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[REC] - REVIEW

[REC] ( Spanish , 2007 )

Director : Jaume Balaguero , Paco Plaza


A TV crew follows a Firefighting Team , to record their activities , when a call is made to rescue an old lady who is stuck in an apartment. This is the basic plot. Big deal , eh ? Believe me folks , you are in for a surprise , and a nasty one at that.

Another Spanish movie review , [REC] reaffirms my devotion to foreign cinema.

The movie covers incidents which unfold on a night , when a Fire Service Team is called to rescue an old lady , and help her out of her apartment. The visuals are through the camera of a TV crew , consisting of Angela Vidal the reporter and Pablo the cameraman. The crew is recording the event for a show called " While you were sleeping". What appears to be a normal call for rescue , eventually transforms into one of the most horrifying movies I have ever seen.

As the team reaches the apartment , they realize that this is no normal lady. What happens later , will not be revealed in this review , as I don't want to spoil the suspense for you people.

There are enough chills and thrills to keep you glued to your seats. The horror is definitely bloody good , literally. Blood and gore are widely used , but in a sensible manner. The movie could have been yet another ordinary Horror film , but thankfully it does make much more sense than the usual blood spilling stuff , which we have to put up with in the name of Horror/Thriller movies.

The movie is shot in the most realistic manner possible. The portrayal of human emotions has to be appreciated. The residents of the building are locked up , owing to certain reasons. So expect a lot of arguments and fussing. And when horrible incidents are taking place , people are more interested in being on TV.

There is no main character as such , as it is shot in a documentary style , but in a very different manner. Pablo's camera can be termed as the protagonist , as the entire story unfolds through his lens.

This is definitely an intense thriller. You are always on the edge of your seats , thanks to some really nervous situations , which the camera records. I knew that something would happen in certain scenes and in such cases I normally don't get scared when that thing actually happens.. But for some reason , even though you know when and where exactly the Director is going to attempt spooking you , you fall for it eventually.

Events unfold in such a fast manner that you never even think about keeping track of time. Easily the most effective screenplay , among the many Horror/Thriller movies I have come across.

The movie will be a feast for fans of the Horror/Thriller genre. However , this is not for the weak hearted. There are some really gory scenes , and if you are the squirmy type , you would think twice before watching it. And despite my warning , if you decide to watch it , please do so on an empty stomach. I hope you get the hint.

Yes , blood and gore are quite prominent . But very different from other Horror movies , where the makers try to scare you with excessive gore. Here it is more the tense situations and fear of the known , rather than the unknown which scare you.

The bulk of the story is set within the confines of a building , and believe me , you will not forget the building for a long time.


I am always in search of a Horror film , which will keep me so involved in the events which unfold , and manage to scare me. This one did not really scare me , except in a few sequences , but the thrill of watching it , in the middle of the night , was a rewarding experience.

The only hint I am dropping is this one ---> If you loved "28 Days Later" , the British Thriller which came out in 2002 , you will definitely like this one , as the concept is very similar. I strongly recommend this movie , especially if you are a fan of the Horror genre. And even though many people don't really like watching non-English films , I sincerely advise you to make an exception , as far as [REC] is concerned. Fear is Universal , don't you reckon ?

I normally detest blood and gore in Horror movies , but this one makes a lot of sense ,thankfully. I will go with 4 out of 5 , and a HUGE thumbs up , for [REC] , which is one of the very few exceptionally good Horror movies I have come across. Grab a "bite" of this one !!!

VERDICT : Brilliant Thriller ( 4 / 5)

THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE - REVIEW

EL ESPINAZO DEL DIABLO ( Spanish,2001)

Director : Guillermo Del Toro

Cast : Fernando Tielve , Eduardo Noriega , Federico Luppi

This is essentially a horror movie , sans the blood and gore. This movie is a blend of horror and drama , and boy o boy , what a blend it turned out to be. Another movie from Europe , this time from Spain's acclaimed director , Del Toro.

The movie is about a young boy Carlos (Tielve) , who is made to live in an orphanage / school , meant for children whose parents are with the rebel groups during the Spanish Civil war. There he is assigned a bed , which belonged to a kid called Santi ,who disappeared many days ago. The movie focuses on Carlos trying to adjust to the new surroundings , and also his encounters with "the one who sighs" . What follows is a horror story with the War as a backdrop.

What could have easily been another run of the mill horror movie , has been cleverly made , using the political scenario as a driver for the story. The movie is not the conventional horror type and we don't get to see any blood being spilled , head being severed etc. Instead the horror element is brought out by the ubiquitous presence of the ghost character , who makes himself visible to Carlos at regular intervals.

You might have noticed from my reviews that I have an affinity for children based movies, and this one is no exception. "The Devil's Backbone" actually unfolds in a spooky manner with a voice over "What is a ghost ?" , but brilliantly transforms itself into a drama , with the spooks being an integral part. The movie will not scare you in the true sense of the word , buts keeps you guessing throughout the movie.

A few dark secrets are revealed in the later stages of the movie and you realize why some scenes which had appeared inconsequential in the earlier parts , actually form the most important part of the storyline. There are many other characters in the movie which are cleverly brought out in the story.

We have Carmen, the ageing Headmistress of the school , who has an affair with the young worker Jacinto (Noriega). The school's Doctor Casares( Luppi) is an ageing man , who has his eye on Carmen. The children are another refreshing aspect of the movie. A kid called Jaime comes across as the chief bully around , but we get to see different shades as the movie progresses.

The star of the movie however is the young Carlos. Not only does he have to adjust to the new place , but also has to put up with the usual problems like bullying etc , and on top of all this he has frequent encounters with the ghost. So, we get to see a rather diverse character , whose emotions are portrayed brilliantly by the young actor , Fernandi Tielve.

