No Country for Old Men’s Anton Chigurh was the scariest thing to come out of Latin America since Argentinian inflation. So it’s taken a surprisingly long time to see a direct imitator: the dark-clad avenger El Corvo, played here by Marko Zaror. Not only does he have the gauche coiffuring (bald on top this time), but also the philosophical penchant, asking imminent victims if they’ve given themselves a present recently. If the Cormac McCarthy rip-off wasn’t enough, Ernesto Díaz Espinoza’s ponderous thriller also gives El Corvo a couple of scenes lifted from The Terminator, and the villain from Enter the Dragon’s blade-hand for good measure.
Diablo isn’t all cliches though: martial arts multitool Scott Adkins has a potentially interesting role inverting the usual over-the-border revenge mission. He plays former bank robber Kris, who’s been charged with entering Colombia and kidnapping Elisa (Alanna De La Rossa), the daughter of drug baron Vicente (Lucho Velasco). Making good on a promise to her dead mother to extract her from the kingpin’s clutches, he bundles her into a car boot – and soon he not only has Vicente and assorted ne’er-do-wells on his six, but El Corvo too, hoping to cut in on the bounty.
