Perdita Durango (1997)

Savage. I found Perdita Durango (1997) on Tubi, and I debated for the longest time whether to watch it or not. I am so, so glad that I decided to watch it after all. What a gem of a film! Honestly, this film is a cult classic. I put it right next to Fight Club (1999). We meet Perdita Durango (Rosie Perez) at a corner bar. Romeo just happens to end up at the same place. They hook up, and all Hell breaks loose! Long-story short, they kidnap a white American teenage couple. Of course, it does not end good for them.

One of the most interesting aspects of this film is the way femininity shines through. It’s savage, primal, and animalistic. And, it demands respects. If it’s not given, it’s affirmed the old-fashioned way: through physical violence. At one point, Perdita beats Romeo up in the desert, and it’s glorious. She establishes a hierarchy through sexuality, re-affirms it through physical violence, and uses whatever method (guns) to defend it. Perdita is undoubtedly caught in a sadomasochistic dynamic with Romeo, and they drag the two kidnapped teenagers into it.

Apparently, it was adapted from a novel: Barry Gifford’s 1992 novel 59° and Raining: The Story of Perdita Durango according to the Wikipedia page. I’d have to read the book at some point to tell how accurate is the translation from novel to film. Also, Javier Bardem plays Romeo, but these were the acting days when he was credited as Carlos Bardem. Anyway, I don’t want to continue revealing other details of the film plot. Suffice to say, I highly recommend it. It all just had to end in Las Vegas!

Work Cited

Perdita Durango (1997). Directed by Alex de la Iglesia. Kadokawa Herald Pictures, 1997.