Written & Directed By: Adrian Garcia Bogliano
Cinematography By: Ernesto Herrera
Editor: Carmen Vargas
Cast: Laura Caro, Francisco Barreiro, Alan Martinez, Michele Garcia,
A married couple lose their children while on a family trip near some caves in Tijuana. The kids eventually reappear without explanation, but it becomes clear that they are not who they used to be, that something terrifying has changed them. While the film certainly plays into it's genre, especially the direction with it's angles and camera movements that alerts the audience to the films sinister nature, before anything really happen.
Instead of feeling like a horror film. This feels more like an exploitive b movie that just so happens to be a horror film. As every time the film feels smooth and on a role to being that creepy and haunting a scene of violence or sexual nature. Bringing the audience out of that mood and back to feeling exploitive as it is explicit.
As a result. You will probably remember more than anything the sensual love scenes more than any of the horror. Which achieved in only one scene to truly evoke terror and an unsettled awkwardness. The other scenes of horror seemed par for the course.
The sexuality of the movie taps Into what seems to be the main point of this film. A certain warning and pre-occupation with sexuality, puberty and sexual awakening. Being plucked in a sense when ripe. Letting evil take a role to control or Into to your life. Which will molest and use you as a plaything at first before unleashing you on the world.
In the same way it reminds me of the FRIDAY THE 13TH movies, which seemed to be an allegory against sex. As most of the victims were killed after having sex presumably not safe sex. Then getting massacred. Not the only film that seemed to have that as a continuing motif, but the most popular and obvious.
What comes as a shock is how erotic this film ended up becoming. Though only 2 sex scenes really. They were so graphic and tantalizing. One opens the film and really comes out of nowhere. Understandable as the couple has to steal affection where they can. Though there is plenty of nudity. The intimate nature throughout the film is so unnerving that it sets a tone for the film as a whole. Though at times it also leaves the film with a Lurid after taste. The film is more of a supernatural horror film, the kind I am usually not a fan of unless done well. Here at least the film makes you pay attention.
The film manages to keep your interest with only a hint of violence. Which when it hits, seems to get overindulgent. Though a good tension filled movie thy feels a bit manipulative rather than let the circumstances and questions. situations speak for themselves.
Instead of wonder the film pretty much spells out most of the problems and trouble out for you. Instead of letting you question. No real air of mystery given. Except a general what happened? And mainly for closure.
The performance of Laura Caro as the mother is affecting. As she slowly breaks down throughout the film, Due to increasingly bizarre circumstances.
The film does manage to pack a hell of an ending. Even though you know where the film is going.
I can give the film credit that it feels like something I have never seen before and the directions it goes in are hardly predictable.
It sets an ominous mood that persists as unsettles throughout. Though for all of it's innovations I wish it had gone a bit further in it's execution and story.
I truly like the films of Adrian Garcia Bogliano and feel he is certainly carving a niche for himself in the horror genre and gives each of his films a little something extra to distinguish themselves from the pack. i really enjoyed his precious films COLD SWEAT and PENUMBRA.
Grade: B
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