May God Save Us (2016) User Reviews

Excellent and violent thriller with awesome performances from Antonio De La Torre and Roberto Álamo

[ma-cortes · 8/10 · 18 November 2016]

May God Save Us (Que Dios Nos Perdone) dealing with two men who cannot control their lives , it is set in Madrid , summer 2011 . Economic crisis . 15-m movement and 1.5 million pilgrims waiting for the Pope's arrival live side by side in a Madrid that's hotter and more chaotic than ever . In this context , is when two Police Inspectors with an institutionalized dereliction of duty , the stuttering Luis Velarde (Antonio De La Torre) and the violent Alfaro (Roberto Álamo) must find what appears to be a serial killer and meanwhile , they pull off extreme actions . This hunt against the clock will make them realize something they'd never thought about : none of them is more different than the murderer . The two detectives pursue relentlessly the ruthless murderous and at whatever cost . Both of whom carry out a merciless chase which unspools in a hot Madrid overrun by the pilgrims because of a visit by the pope , Juan Pablo II , including unexpected outbursts in which take place ominous murders , treason , violence and vengeance .

This is a grimy as well as moving -though downbeat- thriller in American style , here there are violent scenes , intrigue , frantic action , interesting characters and a lot of surprising twists and turns . The violence could be deemed excessive , especially when it occurs some grisly killings . Rodrigo Sorogoyen's "May God Save Us" , turns out to be to be a great thriller ; resulting in a stirring serial-killer procedural . This melancholic movie is multi-layered in its issues of friendship , violence , confrontation , relentless pursuit and twisted finale . Acting , settings , photography , soundtrack and glossy production values create an above average film , being filled with suspense , frenetic action , thrills , violence , extreme tension and plot twists . One backer , the great production company : Tornasol Films , won an Academy Award for "The Secret in Their Eyes" , while another , Antena Tres media Cinema Production , financed movies made by prestigious directors . Nice and evocative production design , as we see some central zones from Madrid , downtown , Puerta Del Sol , Gran Via , but also its poorness and misery , and some others fine locations . High profile cast with splendid duo protagonist : Antonio De La Torre and Roberto Álamo are frankly top-notch , both of them give two unforgettable and top-drawer interpretations . Support cast is pretty well , such as : Luis Zahera , Mónica López , Andrés Gertrúdix , Alfonso Bassave and José Luis Garcia Pérez . Special mention for Javier Pereira who plays splendidly a surprising role . It packs colorful , sunny and atmospheric cinematography by Álex de Pablo . Thrilling and exciting musical score by Olivier Arson . Álex De Pablo and Olivier Arson are expert craftsmen and Rodrigo Sorogoyen's regulars.

This grueling film ¨Que Dios Nos Perdone¨ ("May God Save Us") was stunningly directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen , adding a big step up in scale , budget and producing team to his previous works . ¨Que Dios Nos Perdone¨ making an appearance at the San Sebastian Film Festival , set to premiere in competition and achieving various awards . As prizes for homegrown talent , as screenwriter Isabel Peña and Rodrigo Sorogoyen won the Jury Prize for Best Screenplay for this tense Spanish film and subsequently it won some Goya Awards . Rodrigo is a television veteran with literally hundreds of episodes worth of work to his credit , Sorogoyen is a relatively recent newcomer to the world of features with ¨May God Save Us standing¨ as just his third feature effort and with this great production it would appear he's navigating the transition just fine . Being his first picture the romantic comedy ¨8 Citas¨, or international title ¨8 dates¨ . This his third feature ¨Que Dios Nos Perdone¨ (May God Save Us) , following 2013's Goya-nominated "Stockholm" that also starred Javier Pereira in which Sorogoyen turned heads with his crowdfunded film about a one-night stand between a girl on the edge of a nervous breakdown and a guy who just wants to have sex and leave . Similarly to his previous film "Stockholm" , in Rodrigo Sorogoyen's "May God Save Us" , there is an study of male psychology . ¨Que Dios Nos Perdone¨ rating : 7,5/10 . Better than average . Essential and indispensable watching . Worthwhile seeing .

