, and Rodriguez put his heart and soul into this film. He was a director, a screenwriter, a producer, he did effects, he did absolutely everything except acting. He was even tested for some drugs because they paid him for it, all to raise money and make a movie. From that aspect, the film looks extremely good. However, some flaws are visible, such as the camera or wooden acting, at times the film is too raw, but all this is understandable.

One of the greatest low budget movies of the last twenty years, and still an inspiration to wanna be movie makers around the world.

[Infofreak · 3 December 2003]

'El Mariachi' should still be regarded as an inspiration to wanna be movie makers around the world. For around US$7,000 Robert Rodriguez created one of the most enjoyable action movies to hit Hollywood since Peckinpah's 'The Getaway'. Once again Rodriguez proves the point that creativity and imagination beat million dollar budgets every time. An obvious concept to most people one would think, but going by the overblown CGI infested crapola at a theatre near you something that mainstream Hollywood STILL doesn't get! Carlos Gallardo played El Mariachi and co-produced with Rodriguez who did just about everything else - writer, director, cinematographer, editor, special effects,etc.etc. I first saw this movie not long after it hit video and I enjoyed it a lot. I recently watched it on DVD for the first time, ten years after I first saw it, and to me it really stands up. (Rodriguez' commentary is also highly recommended to any aspiring director) Personally my favourite Rodriguez movie is 'From Dusk Til Dawn', but 'El Mariachi' comes a close second. It's sequel cum remake 'Desperado' is a better known to most people but despite a budget 1000 times bigger(!) and some "name" actors involved I don't think it has half the energy and fun of the original, one of the greatest low budget movies of the last twenty years.

Decent, Low-Budget film by a young Robert Rodriguez.

[Batkid1 · 6/10 · 28 October 2007]

This is pretty good for a limited budget film debut. Rodriguez has campiness, Hong Kong-style action sequences, good music and a Western atmosphere.

Carlos Gallardo is good as the main protagonist and it sure is a hoot seeing him jump off of buildings with his guitar, hide in cars and escape at least a dozen assassins.

It's so cool and funny that it reminds the viewer of a Jackie Chan flick with a hint of John Woo as well. Rodriguez does however suffer from the budget due to having the in-between scenes drag on even for a eighty-one minute film project.

I should probably see this film again, in English, because while I'm in Spanish class and saw this on a Telemundo channel, I didn't quite understand this film as much as I could have.

Pretty good with so little.

[kdavidbushnell · 7/10 · 15 July 2009]

Pretty good with so little. Of course the acting isn't that good at all, nor is the dialog and special effects (only action). But the story, plot and main character are all very likable. I'll admit I am not a Robert Rodriguez fan, I'll Repeat NOT a Robert Rodriguez fan this is my favorite of his work. Where did he turn after Four Rooms (which I didn't even really like) he became Hollywood BS is what he did. He conformed to BS of Hollywood because for an ambitious very cheap independent film he had a promising career. I'm sure others would disagree (just because he's made much money and success in Hollywood) but nonetheless a bunch of BS is what he's done after El Mariachi. The end was good and like I said the plot was simple the story was interesting and the Mariachi was a likable character.

A stunningly inexpensive achievement.

[Pavel-8 · 7/10 · 1 November 2003]

When Robert Rodriguez's "El Mariachi" was released back in the early '90s, it received a tremendous amount of press because it was made for a measly $7,000. Thanks to about a million dollars of marketing, the film exploded first onto the indie scene, then into mainstream cinema. With two expensive sequels, 1995's "Desperado" ($7 million) and this fall's "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" ($30 million), the original film has garnered even more attention.

"El Mariachi" tells a simple tale of mistaken identity. The protagonist and title character is a mere wandering mariachi looking for work, until he is confused with an escaped prisoner. Then of course, all hell breaks loose. Bullets fly and the fun begins.

Strictly on its cinematic merits, "El Mariachi" is not as great as you have probably heard. The story, as I described, is nothing special. The acting doesn't detract at all from the movie, but no one stands out either. There are a number of continuity errors; shots within individual scenes are inconsistently lit; some of the cuts seem unusual; and the special effects are elementary. The technical aspects, except the necessarily innovative cinematography, are not quite up to Hollywood standards. All of this would not seem to add up to a classic independent film.

But the borderline crude nature of all these pieces add up to a fascinating film, and they do that for one reason: Robert Rodriguez. His creativity and vision collide with his lack of money to produce a fascinating film. Filling virtually every major role on the crew, he creates a style all his own. Within this style, all of the "problems" are transformed into resourcefulness and creativity, the product of which is a consistent look akin to what he forged in Once Upon a Time in Mexico and his other films.

