Directed By: Jaume Balaguero
Written By: Alberto Marini
Cinematography By: Pablo Rosso
Editor: Guillermo De La Cal
Cast: Luis Tosar, Marta Etura, Alberto San Juan, Iris Almeida, Petra Martinez
You wake day after day to the comfort and security of your home. But how safe is it really?
The film is shocking and gripping and comes out of nowhere to be a great film.
What helps make the film unsettling is the lead performance by Luis Tosar most of the time he is so emotionally remorseless. He barely betrays showing an emotion always having the same expression on his face from working, to his downtime. To the same expression when he is doing his evil deeds. He keeps his face stone-like, but you can tell his excitement from his behavior when he does it. --The scene where he says goodbye to a tenant late In the film is the best example of this as she says she will miss him. He basically dresses her down emotionally while making it seem like he is saying it because he truly cares about her while everyone else lies to her face. When in fact it is the opposite.
I think what is enjoyable is that the film makes no apologies for itself, not for the actions of it's characters. The film creates it's own little community inside of this building where most of the scenes take place making it feel very claustrophobic.
It offers answers to it's questions, but then only leaves more questions half of the time. What truly makes it scary is that the film isn't fantastical, nor does it make it a Slasher film. It's a movie with situations that could easily really happen. Like a nightmare that feels so real It doesn't feel like a nightmare until you wake up and are thankful, it wasn't real.
The film manages to surprise the audience many times by going in a different direction then you might see coming.
While it reminds me of films like UNLAWFUL ENTRY, PACIFIC HEIGHTS and ALONE WITH HER. This is done well with a less menacing and conventional spirit. This film is also not as broad as those films, nor as cut and dry as the character doesn't have a singular demented romantic obsession.
As the film goes on you feel a noose tighten around you wondering what is going to happen next. When will you be pushed off the ledge.
As disturbing as the film gets. It leaves you impressed by the fact that the film doesn't get too exploitive or graphic as you would think. It does only in two instances, but for the most part keeps it clean visually. Which while impressive also leaves you unsettled as it leaves you and your imagination to wonder and fill in the blanks which might lead to something more vile and violent then they could have served you visually. Cesar uses Chloroform on Clara using a cloth, several times. She is rendered unconscious in seconds, yet when Cesar spills it straight on his face he is able to stagger around the apartment and even make it to the bathtub.
It's what many thrillers and horror films try to do today, but fail at. This film does it right as it is such a good time, smart with characters you care about. That it pulls you in and you want to fill in the blanks and isn't lazy storytelling. It is Hitchcock-esque in mood more than style.
Films like this I have to give props to with a certain design you never see coming. It easily has you in it's grip.
I won't say anymore as this is a film best left to discover.
I consider this film a undiscovered gem. Waiting for an audience to appreciate it. It will probably unfortunately be remade into a barely recognizable American version that tweaks all the things that make this one so original in the first place and the remake will be seen first and by a larger audience then have ever seen this and sully it's name. Hopefully after the the remake it will intrigue others to go watch this original and enjoy and appreciate it then I guess remaking it is worth it?
Grade: A-
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