Santo: A Noir drama which fits into the slipstream of horror. Two detectives are pursuing Santo. A drug lord named Santo, no one knows what he looks like. He is behind occult style killings in both Brazil and Spain (as well as drug trafficking). The Brazilian cop, Cardona, manages to infiltrate Samto's organisation but is discovered. His subsequent escape to Spain with Santo's former mistress, Barbara, brings him into contact with Spanish detective Millán. Both cops are dealing with their own demons even before they are drawn into the crazed world of Santo. Extremely disturbing themes like child sacrifice dominate from the outset, some scenes of the rituals of Santo's religion remind me of the Turkish horror film Baskin. The cop on gangster on gangster on cop violence is gory and shocking. Machetes are used as often as guns. It's a compex tale with many (non-linear) flashbacks to varying timelines, the story is all there and is revealed as the narrative unfolds but you will have to pay close attention. Santo with the hold he has over his followers and even those who escape him seems more demonic than human. Created/Co=Written by Carlos López, Directed by Vicente Amorim. Six episodes on Netflix. 8/10.
