Queen of the South
2016
Original language: English
- crime
- drama
The story
Teresa flees Mexico after her drug-runner boyfriend is murdered. Settling in Dallas, she looks to become the country's reigning drug smuggler and to avenge her lover's murder.
What it’s like
Sun-bleached and humid, with heat that seems to sit on the screen: dusty highways, stucco motel courtyards, glossy hotel suites, and bright Mexican beach towns against deep shadow. The camera stays close and fluid, with plenty of tight framing on faces and hands, and the palette shifts between warm amber daylight and cool blue nights in clubs and offices. The soundtrack leans on Latin pop, rock and rhythmic guitar, cut against tense, pulsing underscore during deals and confrontations. The vibe is slick, restless and sun-drenched, with a simmering dread that gives way to sudden bursts of brutality. It suits a late-night binge, a weekend marathon, or any moment when a steady stream of momentum and glamour is wanted. The pacing is brisk, with episodes built around escalating power plays, and the emotional register is driven and melodramatic, centring on a woman who rebuilds herself through ambition, loyalty and grief. Violence is frequent and sometimes graphic, including shootings and bloody aftermaths; there is sexual content and strong language. It is not gentle. It is for viewers who want a stylish, tense crime saga with a strong central performance and a lot of heat.
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