Squad 36 by Netflix assigns a mission to viewers to work on organized crime which has incredible promises of deep heartbeats and moral crisis. Although the performances in the film are top notch and the gripping ambience captures you from the start, it is unfortunate that a said thriller misses the mark as the rest of the plot and climax was not executed well. Tighten your seatbelts because this journey has some quite noticable bumps.
The Good: Grit, Guts and a Standout Cast
Squad 36 starts strong with a broody [Lead Actor’s Name] in charge of portraying a rogue cop who is interlocked in the world of a drug cartel. The first act is loaded with brutal shootouts, a haunting background score to enhance the tension, and smoky back room deals. [Lead Actress’s Name] has a morally conflicted character where she plays a informant and grabs all of the attention with her raw vulnerability, especially in that gut wrenching scene of a battle between survival and loyalty.
The strongest scene in the film—and perhaps a defining moment for the entire piece—is the relentlessly drenched sequence where the characters pursue each other through rain-soaked neon alleyways. The skill with which this chase was filmed is unparalleled and so is the artistry behind the action sequences. For a moment it looks like a cross between Sicario and Narcos, until…
The But: Why the Scripts Fails At Times
Squad 36’s narrative has immense potential. However, midway through the story, their thrust simply dies. What started as a precision-based chase sequence falls apart into a jumble of useless fragments and half-evolved characters. Major players disappear for long periods of time, and instead of brilliant reveals, we’re met with shoots that miss the target (spoiler, you will). There is a final act that sets up a climactic reveal and is immediately followed by body-bag worthy exposition that is given faster than a college student does for finals.
But the worse part: the dialogue. The power of a sophisticated cinematic experience is sacrificed for lines such as, “Amigo, you’re playing with fire.” These lines ought to be reserved for roasts, not serious attempt at drama. Even with a talented cast, these lines cannot be polished.
Audience Reactions: Praise, Eye Rolls, and Memes
Social media is fragmented. Fans on social media of violent crime shows commend the “breathtaking visuals” and the “intense opener” when the critics absolutely destroy the numerous plot holes. One tweet summed it up perfectly: “Squad 36 is all sizzle, no steak—Netflix’s algorithm wrote this.” Others chortled at the overused lines: “I could retire if I had a peso for each time I heard ‘one last job’.”
Director’s Vision: Style Over Substance
One cannot disagree that [Director’s Name] is a master with the camera – their moody directing style gives rise to atmospheric tension. However, as it often happens, their flair for the dramatic totally neglects the narrative. Rather than portraying the subplot on police corruption with laced intricacies that it deserves, they turned it into half-hearted clichés. The head of the cartel, overhemming as [Villain Actor’s Name], is a chewer of scenery, is nothing but a severely underdeveloped character who has stolen the Breaking Bad universe.
Verdict: Should You Stream It?
Even though this show has some redeeming qualities, Squald 36 is far from greatness. However, if you wish to turn your mind off and simply enjoy some over-the-top action, then it does make for a passable movie on Friday nights. However, if you are looking for tightly knit plots and sophisticated storytelling? This is one to skip, and rewatch Narcos or Mindhunter instead.
In summary, this unit shows potential but does not meet the standard to be classified as elite.
Why It Matters: To me, the most infuriating aspect of this streaming crime drama overkill is how Squad 36 seems to fully embrace the trend of prioritizing form over function. It is a word of warning: a talented cast and moody filters cannot save a lackluster script.