Pleasant surprise

[yonyx · 8/10 · 30 November 2016]

This is one of those movies that surprise you. One of the highlights of the movie is Roberto Álamo's interpretation, who is able to express a lot of emotion with the help of his body language. A body language very violent but that manage to empathize easily with the audience. About Antonio de Torre I was expecting a little bit more because of his previous work, with some memorable and amazing characters.

The case we see the film (a real one, i think) and the place and time of the context of 15M (anti-austerity movement in Spain) is a plus for the movie. The script has some great dialogues and the story is very solid. I enjoyed the touch of humor that is implicit in the whole movie which helps to smooth the sordid police case. In conclusion, I went to the theater with no expectation about this movie and came out with a smile on my face, waiting with excitement for Rodrigo Sorogoyen future work.

Spanish serial killer hunt

[deloudelouvain · 7/10 · 24 August 2017]

Another quality movie from Spain. It's not often I watch Spanish movies but it seems every time I do it's a good one. Same with Que Dios Nos Perdone. In it's own style it is a good movie about a sadistic serial killer. The hunt for the killer takes you on a ride full of suspense with some excellent acting from the whole cast. Antonio de la Torre as the stuttering inspector Velardes is definitely worth watching. Excellent job from Antonio de la Torre. The movie contains some graphic images from violent scenes, what makes the intensity of the movie even better. The guessing on who is the murderer will keep you interested for almost the entire movie and that's a good thing. Revealing the identity of a murderer too soon is most of the time not a good idea in this kind of movies and here the timing was perfect. Definitely worth a watch.

A sort of Spanish Se7en

[searchanddestroy-1 · 12 August 2017]

I am surprised that no one yet has compared this dark, bleak and totally hopeless crime movie, and not thriller, with the David Fincher's masterpiece. Nearly same scheme, where two cops, very moving characters, stop at nothing to nail a serial killer specialized in old women rape and brutal murders. Useless to say that this movie is definitely not for sissies, and you have here a real, true, awesome masterpiece, a billion miles away from Hollywood craps, and not purely American...The ending reminded me a French crime flick from 1975 called L'ALPAGUEUR. I won't describe further, for those who know the Philippe Labro's feature. The trailer of this film can mistake you; it suggests a thriller, with a sort of climax involving the Pope visit in Madrid. I repeat, that is NOT a thriller, but an authentic film noir, depressing at the most. I highly recommend it.

very fine construction of the story

[happytrigger-64-390517 · 7/10 · 10 August 2017]

Another great Spanish thriller, the casting is outstanding. Antonio de la Torre and Roberto Alamo as the weak and the strong cops, both very borderline. And I love the construction of the story, getting deeper and deeper in despair until the end. It isn't an action movie, rather a study of two special cops working on a very special case. Gripping.

Uneasy

[baunacholi-86159 · 7/10 · 4 January 2021]

A very dark & uneasy story with a real feel for policy work and human - including vulnerability. Throughout unadorned and raw. I did not see a reminiscence to other Hollywood productions handling similar topics as mentioned by others. Instead a modern noir crime with all ingredients a good Thriller needs. Interesting story, suspense, authentic characters.

Interesting plot...

[Thanos_Alfie · 7/10 · 11 November 2021]

"Que Dios nos perdone" is a Thriller - Drama movie in which we watch two inspectors trying to solve the mystery behind some murders and figure out who is the serial killer behind them. They have to find the serial killer as soon as possible in order to prevent the occurrence of more murders.

