There Are No Saints is a 2022 American crime thriller about a former hitman who has to save his kidnapped son from a cartel boss.
Directed by Alfonso Pineda Ulloa (Dos Más Dos; Tales of Mexico; Demon Inside; Restos; Love, Pain and Vice Versa) from a screenplay by Paul Schrader (The Card Counter; Cat People; Raging Bull; Taxi Driver). Produced by Santiago Garcia Galvan, Alex Garcia and Jose Martinez Jr.
The movie stars Jose Maria Yazpik, Ron Pearlman, Neal McDonough, Brian Cox, Tim Roth, Tommy Flanagan, Paz Vega and Karla Souza.
Plot:
Looking to start a new life, a former hitman nicknamed “The Jesuit” (Jose Maria Yazpik) is still unable to escape the sins of his past. With enemies on both sides of the law, he has nowhere to turn when his only son is kidnapped by a ruthless cartel boss (Ron Perlman). However, he’ll stop at nothing to save his boy…
Reviews:
“The feature doesn’t want to be generic, but it can’t fight fate, with director Alfonso Pineda Ulloa basically making an episode of a bad television show here, trapped by weak writing and vague characterization. There Are No Saints tries to be ruthless, butching up with salty language and rough treatment of women and children, but as a Taken-esque ride of violent interactions, it falls woefully short of VOD cinema standards…” Blu-ray.com
“There are moments when some of the action clicks (a fight inside a car), but this is an unpleasant film that’s far too evil to be taken as entertaining schlock, abandons examining its protagonist, and it is derivative […] And you know what, there are no saints because the movie didn’t sit on the shelf forever. It’s a stain on Paul Schrader’s mostly impressive recent work.” Flickering Myth
“Like the Jesuit, this film isn’t pretty, but it gets the job done. Schrader probably intended to have the religious themes and motifs more in the foreground, but at least you can’t accuse Ulloa of excessive pretention. Recommended for fans of payback exploitation…” J.B. Spins
Release:
In the US, There Are No Saints will be released theatrically in select locations and On-Demand (VOD) by Saban Films on May 27, 2022.
Working title:
The Jesuit
Notes:
The film was completed in 2013 but inexplicably sat on the shelf until 2022.
Trailer:
