It’s Hong Kong action flavored by some Latino spices as a shadowy figure stalks the Mexican underworld, travelling from town to town with only a guitar case in hand!

Written, co-produced, edited, and directed by Robert Rodriguez, Desperado - the neo-western action flick from 1995 - returns to home theater in stunning 4K thanks to Arrow Video, who have restored the film using the original camera negative.  This release is a solid one and any fan of the movie - and, honestly, who isn’t?! - should be pleased by the results of the efforts as they present Rodriguez’s cult actioneer with some much-needed Hi-def gloss.

When it comes to independent filmmaking, the early 1990s were an exciting time and Robert Rodriguez was at the forefront of DIY films.  He certainly had a solid ride.  Of course, this was before the Spy Kids franchise and the Grindhouse offering but he was definitely a trailblazer who had an incredible spirit when it came to filmmaking your own way. 

And Desperado, acting as a sequel (or arguably a remake) to his own  micro-budget action flick El Mariachi, certainly pleased his followers.  It’s explosive with its frenetic violence; over-the-top in some moments; and funny as hell.  From the Steve Buscemi opening to the Tarantino cameo and beyond, there is a spirited sense about it which showcases Antonio Banderas skills as an action star and as a mariachi singer. 

Okay, so most of the critics were a bit standoffish when it came to appreciating this flick as it turns out, but Rodriguez was certainly onto something special - no matter how short-lived it was to be - as a traveling musician (Banderas) takes on a drug kingpin named Bucho (Joaquim de Almeida), his thugs, and beds Salma Hayek, who was a soap opera actress when she starred in the movie.

Yep, this movie made names for both of the actors here in America, so to underappreciate this movie and its impact is a mistake you should easily correct by finding a copy of this version of the flick and checking it out.  Their chemistry together is undeniable and, honestly, explains why they continued to work together down the line in their respective careers.

With fun cameos by Steve Buscemi, Cheech Marin, and Quentin Tarantino, as well as a brief but very memorable appearance by Danny Trejo, Desperado is a brilliant reminder of just how awesome DIY cinema can be. 

4K Ultra HD

Home Video Distributor: Arrow Films
Available on Blu-ray - March 25, 2025
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: LPCM 2.0
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; single-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free

After turning the independent film world upside-down with his inventive microbudget debut, writer-director Robert Rodriguez continued the myth of the mysterious Mariachi in the follow-up Desperado, armed with all the explosive pyrotechnics that Hollywood studio money can buy! A shadowy figure stalks the Mexican underworld, travelling from town to town with only a guitar case in hand; however, what El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) has on his mind isn't music, but merciless vengeance. With enough bullets up his sleeves for every bandito in his path, the guitar-playing gunslinger has his sights firmly set on taking down a powerful drug lord (Joaquim de Almeida), but only the love of a local bookstore owner (Salma Hayek) will help the Mariachi get out of town alive. With a rogues' gallery of memorable supporting turns from the likes of Danny Trejo, Steve Buscemi, Cheech Marin and Quentin Tarantino, Rodriguez's instant action classic blends American indie cool and Hong Kong hyper-kineticism with a Latino flavor firmly the director's own.

VIDEO

Presented with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the new 4K restoration is a spitfire of never-before-seen cinematic fury.  Crackling with fine details, you will feel the sand in your mouth and the grit in your teeth when the action kicks in and the blood splatters everywhere!  Black levels are intense and full of layered details and the sun-bleached setting will have you sweating in no time thanks to the crisp locales and blasted enviros.  The effects are practical and retain their grit and the fine details in the faces of the character actors are deep and edged.  Fabrics in the costumes are textured and robust and a fine level of grain remains in the print.. 

AUDIO

REJOICE! There is a restored DTS-HD MA original theatrical 2.0 stereo, a 4.0 surround, and remixed 5.1 surround audio options to choose from for your preferred Graboid attack.  Dig in and enjoy the tunes!.

Supplements:

So along with the new 4K restoration from the original negative by Arrow Films, fans get a whole lot of supplemental items, including legacy featurettes and some new ones!

Commentary:

• See below for details

Special Features:

• 4K ULTRA HD SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
• 4K restoration from the original camera negative by Sony Pictures
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Audio commentary by writer-director Robert Rodriguez
• Lean and Mean, an interview with writer-director Robert Rodriguez
• Shoot Like Crazy, an interview with producer Bill Borden
• Kill Count, an interview with stunt coordinator Steve Davison
• Lock and Load, an interview with special effects coordinator Bob Shelley
• Game Changer, an appreciation by filmmaker Gareth Evans (The Raid: Redemption)
• Ten More Minutes: Anatomy of a Shootout, an archive featurette narrated by Rodriguez
• Textless opening (“Morena de mi Corazón”)
• Theatrical trailers
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 104 mins
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Writer: Robert Rodriguez
Cast: Antonio Banderas; Salma Hayek; Joaquim de Almeida
Genre: action | Drama | Crime
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "You know, it's easier to pull the trigger than play guitar. Easier to destroy than to create."
Theatrical Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Official Site: https://www.arrowvideo.com/4k/desperado-4k-uhd/16057032.html
Release Date: August 25, 1995
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: March 25, 2025.
Synopsis: A shadowy figure stalks the Mexican underworld, travelling from town to town with only a guitar case in hand; however, what El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) has on his mind isn't music, but merciless vengeance. With enough bullets up his sleeves for every bandito in his path, the guitar-playing gunslinger has his sights firmly set on taking down a powerful drug lord (Joaquim de Almeida), but only the love of a local bookstore owner (Salma Hayek) will help the Mariachi get out of town alive.