I liked this movie very much because it had a nice and interesting plot filled with tension and plenty of mystery, something that made it even more interesting. The direction which was made by Rodrigo Sorogoyen was very good and he did an amazing job on the way he presented his main characters and the plot of the movie. The interpretations of both Antonio de la Torre who played as Velarde and Roberto Álamo who played as Alfaro were very good and their combination worked very well. In addition to this, the differences of their characters along with their different perspective on many matters created a nice bond between them, that was obvious through the whole duration of the movie. Finally, I have to say that "Que Dios nos perdone" is a nice mystery movie and I highly recommend everyone to watch it because I am sure that will leave you speechless.

crimes and punishments

[dromasca · 8/10 · 17 July 2022]

'Que Dios nos perdone' (distributed in the English-language market with the title 'May God Save Us'), the 2016 film by Spanish director Rodrigo Sorogoyen surprised me, and probably a similar reaction was felt by many who know cinema Spanish especially from the films of famous directors like Almodovar or before him Bunuel, and less through the works of those who do not enjoy the same international fame. However, a national cinema school must also be judged by the 'ordinary' films, those that attract the public and enjoy local success, but sometimes have less chance with distribution outside the country. This is probably the case with 'Que Dios nos perdone', an excellent psychological thriller and film inspired by the life and characters of police officers, which rises to the level of the best films of this genre produced by American or French cinema.

Velarde and Alfaro, two inspectors from the Madrid police criminal brigade, are the first to identify the link between two cases that represented the beginning of a chain of crimes committed by a serial murderer and rapist who chooses elderly women as victims. The two are good professionals and dedicated police officers, and in a short time they manage to establish a psychological portrait of the murderer that gradually brings them closer to his discovery. However, the cases happen during the period when the Spanish police (and probably politicians) are busy with an official visit of the pope and have an interest in avoiding negative publicity. Encouraged by the apparent lack of echo of his crimes, the killer continues the series of murders. Police officers are not angels either, their private lives face difficult problems. One of them has violent outbursts that probably origin is in family life (his wife leaves him for a lover, his daughter goes through the rebellions of adolescence). The other policeman carries with him the childhood traumas that caused a chronic stutter, and hence the impossibility of starting a family or even maintaining long-term relationships with the women he meets. From a moment on, the spectators will also know who the murderer is, and his confrontation with the two policemen will become more and more personal. In the absence of institutional and psychological support, the two police officers are forced to resort to unconventional methods. Can justice be done within the legal system, do the policemen still have moral or legal authority when the conflict with the criminals becomes too personal?

Starting from a detective intrigue filled with forensic elements and psychological profiling like those that abound in television series, 'Que Dios nos perdone' goes far beyond the limits of the genre and asks these general questions, valid in Spain, of course, but also in any other part of the world. The cinematography is excellent, the narration is cursive, and the two cops played by Antonio de la Torre and Roberto Álamo are very credible on screen. As spectators, we care about them, even if many of their actions can be questioned. The film by director Rodrigo Sorogoyen manages to create an intrigue and heroes that catch our attention and involve us as spectators. Recommended viewing.

Positive thriller surprise; Great Ending

[peter-spengler · 9/10 · 7 March 2021]

I was positive surprise. I had some Hitchcock moments. Good acting, shocking pictures, good work of location scouts and above all a great ending.

What a flick!

[senhor-ron · 9/10 · 14 December 2018]

Ok, so...

Here I am, a Dutch guy living in Portugal watching a Spanish movie with English subtitles...

From the start, I am in love with what this movie shows. (In)compatible characters, working together to find out what the hell is going on. Knowing Roberto Álamo from the Fugitiva series I was intrigued by the character.

And yes... It is there. No spoilers, no analysis ... Just watch it.

Everything goes well until...

[smbusato · 5/10 · 18 January 2022]

...the illogical, unconnected ending...what a pity...if it was not for that I would give it 8 stars.

It feels like a waste of time, but more than that, it was a missed opportunity to present the viewers with a great ending, the last impressions tend to stay with us, hence the 4 stars.

Unique thrilling thriller

[Portobella · 9/10 · 24 August 2017]

You will remember the faces of the characters/actors of this film for a long time. The character work is the best thing about this film and that the script hasn't written them as black or white but black and white. Only the killer is somewhat one sided. An atmospheric and gripping story with very interesting actors!

"True Detective" made in Spain!

