--- title: "Cartel Land: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/cartel-land/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/cartel-land" critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 17 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Cartel Land (2015): what the critics said Critics' score 76 from 17 reviews: 15 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2015. The critic calls it a tremendously cinematic and urgent documentary that exposes the hellish cycle of violence, corruption, and blurred lines between vigilantes and cartels in Mexico and on the US border. Heineman is praised for his intimate, first-hand access to subjects like Dr Mireles and the resulting compelling, gut-level portrayal of a complex human tragedy. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/sep/06/cartel-land-review-alarming-account-mexican-drug-vigilantes) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 9 September 2015. The review describes the Oscar-tipped documentary as a blast for its intimate charting of the drug cartels and vigilante groups, praising the director's great ear and eye for details in a weirdly beautiful film. It singles out the witty, passionate, charismatic figure of Dr José Mireles and the timely message about the problems caused by wielding guns. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/cartel-land-film-review-up-close-and-personal-in-the-war-on-drugs-a2927211.html) ## Empire — Patrick Peters Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 September 2015. The review calls the documentary unflinching and compelling, blaming governmental failure for the rise of vigilante groups fighting Mexican drug cartels on both sides of the border. It singles out the bleak, unsparing journey across the border that confronts viewers with fast-blurring morality. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/cartel-land-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Duane Byrge Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 February 2015. Festival review. The critic calls the verite documentary spellbinding and a frontline look at the murderous Mexican drug cartels, praising the filmmaker's courage in capturing shoot-outs and meth labs. It highlights the sobering portrayal of vigilante groups protecting borders where authorities have failed. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/cartel-land-film-review-775956/) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 4/5. 1 September 2015. The critic finds the doc tragic and captivating, praising Heineman's riveting access and story of power corrupting, though noting the American subplot feels bolted on. Singles out the unprecedented scenes and timely construction. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/cartel-land) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 July 2015. The review deems it one of the year’s most important documentaries, noting the compelling footage especially from Mexico's Autodefensas while questioning the director's attitude toward vigilantism and the film's balance between the two sides. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2015/07/movie-review-cartel-land.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 9 July 2015. Cartel Land is one of the most involving documentaries on the subject thanks to its access and what it shows of the vigilantes on both sides of the border. The narrative grows complex as events on the ground unfold in unexpected ways. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-cartel-land-review-20150710-column.html) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 January 2015. Festival review. The review describes it as a doc-report on vigilantes on both sides of the border, praising the tactile energy, deft editing, and insight into the human toll, while noting it may stay festival-bound due to Spanish dialogue. Singles out the explosive Mexican side and the reminder that guns alone don't win wars. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/cartel-land/5082171.article) ## Variety — Ben Kenigsberg Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2015. Festival review. Startling access yields strong if not consistent results in this parallel portrait of vigilantes; the best moments come from the action-packed scenes south of the border. Some hackneyed presentational elements are beneath the material. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/sundance-film-review-cartel-land-1201420806/) ## Slant Magazine — Christopher Gray Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2015. The critic describes it as a stunning work of war reportage that reveals the chaos of Mexico’s drug war but finds it unfocused and out of balance as a character study, with diminishing returns on the Arizona side. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/cartel-land/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 2 July 2015. The director has a terrific eye and guts, delivering striking run-and-gun footage from dangerous situations. The film immerses viewers in the vigilante groups but moves so quickly that it leaves little space to grapple with the complex ethical issues it raises. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/03/movies/review-in-cartel-land-documentary-vigilantes-wage-drug-wars.html) ## Collider — Adam Chitwood Rating A. 28 January 2015. Festival review. The review praises the film's profound and stunning portrayal of vigilante groups fighting cartels on both sides of the border. It highlights the director's on-the-ground approach that captures tense conflicts and the inevitable cycle of corruption and violence. [Read the review](https://collider.com/cartel-land-review/) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating A-. 24 January 2015. Festival review. Calls it a vibrant, electrifying work with stunning visuals and remarkable access, providing a humanizing look at a difficult issue without easy answers. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/sundance-review-vibrant-electrifying-narco-wars-documentary-cartel-land-20150124/) ## Consequence Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 July 2015. The review describes the documentary as gritty and gripping with real stakes, highlighting its embedded footage of vigilante actions against cartels and the consequences of vigilantism. It notes the Hollywood sheen and powerful narrative that brings the cycle of violence full circle. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2015/07/film-review-cartel-land/) ## Eye for Film — Owen Van Spall Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 June 2015. Praises it as a visceral, immersive documentary that blurs lines with fiction, highlighting the striking visuals and embedded access, but notes it lacks deep analysis or solutions. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/cartel-land-2015-film-review-by-owen-van-spall) ## HeyUGuys — Liam Macleod Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2015. The critic finds it a compelling but not fun watch, praising the courageous filmmaking and real-life characters while noting the US sequences feel weaker than the Mexican ones. It highlights the cyclical nature of the drug wars. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/cartel-land-review/) ## Paste — Nick Schager Rating 8.5. 30 June 2015. The review calls the film a complex, harrowing documentary about the grip of drug gangs and the difficulties of grassroots revolutionary movements. It singles out the urgency, outrage, and adrenalized war-film energy while noting the weaker American-side sequences as a minor flaw. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/cartel-land) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/cartel-land.md