This uniformity alters one's perspective on the entire film and its parts. A basic story somehow grabs your attention. There is a charm to the naivete of the actors. The lighting often proves to be a refreshingly unique change from the norm. Continuity problems can willingly be ignored. Even the meager special effects aren't much of a distraction. The almost dizzying editing actually enhances the tale's frenetic nature. On top of all of this, Rodriguez utilizes unique zooms, angles, frame rates, and film speeds that give the flick an playful visual look not often found.

Bottom Line: While none of these aforementioned pieces would work all that well individually, Rodriguez uses these tools to morph a dusty Mexican fable into a cartoonishly enjoyable story that dollar-for-dollar may be the best movie ever made. 8 of 10.

(Side note: The new DVD is one of the best I've seen. Not necessarily in scope, but in content. Rodriguez's nonpareil information about a remarkable piece of filmmaking is simply superb. Well worth your $15.)

This First One Still The Best In The Trilogy

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 24 December 2006]

This movie put director Robert Rodriguez "on the map." He followed up with two sequels: "Desperado" and "Once Upon A Time In Mexico." Not surprising, the best of the three was this low-budget opening film. As Rodriquez had more and more money to spend on the sequels, the stories got more and more carried away with too many explosions and special-effects, losing the charm of this first effort.

Unlike the sequels, this Mexican-made, so it is in Spanish with English subtitles. Don't let that scare you away. There isn't a great deal of dialog so keeping up with the subtitles is very easy.

The movie has very interesting camera closeups and angles as Rodriquez showed he was going to be a stylish director. The story is simple but effective, suspenseful and even with some humor. Unnlike his subsequent films in this trilogy, the action is not overdone here.

The length is also is a plus. At 80 minutes you can be thoroughly entertained in less than an hour-and-a half. The only disappointment to me was the print quality on th DVD, but I got an early edition. There might be better editions out since. It's not fuzzy but it's not sharp, either.

Anyway: highly recommend for actions/crime buffs who like style in their photography, or saw the sequels and would like to know the history of this particular "Mariachi."

Don't expect "Desperado" or "Once Upon a Time in Mexico"

[daveyramone · 7/10 · 5 October 2003]

Robert Rodriguez's acclaimed $7,000 film is well deserving of all the praise it has received, especially considering its "shoe string" budget, but if you're expecting a shoot 'em up movie or action on the level of "Desperado" or "Once Upon a Time..." look somewhere else. The first in this series of three movies focuses more on storytelling than bloodletting. While there are action and chase sequences, don't expect huge explosions or massive bar shoot-outs that you may be accustomed to in "Desperado." There simply wasn't money for those kind of sequences in "El Mariachi," but what it lacks in raw action, it makes up for in a well written and well developed plot. The movie begins with a mariachi looking for work who arrives in a small pueblo in Mexico and finds none; however, he does find a bar owner named Domino, whom he quickly falls in love with. Unfortunately for him, he's also being chased by a drug lord named Moco after he was mistaken for Azul, a criminal out to get the drug lord. Yes, that should ring a bell for those of you who have seen "Desperado," but rest assured that this movie is not the same movie. Overall, "El Mariachi" is definitely worth watching at least once, if for no other reason than to see how a good movie can be made for next to nothing.

It shouldn't have been a surprise that the guy who made this would go on to do The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl

[MBunge · 6/10 · 13 September 2010]

This is the low budget film that launched the career of Robert Rodriguez and really cast him as the Squire to Quentin Tarantino's Knight in what was thought to be a Kingdom of New Cinema. So far, neither has really lived up to the stratospheric expectations that were thrust upon them. But while Tarantino has at least achieved momentary greatness, Rodriguez has so far never been more than just good. Watching El Mariachi now, you can see that he probably never really deserved to be in Taratino's class.

The story concerns a violent Mexican criminal named Azul (Reinol Martinez), a drug-dealing Anglo named Moco (Peter Marquardt) and a traveling Mexican guitar player we never know as anything but "El Mariachi" (Carlos Gallardo). Azul and Moco used to be partners, but Moco cheated Azul out of his cut. That, apparently, wasn't so bad…but when Moco tries to have Azul killed and fails, all bets are off as Azul picks up his guitar case full of weapons and starts to hunt down his old partner. Unfortunately for El Mariachi, Azul dresses all in black and carries a guitar case, just like the young musician. Moco's men mistake Mariachi for Azul and try to kill him in spectacularly unsuccessful fashion. As he tries to stay alive and figure out why strangers are trying to kill him, Mariachi meets a local girl named Domino (Consuelo Gomez), who's connected in someway to Moco. That sets the stage for our three main characters to collide in a deadly climax.

