Ever tried to explain the plot of a Mexican psychological drama to someone who only watches Marvel? It’s tough. Especially when the film in question is The Night Buffalo movie (or El Búfalo de la Noche), a 2007 flick that feels like a fever dream wrapped in a tragedy. Honestly, if you haven’t seen it, you’ve probably at least heard of the man behind the story: Guillermo Arriaga. He’s the guy who wrote Amores Perros, 21 Grams, and Babel. But while those movies became global sensations, The Night Buffalo sort of drifted into the shadows.
It’s messy. It’s sweaty. It’s deeply uncomfortable. And for a lot of people, that’s exactly why it works.
The movie isn't some polished Hollywood blockbuster. It’s a raw, jagged look at schizophrenia, betrayal, and the weird ways we grieve. Based on Arriaga's own 1999 novel, it was directed by Jorge Hernandez Aldana. Arriaga didn’t just hand over the script and walk away; he was heavily involved, which is why the film carries that trademark non-linear, gut-punching energy he’s famous for. If you’re looking for a lighthearted popcorn flick, keep moving. This isn't it. But if you want a film that sticks to your ribs like humid Mexico City air, you’re in the right place.
What Actually Happens in The Night Buffalo Movie?
Basically, the story kicks off with a suicide. Gregorio, a young man struggling with severe schizophrenia, decides he’s had enough and takes his own life. This isn't a spoiler; it's the catalyst for everything that follows. Gregorio leaves behind his girlfriend, Tania, and his best friend, Manuel.
Here’s where it gets messy.
Manuel and Tania were having an affair behind Gregorio’s back while he was still alive. Talk about heavy-duty guilt. The movie follows Manuel as he tries to navigate the aftermath of his friend’s death while dealing with the boxes of "evidence" Gregorio left behind. It turns out Gregorio knew. He knew about the betrayal, and he used his final acts to mess with their heads from beyond the grave. It’s a psychological game of cat and mouse where one of the players is already dead.
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Diego Luna plays Manuel. You know him as Cassian Andor now, but back in 2007, he was the face of the "Nuevo Cine Mexicano" movement. He brings this frantic, desperate energy to the role. Camila Sodi plays Tania, and their chemistry is... intense. It’s not "romantic" chemistry; it’s more like "we’re both drowning and trying to use each other as a life raft" chemistry.
The Arriaga Connection and Why the Critics Were Split
Guillermo Arriaga is a polarizing figure in cinema. Some people think he’s a genius of the "mosaic" narrative, while others think he’s a bit too obsessed with suffering. The Night Buffalo movie sits right in the middle of that debate.
- The script stays incredibly faithful to the book, which Arriaga fans loved.
- The non-linear timeline can be super confusing if you aren't paying close attention.
- It deals with mental illness in a way that feels very visceral—less "beautiful mind" and more "terrifying reality."
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and the reception was, well, mixed. Some critics felt it was too bleak. Others praised the cinematography and the way it captured the claustrophobia of Mexico City. Honestly? They’re both right. It is bleak. It is claustrophobic. But that’s the point. It’s a movie about the "night buffalo"—the internal demons that hunt us when we’re at our most vulnerable.
The Role of Music: Mars Volta? Seriously?
One of the coolest, most overlooked things about this movie is the soundtrack. It features Omar Rodríguez-López of The Mars Volta. If you know their music, you know it’s chaotic, progressive, and a little bit insane. It fits the tone of the movie perfectly. The music doesn't just sit in the background; it pulses. It adds to the feeling that Manuel is slowly losing his grip on reality as he digs deeper into Gregorio’s secrets.
Why Nobody Talks About It Anymore (But Should)
In the mid-2000s, Mexican cinema was having a massive moment. You had the "Three Amigos"—Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and Guillermo del Toro—taking over the world. Arriaga was a huge part of that, specifically his partnership with Iñárritu. But right around the time The Night Buffalo movie came out, Arriaga and Iñárritu had a very public falling out over who deserved the credit for their films' success.
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Because The Night Buffalo wasn't an Iñárritu film, it didn't get the same massive marketing push as Babel. It became a bit of a cult relic. But looking back at it now, in 2026, it serves as a fascinating bridge between Arriaga’s early work and his later directorial debut, The Burning Plain.
It’s also a time capsule of 2000s Mexico City. The aesthetics, the grit, the fashion—it all feels very specific to that era of Latin American filmmaking. It’s a reminder that before Diego Luna was a Star Wars lead, he was doing some of the most daring indie work in the world.
Dealing with the "Unwatchable" Label
Some people call this movie unwatchable. Not because it’s bad, but because it’s "heavy." We live in an era where people often want "comfort watches." This is the opposite. It asks you to sit with uncomfortable questions:
- Can you ever truly forgive yourself for betraying someone you love?
- How much of our "sanity" is just a thin veil that can be ripped away at any second?
- Is grief a form of madness?
These aren't fun questions. But they’re real. And the movie doesn't give you easy answers. It just leaves you sitting there in the dark with the credits rolling.
Technical Execution: The Look of the Night
Jorge Hernandez Aldana, the director, used a lot of handheld camera work. This wasn't just a stylistic choice; it creates an intimacy that feels almost intrusive. You’re right there in the small apartments, the dark bars, and the cramped cars with these characters. The lighting is often yellowed or dim, reflecting the sickly state of mind Gregorio was in and the moral decay Manuel and Tania are feeling.
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It’s a masterclass in low-budget, high-impact filmmaking. It doesn't need CGI monsters to be scary. The "buffalo" is an idea, a metaphor for the weight of the past.
How to Watch The Night Buffalo Today
Finding The Night Buffalo movie (El Búfalo de la Noche) can be a bit of a hunt depending on where you live. It’s not always sitting on the front page of Netflix.
- Streaming: Check specialized platforms like MUBI or the "World Cinema" sections of Prime Video.
- Physical Media: There are DVD copies floating around eBay and specialized film boutiques. It’s worth owning if you’re a fan of Arriaga’s "Trilogy of Death."
- Language: Make sure you watch it in the original Spanish with subtitles. The dubbing, if you can find it, usually ruins the raw emotional delivery of the actors.
Actionable Steps for Film Buffs
If this sounds like your kind of movie, don’t just watch it in a vacuum. To really "get" it, you’ve gotta do a bit of homework.
Start by reading Guillermo Arriaga’s short stories or his novel The Savage. It’ll give you a sense of his obsession with the "animal" nature of humans. Then, watch Amores Perros followed by The Night Buffalo. You’ll see the threads of how he treats themes of loyalty and accidents.
When you do sit down to watch it, turn off your phone. This isn't a "second screen" movie. If you miss a three-minute sequence, the whole narrative puzzle might fall apart for you. Pay attention to the recurring motifs of water and fire—Arriaga loves his elemental symbolism.
Finally, look into the work of Diego Luna during this period. Watching this alongside Y tu mamá también shows the incredible range of an actor who helped define a generation of Spanish-language cinema. It’s not just a movie; it’s a piece of a much larger, very important puzzle in film history.
Avoid the temptation to look for a "happy" ending. Instead, look for the moments of honesty. In a world of filtered lives and fake stories, The Night Buffalo is a reminder that the truth is often ugly, loud, and incredibly hard to ignore. Focus on the sensory details—the sound of the rain, the scratch of a pen, the silence after a phone call. That's where the real movie lives.