'Sicario' sequel director explains how the shocking moment with Benicio Del Toro's character at the end of the movie could happen in real life
- Benicio Del Toro's hitman character Alejandro in "Sicario: Day of the Soldado" gets in quite the jam at the end of the movie.
- You may have left the theater after seeing the movie with a big question.
- We talked to the movie's director, Stefano Sollima, about how realistic the most shocking moment of the movie is.
Warning: Major spoiler below if you haven't seen "Sicario: Day of the Soldado."
If you saw "Sicario: Day of the Soldado," you may have left the movie theater with one major question: "How the heck did Benicio Del Toro survive that gun shot to the face?"
We certainly thought the same thing.
In the sequel to the critically acclaimed thriller about the drug battle on the US/Mexico border, we are taken deeper and learn that it's now more profitable to smuggle people across the border than drugs.
Toward the end of the movie, Alejandro (Del Toro) and Isabel (Isabela Moner) try to get back into the US by paying a gang that sneaks illegal immigrants cross the border. However, one of the gang members spots Alejandro and realizes he works with the American authorities. This leads to one of the movie's most dramatic moments, as Alejandro is tied up, has his face covered, and is brought out to a secluded location to be executed.
After a little back and forth on who will do the deed, the young gang member who originally spotted Alejandro takes the gun and shoots him in the face. The audience thinks Alejandro is definitely dead. However, a few scenes later, we come back to Alejandro the morning after, and suddenly he's moving.
With blood pouring from his face, he gets himself untied and takes off the cover over his face to reveal that the gunshot had gone into one cheek and out the other side. He's in some serious pain but not dead.
Is this just movie magic, or could this have really happened?
"Soldado" director Stefano Sollima said they put a lot of research into finding out if it was possible to survive that.
"I approached that scene realistically," Sollima told Business Insider, noting that it's shot exactly how screenwriter Taylor Sheridan ("Sicario," "Hell or High Water") wrote it. "We used a caliber of gun where it's possible that you are going to survive. Then we did an analysis of what can happen. We discussed with consultants and it was really important to be sure that the camera angle showed where exactly he was shot. You can survive if you're really lucky."
Turns out even for the most skilled sicario sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.
"Sicario: Day of the Soldado" is currently playing in theaters.