For a low, low, low budget movie, El Mariachi isn't half bad. None of the actors are particularly talented and Paul Marquardt reveals himself to be especially horrid at the end of the film, though up to that point he was quite convincingly menacing, even while getting a manicure. The dialog is effective but unremarkable. The scenery and the costuming is all appropriately low rent and the story itself is more like a pilot for a TV show than a legitimate movie.

Rodriguez' direction, however is obviously a cut above the rest of the material. He was still very green and some of his shots and set ups are very basic, almost student film-like at times, but there's a noticeable confidence in his storytelling. The camera doesn't linger on any shot for too long, scenes don't just ramble along until they peter out, and you can tell that he's trying to be as visually interesting as he can with limited resources. He also manages to pull off some stunt work that is very impressive for this level of film. Low budget movies are notoriously bad for cheesy, fake and lame action sequences. Putting explosions, gun battles and harrowing escapes on screen usually takes a lot of money. If you can't afford good special effects, good make up or good stunt men, there's not much you can do. Rodriguez manages to somehow make it work, with one scene involving sliding down a telephone wire to the hood of a moving bus being remarkable for a low budget film. That one scene is probably the single thing that most attracted attention to Rodriguez out of all of El Mariachi.

And though he occasionally lapses into dumb melodrama, Rodriguez shows a very good grasp of storytelling fundamentals. He tries to show the audience things through a character's actions, instead of having someone tell the audiences stuff through clunky exposition. He's able to pull off a running gag involving Azul always wanting his beer in a bottle. And he knows exactly when he's got to juice things up a bit to keep the story moving and the audience engaged.

But while there's flashes of talent shown, El Mariachi isn't really the mark of a great filmmaker. There's no reason to think the guy who made it would go on to create anything like Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction. You can see that things like From Dusk Til Dawn or the Spy Kids movies were a much more natural progression for Rodriguez. Because ultimately, he only attempted to be good with El Mariachi. He succeeded, but for a low budget film to be great it has to be willing to be so "out there", so over the top, so outrageous, so imaginative that it runs the risk of being a complete and utter clusterbleep. Rodriguez isn't willing to take that chance and probably didn't deserve quite as much of a moment in the sun as he got from this film.

But there's nothing wrong with "just" being a good filmmaker and there's nothing wrong with "just" being a decent film. You can certainly do a lot worse for an evening's entertainment than renting a copy of El Mariachi.

Frenetic.

[Peach-2 · 9/10 · 29 November 1998]

I know the budget for this film was somewhere between 5000 and 7000 dollars, but I would like to comment more on the pacing and frenetic film style Rodriguez bestows upon us. Low budget or not,this film has energy. It never lets down for more than a few minutes and the editing is amazing. Robert Rodriguez has such a knowledge of film-making that he makes this movie look like a million bucks easy. The film isn't perfect, but on sheer energy alone it will entertain you more than most over-blown Hollywood action films.

Low budget, great movie!

[lowdown19632000 · 7/10 · 3 February 2004]

Much has been said about the budget of this movie being $7,000 but the reality is that that is how much the rough cut cost. Then after it got picked up for distribution.They took it back into the studio and re-cut it and put a new sound mix on it. That said, this is a great little movie and it makes it possible for all the independent film makers out there to dream.

A Nice Film

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 28 September 2012]

Let's give credit where credit is due. Although this picture had an extremely low-budget, it goes to prove that a nice film can still be produced if the director has the imagination and talent to pull it off. And let's face it, the sad fact is that there are all too many movies being made today that cost much more than this particular film ($7000) but fail to deliver the same level of satisfaction. The director (Robert Rodriguez) deserves every attribute due to him. The humor was good and there were some social commentaries that I think some people might have missed. That is not to say, however, that this film was necessarily perfect. It wasn't. The acting wasn't great by any means. Neither was the script. But then, the movie was originally produced in Spanish and the version I saw was dubbed in English, so it is possible that some of the dialogue may have been lost in translation. The ending though, was unexpected and abrupt and I didn't quite like it. As far as the characters are concerned, I thought Reinol Martinez (playing the part of the gangster "Azul") did the best. Consuelo Gomez ("Domino") was attractive and put in a fair performance as well. Carlos Gallardo ("El Mariachi") was average at best. The rest of the cast were pretty much forgettable. Having said all of this, the fact that this film was produced with a low budget doesn't mean that a person should lower his standards and give it a higher score than it deserves when it comes to evaluating it. This wasn't "Gone with the Wind" so there's no need to give it an equivalent rating. The bottom line is that it was an enjoyable low-budget film and it made a hefty profit. No need to argue with that.

