Wow, this movie was really great. I came in expecting a fun violent romp (which I received) but it was so much more than that. I really felt for all the characters and they all had wonderful story arcs. Great use of parallel story telling too! A true gem!

Life is tough for a down on his luck Mexican wrestling masked hero. Crime fighting doesn't really pay, so El Monstruo is relegated to thug duty. The conflicted good guy is a complex character, eager to carry on his family tradition (daddy was a famous luchador), but with a baby on the way, he stoops to henchman duties for local crime boss Teddy to pay the bills, usually with uncontrollably violent results.That's plenty for plot, but this film throws in a heaping helping of parallel story lines for a rather convoluted viewing experience. Major events are replayed through different characters, and alternate angles, resulting in some much needed clarity, as everything comes together nicely, and not so nicely in the end.The very seedy side of L.A. is the backdrop here, where illegals are funnelled towards horrific futures as prostitutes, or donors for a lucrative organ harvesting operation, or both. Grisly, old school gore movies are referenced as is some of Tarantino's spicier moments, but "Lowlife" works best on it's own originality: tackling very big global topics with local struggles. "Lowlife" struggles from the usual low budget issues, mainly uneven performances - Teddy is too wooden - but the clever, spiderweb tale, wild sequences, and quirky characters make up for it: here's a newly released convict with a full face Swastika tattoo, who is refreshingly likeable. No, really.

If you watch this and it feels like a comic book, with different parts and different heroes, all telling their own story ... well that was the intention of the filmmakers, so you are not far off with that feeling. It may feel messy because of that at times, but it does work overall in being gritty and down and dirty.There is one scene that got to me (and probably others) more than others in a bad way. But not because of anything the filmmakers, the actors or anyone else did. This was playing at Frightfest, which was just shortly after the Charlottesville "incident" (terrorist attack). So in the movie there is a particular line about Nazis ... and when that sentence was spoken out, I had to cringe ... loud! You wouldn't think this is something that would touch a nerve with people. It was meant as a joke, but also as truth ... but in regards to comments and statements made by a person who should be uniting people instead of dividing them ... Well let's leave it at that.Maybe when you watch it, this won't play a role at all, maybe you'll think at that particular moment back on what happened and how crazy it is ... whatever the case, the movie is absolutely good and should not be judged in a bad light because this other individual who pretend plays to be in charge ...

Lowlife is full of fun ideas and great performances of some really compelling odd-ball characters, maintaining a heavy sense of drama throughout yet frequently delivering comedic riffs. It's a wild and thrilling story from start to finish. My movie of 2017 so far, and I expect to see it many times again once it becomes available.