[DimitrisPassas-TapTheLine · 9/10 · 13 May 2019]

This is a Spanish production (original title: "Que Dios Nos Perdone"), directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen ("The Realm", "Stockholm") and starring two great Spanish actors, Antonio de la Torre ("The Fury of a Patient Man", "Marshland"), and Roberto Álamo ("The Skin I Live In", "Bajo Sospecha") who are both outstanding in their respective roles as two homicide investigators who are dealing with a nasty case of a series of brutal rapes, committed in Madrid. The victims are all elderly, defenseless women, a fact that makes the crime even more gruesome and appalling. You should bear in mind that this is not a film for the faint of heart and in many parts, the audience may feel disturbed, not because of graphic, brutal scenes but mainly due to the movie's overall mood that exudes darkness and pessimism. In many parts, "May God Save Us" brought to my mind the popular "True Detective'' television series, especially in terms of characterization and atmosphere, and this is, of course, is meant as a compliment. Spain remains a solid choice when it comes to quality crime productions, both on silver screen and television. If you enjoyed "Marshland" and "Contratiempo" you should definitely check this one out. It deserves a compact five-star rating.

May god forgive us... We find it wonderful !

[matlabaraque · 9/10 · 29 August 2017]

Que Dios nos perdone could be described as a classic, or even a filthy thriller but it is in fact a film directed in a superb manner. What is this all about ? Well at first, you've got a very unlikely pair of work, Alfaro (charismatic, self-confident, seducer but violent) and Velarde (starmmerer, quiet and witty), the two detective inspectors who are in charge of the investigation. Both under pressure at work and urged to prove their qualities in the Spanish police, the detectives will need to overcome their faults to resolve this investigation with the utmost discretion. From then on, a thrilling race against time and serial rape crimes starts with the eternal doubt whether the policemen they are, are that different (or not) to the murderer of these old women. To me, and above all, the film features a rare description of its characters, of the mood of Madrid during this summer 2011. You feel the heat, the smells of bodies and of the corpses(!) the tension at work, in the society, the hatred against and amongst policemen . It has all the ingredients that are needed in such a film: the crimes are definitely filthy, the detective inspectors are weirdos in their own way which make them plausible suspects, the rythm is relentless. You end up suspecting everyone, and you crave for someone to arrest the murderer. A very gripping film, with a fantastic direction. Most likely, the best or one of the best of 2016 so far.

Overrated

[danielcereto · 3/10 · 5 June 2020]

After seen the high reviews I just give it a try to this one. I'm a bit dissapointed. First, acting is correct but not good. A lot of overreacting actors. Second, the script is predictable and it does not add anything new to the genre. Last, the ending is quite weird and empty. Just predictable. So, overall just an OK with no much substance. I do not understand the hype.

Great thriller

[javinry · 8/10 · 20 June 2017]

Spain continues to deliver solid thrillers, as for example this last years La Isla Minima was a masterpiece of Spanish cinema.

This film has a dark atmosphere, the actors are great, especially Antonio de la Torre who is one of the best Spanish actors of this decade. The personal relationship of the two detectives is well written. The influence of Fincher's Seven in this film is crystal clear.

Don't miss this new classic of Spanish cinema!

Gripping crime thriller set in Madrid

[eddiecatone · 10/10 · 29 July 2017]

Que Dios nos perdone (May God Forgive Us) Gripping crime thriller set in Madrid. The film does the job and does it well.

The plot is straightforward: Madrid 2011, a string of heinous crimes,two unorthodox cops on the hunt for the serial killer.

Pacing,editing,photography and camera-work is neat and effective and director Rodrigo Sorogoyen wisely avoids the usual gimmicks and tricks that are used to convey mood and suspense in conventional thrillers. The serial killer behaves likes A criminal that doesn't want to get caught. He becomes more and more hateful as the film progresses.

While sticking to the serial killer plot the script allows space to explore the character and private life of the two cops (an aggressive family man and an introvert stutterer) There is also a third protagonist which is the city of Madrid itself with its houses, staircases and landings , the streets in the center and the anonymous housing blocks of the suburbs.

