Below Zero (Spanish: Bajocero) is a 2021 Spanish action thriller film. It was directed by Lluís Quílez and written by Fernando Navarro and Lluís Quílez. The film features actors Javier Gutiérrez, Karra Elejalde, Luis Callejo, and Patrick Criado. The story follows a group of police officers transporting prisoners in an armored vehicle. They are attacked suddenly by a hijacker who demands the release of one prisoner.
Netflix reported that 47 million accounts watched the movie in its first month on the platform.
Plot
An injured man is chased through a forest at night and captured by someone who wants to find a missing woman. The attacker does not know where the woman is and buries the man alive.
Police officer Martín begins a new job driving a vehicle that carries prisoners at night, working with Officer Montesino. Montesino treats some prisoners unfairly during the trip, but Martín stops him from causing harm.
During the journey, the transport vehicle loses sight of and communication with the police car that is supposed to protect it because of heavy fog. The vehicle suddenly stops because of a spiked strip on the road. Montesino gets out to check but does not return. When Martín follows, he finds Montesino dead, and the police car is overturned with the officers inside also dead.
A sniper shoots at Martín, who shoots back but is hit in the leg. He returns to the transport vehicle and hides in the area where prisoners are kept. One prisoner breaks free and tries to attack Martín, but Martín defends himself with his weapon. Gasoline is poured into two prisoner cells through vents and set on fire. Martín opens the cells to save the prisoners, but one man is already dead.
The freed prisoner releases the others. A message is heard over the intercom saying Martín’s gun is empty and telling the prisoners to escape. However, a prisoner named Nano kills another man, claiming he was the one who planned the hijack. Nano takes Martín’s key.
The hijacker, Miguel, takes control of the transport vehicle and threatens to kill everyone unless they hand over Nano. A fight happens over the key, but Nano swallows it. Martín is forced to be locked with Nano while others try to open the exit. Martín recognizes one prisoner, Ramis, as someone he knew from his wedding.
Miguel drives the truck while prisoners look for a way to escape. Rei enters a storage compartment under the truck to open a panel. Meanwhile, Montesino wakes up and follows the truck after finding Miguel’s jeep with pictures of his missing daughter. Montesino catches up to the truck and shoots at it but is killed in a crash. Rei also dies in the storage compartment, injured by a screw when the truck swerves.
Martín questions Nano about the situation. Nano says he does not know but mentions a childhood friend named Chino. Miguel drives the truck onto a frozen lake and shoots the ice, causing the vehicle to sink. He walks away, leaving Martín, Nano, and Ramis to escape. Golum dies from the cold.
Nano runs away, and Martín and Ramis separate. Martín reaches a nearby village and hears gunfire. Miguel is shooting at Nano from inside a building. Martín confronts Miguel, who explains he wants revenge because Nano and Chino (the man from the opening scene) gave his young daughter alcohol, then raped and tortured her until she died.
Martín refuses to let Miguel kill Nano. They fight for a shotgun, and Martín wins control. Miguel chases Nano, but Martín shoots Nano in the foot and hand, demanding to know where Miguel’s daughter is. Nano admits he and Chino buried her in a well on a farm. As he says this, a police helicopter arrives.
In the final scene, Martín collects his belongings from a locker at the police station and walks away, likely ending his career as a police officer.
Reception
On the website Rotten Tomatoes, which collects reviews, 88% of the 8 critics gave positive reviews, with an average score of 5.90 out of 10.