Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Uneven but vivid drama has strong language, drinking, pot.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Blast Beat
What's the Story?
In BLAST BEAT, it's 1999, and brothers Carly (Mateo Arias) and Mateo (Moises Arias) are preparing to move with their mother, Nelly (Diane Guerrero), to Georgia in the United States. Their father, Ernesto (Wilmer Valderrama), has already been there for months, working as a painter and getting the family's house ready. Science prodigy/death-metal fan Carly hopes to enroll in the Georgia Institute of Technology and eventually work for NASA. Mateo, meanwhile, is reckless, continually bringing trouble down on himself and his family. Things take a dark turn when Ernesto is deported, Carly lies in order to audit a class taught by former astronaut Dr. Onitsuka (Daniel Dae Kim), and Mateo gets into a fight with a wealthy, blond-haired bully.
Is It Any Good?
Cluttered with too many ideas, this drama still gets credit for its three-dimensional portrayal of the immigrant experience in America and its love-hate portrait of brothers. The title Blast Beat refers to the hyper-fast, machine-gun drumming heard in death-metal songs (of which the movie's soundtrack is richly composed), but, aside from being a cool title, it has virtually nothing to do with the rest of the movie. There are other jagged edges here, too. For example, in Colombia, Carly seems to be dating a young woman (Kali Uchis) but isn't affected at all by their impending separation. But later, when she video-chats to tell him she's dating someone else, he gets upset.
The family's reason for leaving Colombia involves some kind of criminal extortion that they're trying to escape, but it's not really explained or brought up again. Other bits and pieces feel tacked on, but Blast Beat still comes out ahead by offering the complex story of an immigrant family trying to grab hold of the American dream, and all of the obstacles that get in their way, from red tape to blatant racism. And the real-life Arias brothers (older brother Moises, who plays Mateo, had his breakout role in the terrific The Kings of Summer) have a tangible connection; their jealousies, rage, and love are undeniably honest.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Blast Beat's violence. How did the fighting and smashing things make you feel? How much of it comes from a place of anger or frustration?
How are alcohol and drugs depicted? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences for using them? Why does that matter?
How does the movie depict the immigrant experience? What kinds of obstacles does the family face? What keeps them going?
How are people of color represented here? Are they positive role models? Are they realistic? Are stereotypes used?
What does the movie's title mean? How does it apply to the story as a whole?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 21, 2021
- On DVD or streaming : May 21, 2021
- Cast : Moises Arias , Mateo Arias , Diane Guerrero
- Director : Esteban Arango
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Director(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vertical Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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