El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

Jesse's Journey and an Epilogue of Closure

^{Review by Matt Owen}

The stats don't lie; Breaking Bad was one of the biggest shows in all of history, widely regarded as a nearly flawless series and a prime example of peak television. While many viewers feel that the show ended on a perfect note, we were still left in the dark about the fate of one key character. Six years after the series finale of Breaking Bad, writer/director/showrunner Vince Gilligan has returned with El Camino, serving as the epilogue for his original story. Although arguably unnecessary in the grand scheme of things, El Camino is another excellent thrill ride from Vince Gilligan and the Breaking Bad cast, providing a perfect amount of closure to long-time fans.

Set just moments after the series finale of Breaking Bad, El Camino continues the story of Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), the right-hand man of drug kingpin, Walter White/Heisenberg (Bryan Cranston), who escapes captivity at the hands of heinous criminals in the eponymous Chevrolet. On the run from the police and those who would wish him harm, Jesse becomes embroiled in a state-wide manhunt, coupled with a bit of revenge and mystery. Though primarily taking place after the events of the show, there are a handful of flashbacks that give us a renewed perspective on the events of Breaking Bad. Although some new characters are added where they previously did not exist, none of these additions feel cheap or have the air of retconning. Instead, these flashbacks paint a clearer picture of Jesse's state of mind, his aspirations, or lack thereof. Considering that most of Breaking Bad was spent from the perspective of Walter White, it's refreshing to see Jesse front and centre.

However, staying in line with the tone of the show, El Camino is drenched in drama and suspense, as Jesse stumbles his way from conflict to conflict, constantly on the run and evading danger. Stricken with PTSD from his torturous time with the neo-Nazi meth dealers, it's a doubly distressing adventure, which only grows more harrowing with each subsequent scene. In this regard, Aaron Paul steps up to bat in the role of Jesse and simply knocks it out of the park, putting in an exceptionally emotional performance and digging deep for almost every scene. This stressful story is remarkably shot too, and framed to perfection, with its dark themes juxtaposed by beautiful landscapes and contemplative in-camera moments, showcasing Vince Gilligan's careful direction. At just over two hours, it's also extremely well-paced, and infused with an atmosphere of constant dread and anxiety that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

For fans of Breaking Bad, El Camino can be a real treat, with its surprising cameos, interesting plot connections, and references to fan-favourite moments. While this is Jesse's story through and through, several other characters make their return, including the sociopath Todd (Jesse Plemons), endearing pair Skinny Pete (Charles Baker) and Badger (Matt Jones), as well as others that I won't spoil. It's nice to see these characters get a bit of extra time to shine, even if some moments feel more in favour of fan service than to further the plot. In that way, El Camino will likely be a rocky viewing for anyone who hasn't watched the original show. Although it does function as a standalone thriller, most of the emotion and narrative nuance will be completely lost if you haven't seen the entire Breaking Bad series.

El Camino is an impressive movie for a myriad of reasons. Not only does it serve as an excellent epilogue for one of the best television shows of all time, but it's also consistently intriguing, full of fantastic shots, all while being paced and performed to perfection. In making El Camino, Vince Gilligan had the challenge of living up to the reputation of Breaking Bad, and somehow, he didn't drop the ball. Sure, it's not completely flawless and stumbles as a standalone experience, but that doesn't make it any less satisfying for Breaking Bad fans.

If you watched the television show and you loved it, as did most, this flick is absolutely worth a watch. That goes double for anyone who loved the character of Jesse Pinkman. El Camino provides meaningful closure, high emotion, and nail-biting suspense, all while respecting the story of Breaking Bad and pleasing most fans in the process.