Dance with the Devil

"Get on the road."

1997 2h 10m ES

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 251

ActionThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

She's sexy, shameless and loves taking people to their limit. She's a dangerous young woman who dreams about a jaguar that licks her naked body and sleeps by her side. Her past is bathed in blood and weird passions. Now she's met the man of her wildest dreams. He's dark, tough and mysterious. He likes robbing banks, trafficking in corpses and spicing it all with voodoo rituals. Together, the duo sets off toward Mexico destined to become the most feared outlaws in the continent.

“Get on the road.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Amazon Prime VideoSubscription

PhiloSubscription

Eternal FamilySubscription

Amazon Prime Video with AdsSubscription

IndiePix Unlimited Amazon ChannelSubscription

BloodstreamSubscription

ARROWSubscription

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

YouTubeRent

Amazon VideoBuy

Apple TV StoreBuy

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Cast

Rosie Perez
Perdita Durango
Javier Bardem
Romeo
Harley Cross
Duane
Aimee Graham
Estelle
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Adolfo
Don Stroud
Santos
Demián Bichir
Catalina
Santiago Segura
Shorty Dee

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Álex de la Iglesia
Writers: David Trueba, Barry Gifford, Jorge Guerricaechevarría
Languages: Spanish, English
Countries: Mexico, Spain, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 39% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

29 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Mexico, Spain, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Álex de la Iglesia, shot by Flavio Martínez Labiano. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Simon Boswell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Teresa Font shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Rosie Perez and Javier Bardem and Harley Cross carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Álex de la Iglesia directs. Flavio Martínez Labiano behind the camera. Simon Boswell scores. Teresa Font cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Mexico, Spain, United States of America. Dialogue in Spanish, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 39% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
229 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.
4International production across 3 countries: Mexico, Spain, United States of America.
5Directed by Álex de la Iglesia, shot by Flavio Martínez Labiano. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Simon Boswell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Teresa Font shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Rosie Perez and Javier Bardem and Harley Cross carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "Get on the road.".
10IMDB entry: tt0119879 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Flavio Martínez Labiano
Original score: Simon Boswell
Editing: Teresa Font
Production design: Biaffra
Costume design: Glenn Ralston
Makeup / hair: Mercedes Guillot
VFX supervisor: Jim Wheelock
Sound: Ray Gillon
Stunt coordinator: Julian Bucio
Runtime: 130 min · 2h 10m
Status: Released
Budget: $7,552,917
Box office: $2,957,970
Return: 39% of budget
Original language: ES
IMDB: Dance with the Devil (1997)

Also by

Álex de la Iglesia

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

JPV8522021-03-28
★ 8/10
Pretty crazy and messed up romance-thriller featuring great performances from Rose Perez and Javier Bardem. Slows down a tad in the third act before ratcheting up again for the finale. Some really uncomfortable scenes but still a highly engaging film. This was the 130-minute uncut version. 4.0/5
CinemaSerf2026-09-03
★ 7/10
There is something really quite gruesome about the task assigned to "Romeo" (Javier Bardem) by his gangster boss "Santos" (Don Stroud). He is to organise a smuggling operation to bring foetuses across the border so they can be used by the cosmetics industry. Before he can undertake his mission, though, he must obtain a suitable person to sacrifice to his voodoo like god and so now allied with the alluringly ruthless "Perdita" (Rosie Perez) they set off to essentially kidnap someone off the street. Unfortunately for them, "Estelle" (Aimee Graham) and her rather drippy boyfriend "Duane" (Harley Cross) are the couple they select and so, terrified, are taken back to the couple's lair for some sexual abuse, voyeurism and a good old feathering - before the knife is to be wielded. Naturally, the behaviour of "Romeo" and his boss hasn't escaped the authorities and so with the feds (Alex Cox), her dad (the scene stealing Roger Cudney) and one of his own former partners who's got debts coming from every pore also chasing down the couple is there any hope that the youngsters can avoid ending up like exhibits at Tenochtitlan? Now Álex de la Iglesia hasn't exactly worried about giving anyone here much depth to their character, indeed we know precious little about either "Perdita" or "Romeo" before fate and their libido threw them together for a turbulent relationship that proves almost as dangerous for them as it does for just about everyone they meet. I didn't think that really mattered though as this is really just a vehicle for some darkly comedic excess delivered entertainingly by a Bardem who really looks like he is enjoying himself as he shags and shoots his way through a life riddled with bloodthirstiness and (not terribly realistic looking) unborn babies. It's that very uncomfortableness that I enjoyed here. It's as far from politically correct as you can get and it studiously avoids turning this story of witchcraft and smeared sheep skulls into an other routine Hollywood tale of tempered debauchery. There are few holes barred here and the lithely charismatic Perez makes sure that "Perdita" gets her fair share of the spoils, too. It's gritty and grim, and by his sheer force of personality Bardem takes us on a road trip that can make you squirm at times and that isn't afraid to expose hypocrisies about sex and venalities of just what can be traded if there really is a market. No snakes, though...!