El Topo

El Topo, with his young son Hijo by his side, begins a profound journey across a desolate desert. Along the way, they share a moment where El Topo gifts Hijo a teddy bear and a hand mirror, which contains a picture of his mother.

In a significant moment, El Topo informs Hijo that he has reached the age of seven, marking his transition into manhood. This leads to an emotional burial ritual where Hijo lays his childhood keepsakes, including the teddy bear, beneath the sands.

The duo's journey takes a dark turn as they arrive at a town that has been devastated by violence. Consumed by anger at the injustice, El Topo vows to seek revenge on those responsible for the horrific massacre.

While on their quest for vengeance, El Topo and Hijo confront three menacing bandits. In a display of skill, El Topo dispatches them, leaving one to survive and reveal that the devastation was ordered by a Colonel who resides at a nearby mission.

El Topo tracks down the bandits and confronts the Colonel in the cathedral town. In a violent encounter, he deals out deadly justice, killing two bandits and castrating the Colonel, who subsequently takes his own life out of despair.

Following the bloodshed, El Topo makes the heartbreaking choice to leave Hijo in the care of monks. He departs with Mara, a woman he rescues, who ignites a new ambition within him to confront the legendary gun masters.

El Topo embarks on a series of duels against four legendary gun masters. Each encounter not only tests his skills but also introduces him to different philosophies, leading him to victories more often through luck and cunning than skill.

After triumphing over the masters, El Topo is overwhelmed by guilt for the violent path he has taken. This drives him on a pilgrimage to the graves of those he has slain, reflecting on the consequences of his actions.

In a shocking twist, Mara betrays El Topo, riding away with a mysterious woman. Left in despair, El Topo collapses and is found by a group of deformed outcasts who care for him in a cave.

Upon awakening, El Topo realizes the outcasts view him as a savior and begins to feel a sense of purpose. He vows to help them escape their cave prison, fostering a romantic relationship with a dwarf among the outcasts.

Hijo matures into a young monk, arriving in the town with hopes of being its new priest. He quickly becomes disillusioned with the corrupt practices of the cultists and encounters memories of his father.

Determined to escape, El Topo works tirelessly alongside the outcasts to excavate a tunnel. After much struggle, they finally break through, but the anticipation is met with dread as they face the cultists.

As the outcasts emerge into the town, they are greeted with gunfire from the cultists, resulting in the tragic slaughter of the community that El Topo fought to protect. In a rage of vengeance, he retaliates against the attackers.

In a heroic and desperate act, El Topo ignites an oil lamp, consuming himself in flames to avenge the outcasts. His ultimate sacrifice is both a culmination of his journey and a testament to his quest for redemption.

As El Topo succumbs, his newborn child enters the world, and Hijo lays him to rest with a grave adorned with honeycombs. This final image of Hijo riding away with his sibling honors El Topo's legacy, forever marked in time.