Dominican actor Manny Perez reprises his role as Luisito, a legendary hit man known as “La Soga” (The Rope), who targeted criminals and drug dealers for the police. He takes over the reins as writer and director of La Soga Salvation, a sequel to the 2009 film. The second installment has Luisito and his girlfriend living clandestinely in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He’s found by a corrupt federal agent (Chris McGarry) and ruthless sicaria (Hada Vanessa), who both have different violent agendas for Luisito.
Taking Over the Reins as Writer and Director of La Soga Salvation
Movieweb spoke with Manny Perez at length about La Soga Salvation. It was his first turn as a feature film director. Manny had confidence in his process after many years as a veteran character actor. He worked closely with La Soga director Josh Crook and was instrumental in developing the original film. Manny decided to direct La Soga Salvation himself when Josh Crook was not available for the sequel.
MP: Luisito was a hit man that worked for the government in the Dominican Republic. That was part one. But if you haven’t seen part one don’t worry. He’s been living in a small town, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He’s trying to live a normal life with his girlfriend. He’s a man who’s hiding from his past. His past then comes knocking at his door. This is how La Soga Salvation starts.
The way I write is very visual. I write the way you see it on the screen. I’m not a writer. I’ve never taken a writing class. I’ve read so many scripts where they ruined it. I try to keep the audience wondering what’s going to happen next. Every ten minutes, there’s a twist. I purposely wrote it that way. I was talking to a friend (Josh Crook) of mine to direct, but he was not available. He directed part one. I decided to do it myself. I’d never directed a film but had always been by his side. As an actor, I’ve watched directors and always wanted to direct myself. This was the perfect opportunity. I wrote and created this character. Directing was challenging, but I loved it.
Realistic Violence, Vulnerability, and Lethal Adversaries
La Soga Salvation has brutal and bloody action scenes, but they are not overblown. Luisito is not an invincible killer with infinite ammo. He gets hurt, feels tremendous guilt for endangering his girlfriend, and has to contend with two extremely dangerous antagonists. Chris McGarry and Colombian actress Hada Vanessa nearly steal the show. One is comical and duplicitous, while the other annihilates every obstacle in her path. Manny Perez surrounded himself with actors he could trust who were fully committed to the film.
MP: As an actor, I’ve always played the bad-ass, a bigger-than-life guy. I wanted to make this guy a regular dude. The guy you hang out in the bar with. I wanted to do something different than what Hollywood has done with hit men or sicarios. It’s always over-the-top, not credible. La Soga feels. He’s not a superhero.
Chris McGarry is an amazing actor who hasn’t made it in Hollywood yet. I’ve known him for thirty years. We did plays together. I wrote this film with him in mind. McGarry is sneaky, he’s dirty but likable. He brought so much color to it. It’s time for him to get seen. Hada Vanessa is amazing. She’s a Colombian actress that I’ve known for many years. I wanted to stick with people that I know and trust. On a low budget film like this, I know they’re for me and not trying to get another gig or run to another set for another job. We started on January 1, 2020. We were done on January 16th, a 15-day shoot. It was our New Year’s resolution. It was a quick shoot. But I rehearsed and prepped with the actors for two months prior.
Spanglish and Dominican Culture Represented Authentically
La Soga Salvation tells a personal story for Manny Perez. He wanted Dominican culture represented authentically on screen. The characters speak Spanish and English, then combine both languages in hybrid dialogue. Manny explains this is how Latinos in America speak. Much of the film’s humor comes from his experiences with family and friends. He’s keenly aware of the difficulties of selling a foreign language film but feels that American audiences have already taken that leap to diversity.
MP: La Soga Salvation has a language called Spanglish. In one sentence, they go from Spanish to English. But you understand it. I wanted to be real with how I speak to my brothers and sisters. That’s how I speak with my neighbor. That’s how Dominicans and Latinos speak. I was true to that. There is some truth that distributors are afraid to buy Spanish-only films. But I feel that’s changing when you see what’s happening with Netflix. People are watching Narcos in Spanish. La Soga Salvation is Spanglish. It’s 60% Spanish and 40% English. It’s a mix of both, but you get the humor and enjoy it.
The scene with the hookah and numbers guy. That scene was a mix of all three actors. That’s my family’s house on a Friday night. You have the hookah, salsa music playing in the background. It’s loud, the TV is on, there’s crazy conversation. That is a Dominican house.
Corruption in the Dominican Republic
La Soga Salvation is an action film. But it speaks directly to a troublesome issue for Manny Perez. Luisito fights against corruption in the Dominican Republic. Politicians, law enforcement, and a wealthy upper class are grafting the country’s wealth. Perez challenges the notion that bringing these problems to light portrays his beloved country in a negative way.
MP: As a Dominican, that is the part of my country that I hate the most. We have these leaders who are taking advantage of the poor and the needy. They are robbing the country for their own good. This was my way of standing up and addressing what’s happening. I take a camera and show it to the world. When we shot part one, it premiered in Toronto. The LA Times wrote four articles about corruption in the DR. I had people sending me hate mail, “Why are you showing the world our dirty laundry? Stop doing that!” I felt like I had to. What’s the purpose of being an actor, being a filmmaker, if you’re not showing the world something with your product? That was my goal. Take a camera, use my pen, and write what should be corrected. That is the character of La Soga. He’s out for justice.
La Soga Salvation is currently in theaters and available on-demand.
Read Next
About The Author
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Education News Click Here
