“Too long”. That’s how long it always feels it’s been whenever a new Scott Adkins-Marko Zaror action movie team-up is on the horizon, and their latest, Ernesto Diaz Espinoza’s “Diablo”, makes up for that time gap and then some with a gripping on the move tale and martial arts action galore. The title “Diablo” itself also seems to be a subtle nod to the villainous potency of Marko Zaror’s antagonist, one of his most sinister and horror movie-worthy yet with a parallel vendetta to the movie’s hero and a bladed, iron clad strength all his own.
Trailer
Cast
Scott Adkins takes on the role of the movie’s lead protagonist Kris Chaney, with Marko Zaror portraying the ruthless one-handed assassin El Corvo. Alanna De La Rossa also appears in the role of Elisa, a teenage girl with a connection to Kris, with Lucho Velasco playing her crime boss father Vicente, while Diana Hoyos also appears in the role of Alex.
Plot
Elisa lives a pampered, idyllic life that would be the envy of any other teenager under the wealth and protection of her Colombian crime boss father Vicente. However, Elisa finds her world turned upside down when she is abducted by a man named Kris. Recently freed from a 15-year prison sentence, Kris claims to be an old associate of Vicente’s, the duo having non-violently robbed banks with Elisa’s mother Elenor until Vicente ordered her killing when she tried to take Elisa and flee her life with Vicenta, and had Kris railroaded into prison. Making good on his promise to Elenor get Elisa away from Vicente (along with sharing another connection with her), Kris tries to get the disbelieving Elisa out of the country as the two are pursued by Vicente’s henchmen, along with another determined individual known as El Corvo, an assassin with a metal hand, a steel hook concealed underneath it, and his own score to settle with Vicente.
Action
“Diablo” Keeps Everything Moving Fast
Every action movie needs to bring a sense of urgency and immediacy for the stakes of its conflict, and “Diablo” has both in spades from its opening moments of Kris putting the hurt on a group of henchmen and getting to Elisa as swiftly as possible. Of course, honorable or not, Kris’ actions still fall into the classification of kidnapping, which “Diablo” never loses sight of with Elisa putting up a very aggressive fight against her abduction and Kris having to go out of his way to prove he’s noble intentions to her. The scenes of Kris and Elisa alternately bonding or arguing don’t try to put a new spin on road trip movies, but they get the job done as Kris opens up more and more to Elisa about his dark past and that of Vicente, and how both tie them into Elisa’s life. With its fast-paced story and economical run time, “Diablo” keeps the action as speedy and impactful as any Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror fan could hope for, and its testimony to the talents and rising profile of the man behind the camera.
Ernesto Diaz Espinoza Remains A Master Of Action
Most Western martial arts and action aficionados know director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza best through his multiple collaborations with Marko Zaror, as seen in such Chilean hits as “Kiltro”, “Mirageman”, “Redeemer”, and “Fist of the Condor”. That quartet of martial arts bonanzas have long since cemented Espinoza as Latin America’s answer to Isaac Florentine or Jesse V. Johnson, and with “Diablo”, his talent as an action filmmaker has never been packaged with such skill and confidence. Even working within the framework of the low budget DTV action world’s sandbox, Espinoza doesn’t just deliver outstanding fight scenes and stunts, but also showcases how much he’s evolved as an action filmmaker with his most on-the-fly story yet. Under Espinoza’s direction, “Diablo” also gives action lovers exactly what they came for and then some for its two leading men.
“Diablo” Has Some Of The Best Adkins vs. Zaror Fight Scenes Yet!
Since the 2010 instant classic that was “Undisputed 3: Redemption”, martial arts fans have looked forward to every Scott Adkins-Marko Zaror double header with the anticipation of a Bruce Lee-Chuck Norris Colosseum re-match. “Diablo” knows that from the outset and serves up some of the best Adkins-Zaror combat to date, heightened greatly by El Corvo being arguably the most sadistic Marko Zaror antagonist yet (Dolor from “Undisputed 3” admittedly still holds the title of the most lovable to hate).
Armed with a cast-iron fist on his left hand, which detaches to unleash a deadly hooked blade underneath, El Corvo enters the story of “Diablo” a secondary villain whose motivations become both clearer and darker as the story moves ahead. In turn, that makes his action scenes a twister of Zaror-style spinning kicks and agility, and those of him exuding sinister glee while putting his enemies under his thumb both spine-tingling and torturously ruthless for his enemies and the audience simultaneously. He may carry the gimmick of being both Han from “Enter the Dragon” and Captain Hook with his particular weapon of choice, but El Corvo brings the devious mind of the Joker or Art the Clown to his methods and specific vendetta of his own.
The Final Showdown Of “Diablo” Is A Nail-Biting Knockout!
When it comes to the finale of “Diablo”, another Scott Adkins-Marko Zaror showdown is an obvious must, and both stars bring “Undisputed 3” levels of commitment, speed, and power to one of the best final fights either have delivered in the last several years. Naturally, El Corvo’s metal hand and iron hook add some heightened danger to the combat, along with El Corvo creating a particularly shredding race-against-the-clock scenario for Kris and Vicente to rescue Elisa. Espinoza’s use of sweeping drone shots and long takes really allows the action to flow and be captured beautifully, and while the movie’s final twist is a bit on the hard-to-believe side, the second meeting of rivals it teases in a possible “Diablo 2” is plenty of recompense for the necessary suspension of disbelief. 15 years after their first meeting in the ring, Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror can truly still push the envelope of final showdowns like few in the business can.
Summary
Before “Diablo”, the leading man-director pairing of Marko Zaror and Ernesto Diaz Espinoza was a martial arts movie home run. With “Diablo” and adding Scott Adkins into the equation, it’s a home run of the sort that breaks the bat into a million pieces. Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror deliver some of their best match-ups yet in a fast-paced cat-and-mouse story that Espinoza keeps taut and powerful, with Marko also bringing his ruthless best to one of his most exceptionally chilling villain performances. Title notwithstanding, “Diablo” is most assuredly not the work of the devil, but of a trio of martial arts movie kings with a truly supernatural talent for crafting blazing, exhilarating action.
Favourite Quotes
- “You must learn to give yourself a gift, once a week. Life is shorter than you think.” – El Corvo, speaking to a waitress.
- “Tell him the safety’s on.” – Kris, to Elisa when the two are confronted but Vicente’s henchmen.
Trivia
- “Diablo” was filmed in Bogota, Colombia between February 13th and March 9th, 2024.
- “Diablo” is Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror’s fourth movie together, following “Undisputed 3: Redemption”, “Savage Dog”, and “John Wick: Chapter 4”.
- Marko Zaror also served as the movie’s fight choreographer.
