Outlaw – Movie Review | Netflix (3/5)

OUTLAW (2024) on Netflix is a Brazilian Action Thriller (org. title: Bandida: A Número Um). The runtime is short at just 82 minutes, but the story is brutal. Inspired by real life in the favela. Read our full Outlaw movie review here!

OUTLAW (2024) is a new Netflix action thriller from Brazil (org. title: Bandida: A Número Um). As a Brazilian story and production, the language spoken is (of course!) Portuguese.

However, actions tend to speak louder than words in this story. It plays out from the late 1970s to 1992, which is when the movie opens and ultimately ends. The runtime is just 1 hour and 22 minutes, so it’s a quick but intense watch.

Continue reading our Outlaw movie review below. Find it on Netflix from September 11, 2024.

Meet Bandida herself

In Outlaw, we get the story of Bandida as she records it on tape before she expects to be shot down by police. It’s a story told in chapters from when she was a little girl called Rebeca until she became “Bandida” and was in charge of a gang.

She was raised in a notorious Brazilian favela but seems to have been born with an attitude and intellect that would save her. And yet also be her downfall. Born somewhere else, she could’ve been the CEO of a huge company instead.

We see her as a young woman navigating love and crime in a time when human life has little value. She is constantly fighting for power and safety for herself and “her people”. No small feat amid deadly gang rivalries and betrayal.

As Bandida (whose real name is Rebeca) we see Maria Bomani in a strong portrayal. She is a criminal, but along with most of her criminal friends, it’s made clear that not much choice was given in the matter.

The true story that inspired Outlaw 

If you’ve watched any Brazilian true crime documentaries about drugs and gang violence in the favela, then you’ll recognize the world we’re presented with in Outlaw.

Even “Bandida” herself doesn’t feel like a made-up character, though ultimately this story is fiction. However, it’s fiction based on the real-life experiences of author Raquel de Oliveira.

Raquel de Oliveira grew up in the Rocinha favela in Rio. Her novel “A Número Um” was published by Casa da Palavra in 2015. Raquel de Oliveira dated Ednaldo de Souza.

He was known as Naldo and was one of the best-known drug trafficking leaders in Rocinha. This part of her life story is also central to Outlaw, where Rebeca falls in love with Pará.

In fact, their love story is central to Bandida’s fate. Much like Naldo’s was to Raquel’s life. Much of how Pará is portrayed in Outlaw does come directly from Naldo’s life (and death) so huge parts of this movie are not very fictitious.

Watch Outlaw (2024) on Netflix now!

Outlaw (2024) is directed by João Wainer and based on a book written by author Raquel de Oliveira. She grew up in the favela herself, so much of the story is based on her own experiences living there.

The story for the movie comes from Laura Malin and Ricky Hiraoka while the screenwriters are Patrícia Andrade, Cesar Gananian, João Wainer, and Thaís Nunes.

Again, the runtime is quite short at just 82 minutes, but with a story told in chapters, it packs a lot into this runtime.

If we gave half ratings here at Heaven of Horror, it would land at 3½ stars as it has a lot going for it. From the way it’s shot, using an old Betacam camera to give it that feel of being from the 1980s to the honest and brutal character portrayals.

Outlaw (Bandida: A Número Um) is on Netflix from September 11, 2024.

Details

Director: João Wainer
Screenwriters: Patrícia Andrade, Cesar Gananian, João Wainer, Thaís Nunes
Book: Raquel de Oliveira
Story: Laura Malin, Ricky Hiraoka
Stars: Maria Bomani, Julio Adrião, Jean Amorim, Antônio Benício, Milhem Cortaz, Natália Lage, MC Marechal, Paulo Guidelly