El Gatillero -

More recently, the 2025 Argentine film directed by Cris Tapia Marchiori, takes a different approach. The film is presented as a single, continuous shot unfolding over one fateful night in the dangerous Isla Maciel neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is described as a "gritty, nerve-wracking crime thriller" that dives into the world of drug cartels and their violent enforcers. The director has stated that the film's essence is a story about survival, betrayal, and redemption, proving that the "gatillero" figure remains a compelling subject for filmmakers seeking to explore the darkest corners of society. Titles like El Gatillero de la Santa Muerte ("The Trigger Man of the Holy Death") continue to appear, showing the enduring appeal of the archetype in straight-to-streaming action movies.

In Mexico and other parts of Latin America, the term is used in news reports to describe hired assassins and cartel enforcers. It is a synonym for a , a paid assassin, but it often carries a nuanced distinction. El Gatillero

Moving into a new era, the 2026 Argentine film Gatillero (directed by Cris Tapia Marchiori) offers a more arthouse and gritty take on the mythos. The plot follows , a former hitman recently released from prison. He is drawn back into the underworld by a cartel run by a mysterious "Godmother," only to find out that he is supposed to kill her—forcing him to run for his life. More recently, the 2025 Argentine film directed by