On the Road () is a 2025 Mexican romantic-thriller film written and directed by David Pablos.Jordan Mintzer, "‘On the Road’ Review: An Extremely Tough, Incredibly Tender Story of Two Men Falling in Love on Mexico's Deadly Highways". The Hollywood Reporter, September 6, 2025. It follows Veneno (Victor Prieto) a gay young man who falls for Muñeco (Osvaldo Sanchez), a womanizer truck driver.
The film had its world premiere in the Orizzonti section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 4 September 2025, where it won the section's main prize and the Queer Lion. It was theatrically released in Mexico on 4 June 2026.
It was also selected as the Mexican entry for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards.
Plot Veneno is a young hustler who trades sexual favors to gay men for money at a roadside diner. One day he meets Muñeco, an older truck driver passing through the area, and joins Muñeco on his journey, with the two men falling in love as they are pursued by figures from Veneno's past.
Cast
Victor Prieto as Veneno Osvaldo Sanchez as Muñeco Mariano López Sosa
Release The film had its world premiere in the Orizzonti section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 4 September 2025,Rafa Sales Ross, "M-Appeal Picks Up Rights to David Pablos’ ‘On the Road’ Ahead of Venice World Premiere". Variety, July 24, 2025. where it won the section's main prize and the Queer Lion.Davide Abbatescianni, "Venice announces the winners of its parallel awards". Cineuropa, September 6, 2025.
It was theatrically released in Mexico on 4 June 2026.
It was acquired for commercial distribution in Italy by I Wonder Pictures.Leo Barraclough, "David Pablos’ Venice Drama ‘On the Road’ Acquired by Italy’s I Wonder Pictures". Variety, August 27, 2025.
Reception
Critical response Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "What’s most impressive is how On the Road turns a boilerplate genre scenario — and one that doesn’t skimp on a bloodbath at the end — into a movie that grows increasingly emotional as things get exponentially worse for its main characters. The more Veneno and Muñeco are in danger, the more their bond evolves from a hard-knocks bromance into an all-out romance. When things are at their most desperate, the two hide out in an abandoned warehouse and slow-dance to the Colombian ballad "Los Caminos de la Vida" in one of the most moving sequences seen this year in Venice."
For the International Cinephile Society, Matthew Joseph Jenner wrote that "En el camino is yet another compelling entry into this ongoing era of challenging, provocative queer films that set out to redefine certain perceptions around identity and how it manifests both on screen and in the surrounding discussions. The film blurs sensuality with the looming thread of danger, which is something that the director does not neglect, especially in the portions where it seems like he is commenting critically on themes much deeper than we’d expect from a cursory glance. It may contain a lot of passion, but it’s far from a romance, particularly in how it shows that queerness can come with an inherent risk in some communities, something that Pablos makes sure to emphasise without making the film a heavy-handed cautionary tale."Matthew Joseph Jenner, "Venice 2025 review: En el camino (David Pablos)". International Cinephile Society, September 4, 2025.
Accolades
| rowspan = "13" | | rowspan = "13" | 68th Ariel Awards | colspan = "2" | Best Picture || | rowspan = "13" | |- | Best Director || David Pablos || |- | Best Original Screenplay || David Pablos || |- | Best Actor || Osvaldo Sánchez || |- | Best Supporting Actor || Mariano López Sosa || |- | Best Breakthrough Performance || Víctor Miguel Prieto Simental || |- | Best Cinematography || Ximena Amann || |- | Best Original Score || Andrea Balency-Béarn || |- | Best Editing || Jonathan Pellicer || |- | Best Art Direction || Belén Estrada || |- | Best Costume Design || Felipe Criado || |- | Best Makeup || Adam Zoller || |- | Best Visual Effects || Jorge Palma Bermúdez ||
See also
List of Mexican submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of submissions to the 99th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
References
External links