Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark Mexico-set adaptation with language, violence, nudity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Pedro Páramo
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In this adaptation of Juan Rulfo's classic novel, not the first, Juan Preciado (Tenoch Huerta) is a man journeying to his parents' village to find his father, PEDRO PÁRAMO (Manuel García-Rulfo, distantly related to the author), a promise he made to his mother on her deathbed. In Comala, Preciado discovers a literal ghost town: an emptied, dusty village filled with the ghosts of the past. He meets people who knew his father, and he learns of his ruthlessness and many misdeeds, including rape, murder, corruption, condemnation of his town, and an unrequited love for his childhood friend, Susana San Juan (Ilse Salas).
Is It Any Good?
Even the most respected literary works don't always translate well to screen, and this is an example of a very challenging adaptation. Magic realism in particular can be quite evocative on page but confusing on screen, illustrated in Pedro Páramo's narrative time switches, ambiguous dialogues, and elements of fantasy. The film's cast and visual team have done an inspiring job conveying the darkness, fear, and superstitions of the times, and the dread of confronting the worst of human nature. It may be that this film will speak strongly to a local audience familiar with the original work and its deeper significance within Mexican culture. For other viewers, it could present a demanding—and lengthy, at two-plus hours—watch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how they pieced together the different time periods and living versus dead characters in Pedro Páramo. Did you find any parts of the film confusing? Why, or why not?
If you've read the book, how does the film compare?
How would you describe the setting of this film? Where could you find more information about this historical period?
What do you think are some key themes of this tale?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 6, 2024
- Cast : Manuel Garcia-Rulfo , Mayra Batalla , Tenoch Huerta
- Director : Rodrigo Prieto
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Director(s) , Mexican Movie Director(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters , History
- Run time : 132 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual content, graphic nudity and some violence.
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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