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American Sicario
Movie

American Sicario

2021 • Unknown

Woke Score
2
out of 10

Plot

The story of the rise and fall of the first American-born drug lord in Mexico, this tale of power, money, greed and betrayal amongst rival members of the drug cartels finds American gangster Erik Vasquez scheming to become the top dog in the Mexican underworld, only to find himself making enemies out of both the powerful cartels and his own allies.

Overall Series Review

American Sicario is a formulaic action-thriller focused squarely on the violence, greed, and betrayal within the drug cartel underworld. The story follows American gangster Erik Vasquez as he attempts to seize control in the Mexican underworld, quickly making enemies of established cartels and his own allies. The film primarily adheres to the conventions of the crime genre, with its R-rated content including violence, language, and sex. Its themes are secular—power, ambition, and the chaos of criminality—and the narrative does not appear to serve as a platform for social or cultural commentary. There is no observable focus on identity politics, Western self-hatred, or alternative sexual ideologies; the narrative is driven entirely by the central character's amoral pursuit of criminal dominance.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics3/10

The central conflict revolves around the main character's personal ambition, greed, and willingness to engage in criminal violence. The story focuses on the struggle for power and money within the drug cartel structure, which is a universal crime genre trope. The character's 'American-born' status is a plot device for his outsider position in the Mexican underworld, not a starting point for lecturing on race, privilege, or systemic oppression.

Oikophobia2/10

The movie is a crime thriller detailing the rise and fall of a gangster in the drug cartel world. The setting and plot critique a life of crime, betrayal, and violence. There is no thematic focus framing Western civilization, its institutions, or its ancestors as fundamentally corrupt or morally inferior. The narrative does not elevate the Mexican criminal underworld as spiritually or morally superior to the West.

Feminism3/10

The core plot is a male-driven narrative about a gangster's fight for power and control. There is no evidence of a 'Mary Sue' or 'Girl Boss' trope being central to the story. The R-rating for violence and sex suggests that female characters are likely relegated to supporting roles or positions typical of the genre (e.g., love interests, victims, or minor associates), meaning the narrative is not focused on anti-natalism or the deconstruction of traditional gender roles.

LGBTQ+1/10

The film's plot and genre focus intensely on drug cartel operations, violence, and criminal power struggles. The narrative offers no indication of centering alternative sexualities, deconstructing the nuclear family, or engaging with gender ideology. These elements are entirely absent from the film's core concerns.

Anti-Theism2/10

The film’s central themes are entirely secular: 'power, money, greed and betrayal.' The morality of the characters is inherently criminal and amoral, but this reflects the nature of the drug cartel subject matter, not a philosophical attack on religious faith. No evidence exists for traditional religion being framed as the root of evil or for Christian characters being vilified.