The Dead Girls Review: Inside Netflix’s Mexican Crime Drama

The Dead Girls is a 2025 Mexican thriller/drama series that premiered on 10th September 2025 and is currently streaming on Netflix. Its original title is Las Muertas. The series was based on the novel Las Muertas (1977) by Jorge Ibargüengoitia, which was inspired by the real-life Las Poquianchis, and directed by Luis Estrada.

The series is rated 18+ and consists of scenes with nudity, sex, sexual violence references, and adult language use.

The Premise

The series follows the rise of the Baladro sisters as they build a brothel empire and transform into ruthless killers in 1960s Mexico. The series starts as a love story (well, almost) and soon spirals into a revenge thriller and then an all-out bloodbath.

There is exploration of themes of manipulation, fear, teenage prostitution, sex trafficking, revenge, obsession, murder, greed, desperation, corruption, and a lot more, revealing a territory where moral and immoral categories blur: no one is entirely innocent or completely guilty.

The series is made up of a single season, which comprises 6 episodes.

Season 1, Episode 1 – Double Revenge, A.K.A. Las Dos Venganzas

Every relationship has its highs and lows, and the same was true for Serafina Baladro and Simon Corona. After a trip to Veracruz, Simon abandons her for good. The end of their love affair ignites Madam Serafina’s burning desire for revenge, a passion that threatens to consume them both. This episode runs for 68 minutes.

Season 1, Episode 2 – The History of the Houses, A.K.A. Historia de Las Casas

Arcángela Baladro, Serafina’s sister, turns to Captain Bedoya to aid in Serafina’s revenge. Meanwhile, the Baladro sisters’ brothel empire faces danger from a strict morality law. This episode runs for 62 minutes.

Season 1, Episode 3 – The Bad Night, A.K.A. La Mala Noche

An incident involving Humberto Paredes Baladro (Beto), Arcángela’s son, forces the police to shut down Mexico Lindo (the main branch of their brothel empire), the sisters’ brothel empire. To survive, they take refuge at the Casino del Danzón (another branch of their brothel empire, and it’s located in Concepcion de Ruiz). They invest in a ranch as their bid for salvation. This episode runs for 72 minutes.

Season 1, Episode 4 – Bianca’s Teeth, A.K.A. Los Dientes de Blanca

Blanca’s tragic fate, one of the brothel’s women, unleashes a dark chain of events that soon finds its way into the Baladros’ own backyard. This episode runs for 68 minutes.

Season 1, Episode 5 – Martial Law, A.K.A. La Ley Marcial

At the brothel, Bedoya’s iron-fisted rule sparks open rebellion among the women, while at the ranch, Teófilo, the sisters’ weary brother-in-law and Eulalia Baladro’s husband, struggles to survive until tragedy delivers its final blow. This episode runs for 62 minutes.

Season 1, Episode 6 – Enter The Police A.K.A. LLEGA LA POLICIA

When Serafina becomes the focus of a relentless detective, the family flees to the ranch. Yet the deeper the investigation goes, the more the Baladro family’s buried secrets come to light. This episode runs for 79 minutes.

Cast and Performances

Paulina Gaitan as Serafina Baladro

Serafina is the youngest sister, who is more compassionate and calmer compared to her sister, Arcangela. Serafina handles supervision and discipline in the brothel. Her performance was powerful, carrying much emotional intensity and moral ambiguity.

Arcelia Ramírez as Arcangela Balandro

She is more business-minded and pragmatic than her sister Serafina. Arcangela manages finances and connections to the local officials. Her portrayal was more composed, giving a chilling presence.

Joaquín Cosío as Hermenegildo Captain Bedoya

He is a disciplined army officer, yet his constant presence in the brothel shows a man torn between authority and vice. His role adds complexity, authority, corruption, and menace to the series.

Leticia Huijara as Eulalia Baladro

She is the middle sister. Although Eulalia and her husband, Teofilo Pinto, were struggling financially, they initially wanted nothing to do with the brothel, yet they eventually found themselves entangled in its web.

Overall, the cast delivers strong, believable performances, making the characters’ moral descent and internal conflicts feel weighty and compelling.

What I Liked About The Series

Atmosphere & Setting

The 1960s Mexico backdrop, social norms, corruption, and moral double standards are well built, giving the show the texture of the series “The Dead Girls.”

1960s vibe done right

I really appreciated how the series stayed true to its 1960s theme. Achieving that level of authenticity could not have been easy, especially since it was filmed in 2025, in such a modern era.

Nonlinear Narrative

I liked how the story unfolded, with its seamless blending of past, present, and future events, all presented as if they were happening at once yet explained so clearly that there was no confusion.

The Moral Lesson

The series delivers a satisfying ending, driving home the lesson that every action carries consequences. No matter how small your involvement may seem, guilt by association ensures you will face the penalty.

Narrative Rhythm

The pacing of the film is excellent, with no dragged-out moments or unnecessary scenes. Every scene feels purposeful and keeps the story moving smoothly, though the plot progression became repetitive sometimes, but I feel it was to aid audience continuity since there was a collaboration of past, present, and future scenes.

The Dead Girls (Las Muertas) - Mexican Drama

What Didn’t Work?

Implausible scene writing

Some scenes in this series are quite absurd. For example, a priest attends the opening of a brothel and is even asked to say a prayer before the event begins.

Excessive smoking portrayal

There is an overwhelming amount of cigarette smoking throughout the series, to the point where it becomes distracting rather than atmospheric. Instead of adding to the authenticity of the setting, the constant presence of smoke and cigarettes feels excessive and, after a while, quite exhausting to watch.

Unrealistic Portrayal

I find it hard to understand how an army captain could be so idle that he is constantly at the brothel, to the point of running it. Does he not worry that such an association could tarnish his image?

Under-explored Backstories

Some characters’ motivations, especially among secondary characters, could have been better developed. A few arcs felt less fleshed out than they could have been, which weakened certain emotional beats.

Final Thoughts

The Dead Girls is a morally complex drama that succeeds more often than not. It is not perfect, but its strengths—strong performances, the setting, and willingness to engage with messy, uncomfortable truths—make it a standout. If you are looking for a series that challenges rather than comforts, this one delivers.

Rating

I will rate this series a 3 out of 5. Strong in many areas, with flaws, but worth watching.

Our Rating

Have you seen this series? Which character’s choices shocked you the most, Serafina’s descent into vengeance or Captain Bedoya’s corrupt alliances?

Author

Chiamaka Nworie

Nworie Rita Chiamaka is a passionate movie reviewer who loves storytelling and cinematic artistry. Beyond movies, Chiamaka is a nature lover who finds joy in taking walks, reading, and singing. She thrives on meaningful connections and enjoys making new friends. Her reviews often reflect her appreciation for authentic storytelling, well-developed characters, and the emotional depth that movies bring to audiences.