Good morning, Azul. Know who this is?

[film-critic · 17 September 2004]

Through the heart of independent cinema comes the bold and expressive first film by Robert Rodriguez. While he would go on later to give us some modern day classics, this is the film that jump-started his career. Set in a gritty town of Mexico, a drifter arrives ready to restart a new life and concentrate on his music. He soon learns that this will be a very difficult dream since the moment he steps foot in town he is mistaken for a murderous criminal named Azul. Azul is after his money that Moco (the head boss) has failed to pay him. Moco tries to have Azul killed, but finds it difficult when he carries with him a guitar case filled with guns. After several gun battles, explosions, and a love story with a woman that gives the guitar player his first real gig, our hero finds his life in the mercy of others. It is at this time our Mariachi is reborn.

Rodriguez gives his best direction to date. Perhaps it was the lack of funds or the intensely gritty scenes, but this film helped me realize why cinema is so amazing. It is the perfect story of the small fish making his big mark on a big pond. Rodriguez takes every resource he can and rebuilds the classic concept of mistaken identity. With the fast-framed photography and interesting choice of camera angles, he takes a straightforward story and builds a legend. I enjoyed watching this film because although it was made for just a simple $7,000, the production doesn't look cheap. I have seen Hollywood blockbusters that have looked like they squandered their money more than Rodriguez did. I was just impressed with the quality of the film and the story that I suddenly felt myself totally immersed into the story.

Oddly, it is the story that never falters throughout this picture. Normally, when you have a lower cost on budget, a segment of a film will suffer. Sometimes it is the character development, other times it is the story. Nothing is forgotten about in this film. There is plenty of violence (for all you action fans out there), some powerful drama (dealing with his dreams), and some comedy that will keep you grinning from ear to ear. By having this strong balance, our hero emerges with the utmost confidence, our villain seems diabolically evil, and therefore leading into moments of sheer joy, constantly wondering what will happen next. I was rooting for everyone in this film because I felt something for each. Only through the careful eye and artistic direction of Rodriguez could such a feat be accomplished.

I have nothing negative to say about this film. From the moment the first turtle walked across the screen until the very end, I enjoyed every aspect of this picture. I suggest this movie to anyone that has ever thought about making a film, but was concerned about budget. I also suggest this film to anyone who loves a good story, amazing action, and characters that literally jump out of the screen like comic book heroes.

Grade: ***** out of *****

The low cost highlights the extraordinary ability of the director

[g-89622 · 7/10 · 6 November 2021]

The first in Rodriguez's "Killing" trilogy, and his feature-length debut. Rodriguez spent $ 7thousand on the film in his native Mexico, and it turned out to be a blockbuster. The style of the whole film is simple and powerful, and the tiger is alive. Although the production is rough, it shows the imagination of the director and the uniqueness of the use of film skills, and the entertainment effect is high. The flaws in the film are also very obvious. The production is shoddy, the imitation marks are strong, and you can see a lot of the director's style from the inside. The actor's performance is really hard to compliment. Even because of financial problems, the male protagonist runs only around the two streets.

Just Needed a Bigger Budget

[view_and_review · 6/10 · 9 June 2020]

This movie was a bit of a struggle to watch, but I was willing to suffer through it being that it's the prequel to "Desperado" (or so I've heard).

The plot isn't bad, just everything else is. It's clearly low budget which is what makes it so strenuous to watch. I don't like to hold a budget against a movie, but proper budgets go into any and everything we experience. Those products and services that have adequate funding tend to be better than those that are underfunded.

In the case of "El Mariachi," the picture quality is poor, the editing is choppy, and the acting leaves a lot to be desired. Then there's the voice over dub. At least in kung-fu movies it's a thing to have bad voice overs. This was no kung fu movie.

As for the plot, it's about a Mariachi singer with a guitar that is mistaken for a gangster who carries a guitar case full of guns. They look nothing alike, but the only description that the henchmen have is of a guy who wears black and carries a guitar case. In my mind, that'd be half the guys in Mexico!! Well, the first guy they see with a guitar case is an actual Mariachi player and they go after him.

Again, because of the low budget the movie lacked the intensity and believability that it needs to be really engrossing. The movie watching experience was bland, hence the violence and action was also bland (if violence can be considered bland). With a bigger budget this movie would've been so much better.

Good action flick at a bargain price

[fleagles · 7/10 · 2 August 2000]

Director Robert Rodriguez, working with only $7,000 to spend, puts together one heck of an action film. The story of an innocent Mariachi musician accidentally swept into a nasty crime story, Rodriguez delivers with a smart sense of visual style and snappy dialogue.

