Bastards y Diablos

Perez and Porter pooled whatever resources were easily available to them. Family members played a huge role in standing in for the brothers' numerous relatives and friends (plus, local actors with no acting experience) and preparing locations for the shoot. Some characters portrayed themselves, such as Brunhilde Otto (cast as the grown-up version of Gabriel's lover, Bruni). In real life, she actually was Perez's late father's girlfriend and Perez, indeed, delivered the tragic news of his father's passing to her personally. For the scene in question, she re-enacted the emotional moment.

Perez and Porter pooled whatever resources were easily available to them. Family members played a huge role in standing in for the brothers' numerous relatives and friends (plus, local actors with no acting experience) and preparing locations for the shoot. Some characters portrayed themselves, such as Brunhilde Otto (cast as the grown-up version of Gabriel's lover, Bruni). In real life, she actually was Perez's late father's girlfriend and Perez, indeed, delivered the tragic news of his father's passing to her personally. For the scene in question, she re-enacted the emotional moment.

Director A.D. Freese and Perez (friends from Casa Grande High School) turned to the work of independent filmmaker [[John Cassavetes]] as a "mood board" for the documentary-style filming techniques.Miller, Clark (6 March 2017). [https://www.petaluma360.com/article/entertainment/local-actor-making-mark-in-l-a/ "Local actor making mark in L.A."]. ''Petaluma Argus-Courier''. Retrieved 9 April 2025.

Director A.D. Freese and Perez (friends from [[Casa Grande High School]]) turned to the work of independent filmmaker [[John Cassavetes]] as a "mood board" for the documentary-style filming techniques.Miller, Clark (6 March 2017). [https://www.petaluma360.com/article/entertainment/local-actor-making-mark-in-l-a/ "Local actor making mark in L.A."]. ''Petaluma Argus-Courier''. Retrieved 9 April 2025.

== Release ==

== Release ==

Felipe Rocha of ''The Bogotá Post'' shared mixed sentiments, rating the film two stars out of five. In his review, Rocha said the cinematography by Peter Grigsy "beautifully captures the colourful and vibrant landscape of the Caribbean region." He added that Grigsby had "impressive shots of the salt cathedral of [[Zipaquirá]]" as well. On the negative side, he declared that the story had very little to offer. Of young Gabriel's character, he stated, unamusingly: "[He is] a spoiled brat who spends his days drinking and mistreating women. Bad news is that his two sons turned out exactly like him." He stressed that all the women characters were written as "props in a selfish journey," and "the foulest thing about ''Bastards y Diablos'', is the treatment of the women." He commented further, believing the most interesting character was Jairo, the mentally ill cousin, concluding that the film "is basically a frat boy road trip disguised as a profound drama," pointing out: "[N]o matter how much piano music or violin strings the director decides to use, the movie is still distasteful."Rocha, Felipe (19 October 2018). [https://thebogotapost.com/film-review-bastards-y-diablos/32771/ "Film review: Bastards y Diablos"]. ''The Bogotá Post''. Retrieved 8 April 2025.

Felipe Rocha of ''The Bogotá Post'' shared mixed sentiments, rating the film two stars out of five. In his review, Rocha said the cinematography by Peter Grigsy "beautifully captures the colourful and vibrant landscape of the Caribbean region." He added that Grigsby had "impressive shots of the salt cathedral of [[Zipaquirá]]" as well. On the negative side, he declared that the story had very little to offer. Of young Gabriel's character, he stated, unamusingly: "[He is] a spoiled brat who spends his days drinking and mistreating women. Bad news is that his two sons turned out exactly like him." He stressed that all the women characters were written as "props in a selfish journey," and "the foulest thing about ''Bastards y Diablos'', is the treatment of the women." He commented further, believing the most interesting character was Jairo, the mentally ill cousin, concluding that the film "is basically a frat boy road trip disguised as a profound drama," pointing out: "[N]o matter how much piano music or violin strings the director decides to use, the movie is still distasteful."Rocha, Felipe (19 October 2018). [https://thebogotapost.com/film-review-bastards-y-diablos/32771/ "Film review: Bastards y Diablos"]. ''The Bogotá Post''. Retrieved 8 April 2025.

Brian Gibson writing for ''Film Threat'' gave a positive review. He said when the brothers travel across their father's homeland carrying his ashes: "What follows evolves into a buddy road movie that shows the heart of a nation, the beauty of a culture you may not know, and the story of two strangers becoming brothers and friends." He added that due to the filmmakers' insistence on casting family members and un-trained locals to flesh out the setting, the actors gave "raw, naturalistic performances that are very compelling."

Brian Gibson writing for ''Film Threat'' gave a positive review. He said when the brothers travel across their father's homeland carrying his ashes: "What follows evolves into a buddy [[road movie]] that shows the heart of a nation, the beauty of a culture you may not know, and the story of two strangers becoming brothers and friends." He added that due to the filmmakers' insistence on casting family members and un-trained locals to flesh out the setting, the actors gave "raw, naturalistic performances that are very compelling."

Bob Strauss of ''Los Angeles Daily News'' critiqued positively: "[The film] bears the ring of spontaneous, specific experience, much like another notable [[Los Angeles Film Festival]] entry, ''French Dirty'', does. Particularly engaging is a geopolitical rant by an emotionally unbalanced Bogotá cousin, but there are many moments almost as good." However, his main criticism was that Blanc's voiceover of the father's spirit "can get too poetic sentimentalist."Strauss, Bob (28 August 2017). [https://www.dailynews.com/2015/06/15/la-film-festival-review-bastards-y-diablos-a-fun-brotherly-journey/ "LA Film Festival Review: 'Bastards y Diablos' a fun brotherly journey"]. ''Los Angeles Daily News''. Retrieved 9 April 2025.

Bob Strauss of ''Los Angeles Daily News'' critiqued positively: "[The film] bears the ring of spontaneous, specific experience, much like another notable [[Los Angeles Film Festival]] entry, ''French Dirty'', does. Particularly engaging is a geopolitical rant by an emotionally unbalanced Bogotá cousin, but there are many moments almost as good." However, his main criticism was that Blanc's voiceover of the father's spirit "can get too poetic sentimentalist."Strauss, Bob (28 August 2017). [https://www.dailynews.com/2015/06/15/la-film-festival-review-bastards-y-diablos-a-fun-brotherly-journey/ "LA Film Festival Review: 'Bastards y Diablos' a fun brotherly journey"]. ''Los Angeles Daily News''. Retrieved 9 April 2025.