Director and Editor ERNESTO DIAZ ESPINOZA discusses the action-packed DIABLO in this exclusive interview.
SYNOPSIS: After his release from prison, one man makes it his mission to right a terrible wrong by revealing a secret that could end his life. Scott Adkins stars as Kris Chaney, a warrior who seizes the daughter of a Colombian gangster to fulfill a noble promise to the young girl’s mother. When her father enlists both the criminal underworld and the terrifying psychotic killer El Corvo (Marko Zaror) to exact his revenge, Kris will need to draw upon everything he has ever learned — in and out of lockup — to stay alive and keep his word.
Directed by ERNESTO DIAZ ESPINOZA with script by Mat Samson and story by Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror, DIABLO stars Scott Adkins, Marko Zaror, Alanna De La Rossa, and Lucho Velasco.
When a film stars Scott Adkins, immediately count me in because with Adkins on board, you know the action will be fast, crisp, clean, and non-stop mesmerizing. Then add in Marko Zaror, another martial arts and action powerhouse, as bad guy to Adkins’ good guy, and you’re guaranteed excitement, action, and martial arts disciplines that will go through the roof. But then bring director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza into the mix, and you’ll get yourself a major E-ticket ride. And that’s exactly what we get with DIABLO. So how did Ernesto pull this off?
Quite possibly the best martial arts action film of Scott Adkins legendary career, under Ernesto’s direction, and playing opposite Zaror, the fight choreography is off the charts with its complexity and sheer force. But looking beyond the action aspect, all eyes turn to Ernesto who steadies the ship and balances the story and action, particularly the relationship between Adkins’ Kris and Alanna De La Rossa’s Elisa. Theirs is the heart that fuels the film on which the action is based. Also editing the film, as we chatted, Ernesto explained the challenges of maintaining the balance of story and action and how that was impacted by casting the right actors for each role.
Given the amount of action in DIABLO, it was important to have a cinematographer who could handle the action with light and lens, but also capture that heart of the story. Ernesto found his solution with cinematographer Niccolo De La Fere. Already a fan of Niccolo’s thanks to his work with director Christian Sesma on ‘Into the Deep”, “Prisoner of War” which starred Scott Adkins and was directed by Louis Mandylor, “The Flood” which was directed by Brandon Slagle, or action films lilke “3 Days in Malay”, “Battle for Saipan” and “Operation Bloodhunt”, I am beyond impressed with Niccolo’s work in DIABLO which is stylized, covers the wide expanse of some of the action sequences, and builds tension within the framing. As you’ll hear from Ernesto, he developed a wonderful collaboration with Niccolo whom he describes as “bringing unique camera techniques” that enhanced the action sequences.
Long an admirer of Ernesto’s work as an editor thanks to films like Eli Roth’s “The Green Inferno”, “Fist of the Condor” which Ernesto also directed, and “Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone”, hearing Ernesto talk about his editing process and approach to the edit in DIABLO is quite interesting as he explains that he edited the scenes in his head while directing, but had to face the real challenge in the editing room. Due to the complexity of editing action sequences, particularly a multi-level fight crossover interior/exterior scene, Ernesto emphasized the need for preparation, planning, and intuition in filming and in the editing approach. Maintaining high energy while finding the heart of DIABLO was key.
An interesting aspect of the production process is the casting of Alanna De La Rossa as Elisa which led to the production being shifted to Colombia for filming. This is a story you’re not going to believe!
Not to be overlooked is the film’s score by Rocco, a composition that focused on and captured the emotional heart of the story, emphasizing the relationship between Kris and Elisa.
An enjoyable conversation with ERNESTO DIAZ, we discussed all of this and more in this exclusive interview.
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 06/11/2025
DIABLO is now available In Theatres and On Demand and Digital.