As a Spanish language film it strongly reminded me of one of the masterpieces of this century, J.J. Campanella's Oscar awarded "The Secret in Their Eyes" (El segreto de sus ojos, 2009). Hollywood turned "The Secret.." into a clumsy remake, I hope they'll think twice before doing the same with May God Forgive Us.

Dark, Violent, and Real

[leftbanker-1 · 9/10 · 14 November 2017]

A quality film and utterly believable.

Serial killer movies almost always get it wrong. They make the killer out to be Hannibal Lector or someone of his ilk: super-sophisticated and highly intelligent. In the real world they are creepy losers and the only reason they can get away with it for so long is that they kill people with no connection to them. They are always sexual deviants and sex is a main part of the motive. There is nothing glamorous about this killer and he isn't some sort of super-villain monster; he's just a really sick creature.

Que Dios Nos Perdone is terrifying in its verisimilitude at every step along in the story telling process. Everything looks and feels as it should from where they people live to the police station to The music was mesmerizing, riveting, and terrifying in equal parts (but at different parts in the narrative).

Boring

[j_b_g · 4/10 · 16 August 2017]

Watching this movie is waste of time.

Although the actors are great, really great, and the script promising of a wonderful time, the conclusion is utterly disappointing.

Seems like the writer ran out of ideas, and created a finishing without any logical connection to the rest of the movie, introducing a "deus ex machine" closure.

Pity

An awkward couple of policemen hunt a serial killer in Madrid.

[AlexMedario · 8/10 · 17 September 2017]

It's so good to watch a good film with policemen, some thriller and of course the bad guys, but this time it's in an European city, Madrid. Quite better than LA, NY or the rest of exhausted American cities.

The couple of actors are superb, especially the tough Alfaro, played by Roberto Álamo. Antonio de la Torre plays the partner, Velarde, a strange character that makes the game more interesting.

Of course the movie is full of topics or even scenes that remind some other similar films, but it's difficult to do otherwise, because the subject has been repeatedly used as script.

There are huge differences but it come to my mind a few times the film Seven. I know that this film is in all the list about the greatest films, but for this reason it's normal that all films about the subject drink a bit from it.

One of the best Spanish films of the last years

[lareval · 10/10 · 23 August 2021]

This is a tense, excellent and shockingly violent thriller that takes the audience to their highest peak of anxiety. The direction, the performances, the score, the story. All of it is great. The movie builds and builds towards a breathtaking climax. A masterful work.

Its so good....

[thaliapiseauxochoa · 9/10 · 5 August 2017]

Spain surprises me every year, they release amazing movies every year with very good acting, its a shame they don't do as many movies in a year as Hollywood. Though the ending kind of broke my heart, because my favorite character was Alfaro, amazing acting. It was sad just seeing him die like that. That's all I have to say, the movie is worth watching. Enjoy!

Excelent!

[arwen1692 · 10/10 · 6 September 2019]

This movie deserves 10, not 7.2! Acting is great, story is a great. Intense thriller drama!

Top Ten HORROR Film

[blancastarolivera · 8/10 · 15 July 2017]

The most TERRIFYING movie I have ever seen. Amazing acting, film creating and directing work. Not a favorite story but definitely SHOCKING. It also reflects a moment in Spain recent history. I hope to see actor Javier Pererira in Hollywood films soon. Great Casting and Production.

Good serial killer movie..!

[kamalbeeee · 8/10 · 4 September 2023]

Que Dios nos perdone (2016)

Inspectors Velarde and Alfaro must find what appears to be a serial killer.

That killer targets old ladies killed after abuse them... This hunt against the clock will make them realize something they'd never thought about.

One police soft character and other rude at one stage Both got dismissed frm tat case still they help to find the killer for other police.. Good story and screenplay and photography... Must watch movie..!

Inspectors Velarde and Alfaro must find what appears to be a serial killer.

That killer targets old ladies killed after abuse them... This hunt against the clock will make them realize something they'd never thought about.

One police soft character and other rude at one stage Both got dismissed frm tat case still they help to find the killer for other police.. Good story and screenplay and photography... Must watch movie..!