Vote: 7

a bang of a debut

[Quinoa1984 · 10/10 · 29 April 2000]

Robert Rodriguez has his first little/big film here that is by no means big money wise. The book written by Rodriguez, Rebel Without a Crew, illustrates this point very well, but to see the film in its present form you might wonder if it really cost more than he says. But it's this same grit that adds to its rough charm, like a slightly more cartoonish, crazy and action-packed film in the vein of Night of the Living Dead (shoe-string done with a level of truth for what the genre material needs). The budget for this film was 7000. That is the cheapest price for a film given wide release I've still heard of, and probably is. And watching this film I noticed that a lot the big hundreds of millions of dollars spent on other films, while usually bankrolled with high-powered Hollywood casts and immense crews working on special effects, they lost an intensity that this film has even in its brief quiet scenes. Plus, as in the rest of the Mariachi films, it's often got a slick, quick sense of humor where Rodriguez's compositions say almost all there needs to be said. The story shows a singing musician (El Mariachi) who is not looking for trouble, but everyone is wanting to kill a man carrying a guitar case, which he has. It's a nifty little classic of exploitation/action that was meant for video markets but doesn't compromise. It's even got OK acting.

Bad haircuts. Bad acting. GREAT movie!

[gigodagno · 7/10 · 21 October 2003]

This is a flawed movie. The actors are, for the most part, mediocre. Even worse is their hair. But some elements make this a very fun film to watch. A guitar case full of guns, an evil gringo, a "modern mariachi" who plays the keyboard, some hilarious fast forward scenes, and the ugliest motorcycle ever made. Also at the beginning there is one great voice over, when El Mariachi is walking on the road along with a turtle. Dramatic scenes like this are mixed with humorous ones (some intended to be funny, some not), and that makes the film interesting.

If you know a bit of spanish, you'll appreciate the fact that the characters speak very slowly, which allows you to watch the film without subtitles. Also, I recommend watching Desperado right after El Mariachi, you'll understand the mythology of it and enjoy it more.

Dynamic debut...

[poe426 · 10/10 · 2 February 2005]

Jaded, perhaps, by years of toiling in the Public Access field (and having sat through scores of first, foundering efforts by scores of foundering aspiring filmmakers), I was taken completely by surprise by the remarkable Robert Rodriguez's first film. As sure and as "polished" as any feature, EL MARIACHI belies its no-budget roots and stands as a testament to determination- and talent. If you're one of those whose attention span precludes sitting down and actually reading Rodriguez's book REBEL WITHOUT A CREW, I recommend obtaining a DVD featuring his "ten-minute film school." And pay very close attention: There'll be a quiz afterward.

Great movie, with bad acting.

[Syd-4 · 7/10 · 17 March 1999]

Here the proof. This is not obligatory to have a lot of money to make a good movie. Sure with money we can buy good actors, but not a good script with a good story. The only things missing in this movie is good acting and good cameraman.

Before making bad movie like "from dusk till dawn 2 : Texas blood money", Quentin Tarantino and Roger Rodrigez could make a remake of "El Mariachi".

loved it

[laduerfahrd · 9/10 · 23 January 2018]

Loved it. He started well. What happened? Does anyone have a hunch about why evertyhing went "down hill" after El Mariachi? The more money he got later on, the less edge his films had.

Love it

[thejobpicture · 6/10 · 21 June 2017]

I like it. Good example of independent filmmaking. And Rodriguez is one of my favourites. Definitely worth a watch. I watched it many times now and still keeps inspiring me. Story is good and it's well shot by a single man. Would recommend to anyone trying to break in into the industry. Such a nice archivement.

Don't be Fooled by the Marketing!!

[gmalcangi · 1/10 · 1 October 2012]

So many of the reviewers of this listing have based their reviews on the amazing feat by Rodriguez in creating a film for $7,000.

The fact of the matter is that this budget figure is little more than marketing hype, promoted by Rodriguez himself in his book "Rebel without a Crew". This book has sold significant numbers to indie film makers over the years, looking to make successful films on a shoestring and has also dramatically enhanced the reputation of Rodriguez.

The truth is that Rodriguez did indeed make this film for $7,000 but the final version the public got to see, the version reviewers of this IMDb listing have seen, needed a further $300,000 spent on it to bring it up to technical and commercial standards/expectations.

Even for an estimated total budget of around $325,000 this is still a decent little film, demonstrating film making talent on a limited budget and it's certainly worth a viewing but don't judge it on the basis that it cost $7,000 to make!