Matador. 1986. Spain. Directed by Pedro Almodóvar. Screenplay by Almodóvar, Jesús Ferrero. With Antonio Banderas, Assumpta Serna, Nacho Martínez, Eva Cobo. DCP. In Spanish; English subtitles. 110 min.
Diego (Nacho Martínez) is a former star bullfighter forced into early retirement after being gored by a bull. Maria (Assumpta Serna) is a femme fatale lawyer dressed to kill in androgynous business suits. A shared obsession with blood and murder brings the two in alliance. Enter Angel (Antonio Banderas), Diego’s bullfighting student, who is, ironically, scared of blood. Despite an unsuccessful rape attempt, Angel turns himself in to the police and confesses to multiple murders. Mysteries, killer instinct, religion, and sexual desires collide in this dark comedy.