DEATH ON THE BEACH (1991)

 

Directed By: Enrique Gomez Vadillo

Written By: Enrique Gomez Vadillo and Carlos Valdemar

Cinematography: Santiago Navarrette

Editor: Carlos Puente

Cast: Sonia Infante, Andres Bonfiglio, Rodolfo De Anda, Antonio Eric, Humberto Lobato, Angela Alatriste, Martha Gema, Ileana Higueras 

The son of a wealthy businesswoman returns home from boarding school. His mother, always busy with business and with her ambitious lover, realizes that her son suffers from being a homosexual. Having killed a teacher who abused him, the trauma makes him keep killing.

This film was made in 1991 but watching it it feels older though it totally fits both the 1970s and 1990s as a way of creation as the film is at the heart, a thriller, but also a kind of LGBTQ plus romance of sorts. Definitely more of a cult film.

We are mildly sympathetic to the killer in this film, as it’s not a spoiler, but his character was raped by his teacher at a boarding school, and he secretly enjoyed it, which is how he found out that he was a homosexual, but also is repressed that he can’t readily admit it to his mother But is looking for someone to love and share his life with, but is so repressed that he kills those around him or also gay or threat to him

To try to fool the audience because the opening credits are of the lead female Sonia Infante swimming around her pool and staying in a state of toplessness until a man comes we find out is her soon-to-be husband and basically, they frolic together, and this opening scene and throughout the film that is shot like soft horn Haze

The stepfather seems like a Spanish right, Robert Mitchum. He looks and we don’t really know his deal because at first, it seems like he is a gold digger, but he seems like he does but also odds with the stepson, but the mother keeps trying to deny homosexuality Homosexuality is treated like some kind of disease or mental illness throughout this film. We’re having the main character be a serial killer of sorts doesn’t help.

It's so hard to believe that the stepfather is the one who suspects him of it while also setting up a house fall who is meant for more things than he is presented with at the beginning 

In all of this, the sun finally finds a companion to confide in who has a girlfriend who I guess has always been straight most of his life but being a European he’s sexually the son is his friend and has treated him so well and this is his honeymoon to a certain extent or least bachelor party to get all his players and king out an intense romance between the two

The film has full frontal nudity of men and women, thing is that it represents a negative stereotype of homosexuals, but it also makes them the main character and gives representation at a time when it wasn’t really shown also the movie is a bee movie that is so ridiculous that you cannot believe The sun is getting away with all these murders, except for the fact that his mother is rich, but she even believes all of his excuses of all these deaths around ridiculous, especially when the murders are so blatant and done at the drop of a hat without any real thought or planning?

That is the beauty of the film is that it is such a bee movie and so ridiculously over the top, but for the most part, seriously it achieves the true beauty of being self-aware and not at the same time with questionable politics and motives that make the film, if not troubling at times And wondering how takes this film that it is obvious yet comic 

In the end, this is a fun yet bad film that has a ridiculous. The third act and ending despite it being bananas from the beginning Harkins back to a certain time no offer representation of good and bad. 

watching the film, you could tell that this was a bit homophobic and going into certain stereotypes while trying to have an open mind, though villainizing and having sympathy but also gives a backstory and understanding, even though throughout the film pretty much there is no set. Everything is said out of the open and no one seems to have, a sensor when it comes to their thoughts and saying them. it seems a vision of a homosexual story through a straight male gaze. 

Grade: C