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Hello, Niles North, and welcome to Reed’s Recs! I am Reed Larson-Erf, and I’m here to talk to you about everything you never knew you had to find. This week, I’m stoked to have the chance to talk to you about 2010’s underrated action movie classic Machete. Danny Trejo, in his breakout role, plays Machete, a former Mexican federal agent who now lives as an undocumented immigrant in the United States. Reluctantly hired to kill a rabidly anti-immigrant Senate candidate (Robert De Niro), Machete is double-crossed by his employer (Von Johnson) and forced to go on the run. While evading hit-men sent to silence him, Machete develops a relationship with FBI agent Sartana (Jessica Alba) and discovers a broad political conspiracy he must thwart. The scope of this movie’s plot is matched only by the viscerality of its violence, making Machete not suitable for all audiences.
Some big names stand out among the movie’s sprawling full cast. Aside from Trejo and De Niro, Steven Seagal (somewhat problematically) appears as a Mexican crime lord and Machete’s old nemesis. Lindsay Lohan—yes, she of Mean Girls fame—is April, the daughter of Machete’s employer. These and many other dynamic, outlandish characters play off each other, ending up far from where they were at the beginning. Perhaps the most satisfying character arc belongs to Sartana, whose disdain for undocumented immigrants as law-breakers is softened over the course of the movie.
In fact, Machete may be the first action movie I’ve ever seen that makes a point about immigration. Throughout the story, hostility toward and exploitation of undocumented immigrants is palpable. It is the basis for the ill-fated assassination attempt that kicks off the plot. Yet Machete is an indefatigable, unstoppable—if not necessarily realistic—representation of an undocumented immigrant. He demolishes everyone who comes after him, forever ahead of the powerful white figures who want him to disappear. Although he doesn’t necessarily set out to reform America’s immigration system, by the end, Machete has become an unlikely icon, behind whom hundreds of immigrants rally to fight for their rights.
Anyone who prefers a calmer watch, a more thoughtful examination of the American immigration system, or a movie whose protagonist doesn’t accept a woman’s drunken invitation to have sex, would be well-advised to avoid this movie. But despite these concerns, viewers who love their plots fast-paced, their action over-the-top, and appreciate at least an effort at advocating for immigrants’ rights, should check out Machete on Hulu, Disney+, and elsewhere. Thank you for listening, and tune in next time to hear more about everything you never knew you had to find!
