Juan Carlos Fresnadillo’s debut film posits an intriguing world view: some people are naturally lucky. They survive (and not without guilt) accidents, diseases, bullfights, gunfights — and yet their luck is also a transferable commodity.

Max von Sydow stars as a Holocaust survivor and casino owner obsessed with the giving and taking of luck. His long-time protégé (a brilliant Eusebio Poncela) falls from grace and turns to mentoring a thief (Leonardo Sbaraglia) who’s the sole survivor of a plane wreck. They are tracked by a tough, lonely cop (an impressive Mónica López), another near-death escapee. Engaging in increasingly odd games of chance, these luck bearers risk their lives to ascend to the next level. Fresnadillo’s slick thriller melds stylish cinematography with relentless pacing toward a stunning, brutal finale — think Reservoir Dogs by way of El espinazo del Diablo/The Devil’s Backbone. In English and Spanish with English subtitles. (108 minutes)