Cartel Land

The war on drugs is difficult for the people who live near the US-Mexican border.  Mexican drug cartels use violence and intimidation to smuggle their drugs and humans across the border.  Their violence and the lack of government action has inspired vigilante groups/ militias to spring up on both sides of the border.  This documentary follows the Arizona Border Recon and Autodefensa groups.

On the US side of the border, Tim "Nailer" Foley runs the Arizona Border Recon.  They are a paramilitary organization that patrols the border.  They track cartel movements and turn illegal immigrants over to the US government.

In Mexico, the state of Michoacan saw significant cartel violence.  Men and women are kidnapped, tortured and killed by the cartel on a regular basis.  A group of men, led by Jose "El Doctor" Mireles, joined together to form the Autodefensa to fight back for their town.  The Autodefensa focused on removing the Knights Templar Cartel from their towns and protect their families.  But corruption within the police force and even their own organization make it difficult to know who is good and bad.


This documentary is dark and disturbing.  It is violent and gruesome, which reflects the situation documented in the film.  The gore never feels gratuitous, it is an accurate portrayal of the situation.  The camera is right in the middle of the action, even in the midst of gunfire on multiple occasions.

The film doesn't shy aware from showing the negative sides to the men at the heart of the documentary.  It shows the success of their missions, but also shows that these men are not perfect.  It opens and closes watching a group of masked cartel members manufacture drugs and talk directly to the camera.

Despite the raw portrayal, it never asks the audience to think about the deeper issues at play... or ask any questions.  It shows you the situation in the worst places and shows the impact of the militias on the situation, and then abruptly ends.  It is a good documentary, but it needs a follow-up (or should have 10-20 more minutes to give more closure).

This film is nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary.

Cartel Land (2015) 100 minutes
Rating: R for violent disturbing images, language, drug content and brief sexual material
Director: Matthew Heineman
Starring: Jose Manuel "El Doctor" Mireles
Tim "Nailer" Foley