As a rendering of Mexico’s agonized convulsions, Kingdom of Shadows is unforgettable.
— Andy Webster, The New York Times
Many documentaries have chronicled the drug war in the U.S. and Mexico, but few have humanized it as poignantly as Kingdom of Shadows.
— Don Clinchy, Slackerwood
This film doesn’t pretend to offer answers; it settles for respecting the dignity of people who attempt to simply live their lives, regardless of the violence.
— Daniel Schindel, The Film Stage
Offers a sweeping, hopeless portrait of the suffering wreaked by the drug trade. . . . harrowing in its details.
— Nick Schager, The Village Voice