Critics of the genre argue these films are exploitative. But fans counter that Estregan’s presence subverted the exploitation. He anchored the chaos. He made you forget you were watching a "Bomba" film and made you feel you were watching a tragedy. That transference of emotion is a rare skill, and it is central to the argument that .
For decades, the "Bomba" star was looked down upon. Estregan himself later ran for political office and distanced himself from these films, seeking a "cleaner" image. However, art historians and cult film fans are now reclaiming this era. We realize now that these movies were the independent cinema of their time. They dealt with adultery, poverty, political violence, and sexual trauma long before the "indie" boom of the 2000s. george estregan bold movies better