Review: PERRO GUARDIAN, A Gritty Character Study Based On Reality

The titular Perro (Carlos Alcántara) is a former soldier turned hitman, living on the fringes of society and carrying out jobs for shadowy higher-ups. The year is 2001, when the government passed a bill granting amnesty to military personnel accused of human rights violations during the inner war with the Shining Path terrorist movement. While waiting for the bill to be approved, Perro lives in the shadows, separated from his family.

His latest job brings him into contact with a religious group led by a charismatic preacher (played by veteran actor Reynaldo Arenas, whose commanding voice is perfect for delivering fire-and-brimstone sermons). As he bonds with a troubled young woman (Mayra Goñi), Perro discovers his spiritual side, which leads him to darker places.

The relationship between a killer and a young girl is straight out of Luc Besson's Leon, but this doesn't work out as one would expect, since Perro is not a particularly nice person (and that's putting it mildly), nor is he searching for redemption. One look into his eyes reveals a man who's forever haunted by the atrocities he was forced to witness and commit during his time in the army, an experience which has left him traumatized and unable to connect with anyone. Once he finds religion, Perro becomes something else, far more dangerous than he ever was. This is not an outright criticism of religious fanaticism, but it's not a celebration of faith, either. 

Known mostly as a comedic actor, Carlos Alcántara completely buries the charm and charisma which has made him so beloved by audiences, committing fully to an intense role. Perro is a closed-off individual that barely speaks, his inner turmoil spelt out through his actions. He's a hard person to read, and at times, trying to figure out what's going through his mind ias a frustrating exercise, but it's an effective performance from an actor who succeeds at renewing his image. The rest of the cast is solid, but this is Alcántara's show, front and center in every scene.

Lima is as much a character as everyone else. Here, it's a dark, somber place, a violent environment where everyone keeps secrets, Perro Guardián is ambiguous and deliberately paced, which might throw some people off, but it's easily one of the most interesting Peruvian films of the year. Caravedo and Higashionna have taken real life incidents (the existence of government sanctioned paramilitary groups) and fashioned a compelling portrait of a man slowly losing his humanity.