We don't really get to see the actual war happening , but the prospect of an attack looms large over the school , considering the volatile political situation in which the movie is based upon. It is more of a psychological thriller . The movie has been shot in a very minimal way , and the bulk of the story unfolds inside the school campus .

Characterization is another strong point of the movie. Jacinto definitely has a large role to play as you will realize towards the end . I was very impressed with the portrayal of Doctor Casares , especially his role as the father figure in the later sequences.

The screenplay is very good , and the story is well driven . Chills and thrills are not to be expected , but still falls under the mainstream Thriller/Horror genre. The story reveals itself a tad bit early , but the Director manages to keep you interested , despite you knowing what might happen along the way.

I will go with 3.5 out of 5 , for this one , which is brilliant , but not as good as the Director's "Pan's Labyrinth" , which I consider to be one of the best movies ever made. However , Guillermo Del Toro has not let me down this time , and I strongly recommend this movie .

VERDICT : Brilliant ( 3.5 / 5)

NINE QUEENS - REVIEW

NUEVE REINAS ( NINE QUEENS)

(Spanish,2000)

Director : Fabian Bielinsky

Cast : Gaston Pauls, Ricardo Darin

Another con movie , after "The Sting", which was reviewed earlier. Though this one is nowhere close to "The Sting" , it is definitely an interesting movie.

Made in Argentina , this is set in Buenos Aires. The story revolves around the lives of two con-men , Juan ( Gaston Pauls) and Marcos ( Ricardo Darin) . They happen to bump into each other in a departmental store , when Juan attempts to pull a trick on the shop clerk.

Marcos then tells Juan that he just wants him to be his accomplice for a day. Juan is initially skeptic about this , but gives in. Marcos and Juan set off to con their unsuspecting victims. We then realize that Juan needs a lot of money to save his father form jail.

The movie depicts what happens , when these two brilliant con-artists come together , and attempt to pull of a grand con , in trying to sell a precious and rare set of stamps called "Nueve Reinas /Nine Queens" , to a rich collector, Vidal Gandolfo.

The film is very well shot , and is convincing at the same time. The con scenes depicted in the movie are very believable , thanks to some fine acting by the cast , and the situations themselves.


The characterization is another refreshing aspect of this film. Juan comes across as a nervous person , who is constantly thinking about the situations in which he lands up. Marcos on the other hand , is a very confident and daring character. In some scenes , Marcos is portrayed as the father figure to Juan , constantly teaching him the finer aspects of the trade. Acting by the cast members is nothing great , but can be definitely termed as good.

Juan and Marcos have to pass through many hurdles , in selling the precious Nine Queens stamps to Gandolfo , and we get to meet quite a few interesting characters . Marcos's sister Valeria , appears to be an irritable character in the movie , but has a very important albeit small sequence which is integral to the plot.

You will definitely enjoy the con sequences , thanks to the natural film making style , without exaggerating things. The coffee shop con scene is so simple , but brilliantly shot , like all other similar sequences in the movie.

The film scores very high on the unpredictability factor. You have no idea what the characters have in store for you. The numerous twists and turns will keep you glued to it , as they show up in the most unexpected situations.

Although backed by an interesting script and fine performances , this film does not really come across as an excellent one , thanks to the screenplay. The movie started off rather slowly , but turned out to be pacy for quite sometime. Sadly, it just lost a little steam somewhere down the line. I found it boring sometimes , something which is not really expected in con movies. However it gathers momentum towards the end , and culminates in a simple , but stunning climax.

I will go with a well deserved 3 out of 5 , for this movie which could have been so much better , if more attention had been paid to the screenplay.

Verdict : Pretty good. 3 / 5

VIVA CUBA - REVIEW

VIVA CUBA(Spanish,2005)

Director : Juan Carlos Cremata

Cast : Jorge Milo , Malu Tarrau

This is a coming- of- age film , set in Cuba. The film mainly focuses on the relationship between children.

The story goes like this. Jorgito and Malu are two school going children , who live in the same locality. Their mothers are constantly at a cold war with each other , and keep pestering their child not to play with the other.

Little do the parents realize that Jorgito and Malu have become very close. Now,Malu's Grandmother dies , and Malu's mother decides to leave Cuba with her daughter , and live with her boyfriend. However, the Exit papers have to be signed by Malu's father , who lives in a far away corner of Cuba.

Malu does not want to leave Cuba and she conveys her feelings to Jorgito. They then decide to embark on a cross-country trip to meet Malu's father and ask him not to sign the document.

What follows , is a series of events , mainly centering around their journey from Havana , to Maisi , where Malu's father works at the lighthouse. And the search for the missing children.

This is one of the finest children oriented movies I have come across. The delicate relationship between the two children , is portrayed with perfection. The movie is shot very naturally , and there is no exaggeration whatsoever , as far as the characters are concerned.

We are faced with the inevitable question - When a couple gets separated , should not the parent holding the custody of the child , have the child's best interests at heart , when making a major decision ?

Malu's mother is disillusioned with Cuba , and wants to get out badly. She does not consult the child , and makes a hasty decision , basically urged on by her long distance boyfriend.

The Director does a fine job , as he has to deal with the simplest of story lines. But the result is amazing. The story in itself has nothing much to offer , but it is rather the execution , which keeps you interested. The beauty of the movie lies in the characterization of the children.

In the very first scene , we see the children fighting among themselves. The relationship between the two is shot so naturally. There is this simple , yet brilliant scene in which Malu helps Jorgito with an imposition at school. The affection which the two characters share mutually is brought out in the most refined manner possible.

The movie has been shot in some breath taking locations. The beaches , the fields of Cuba are made to appear even more beautiful , as their natural beauty is attenuated , by the wonderful friendship shared by the children. The film has a strong message that friendship has to be valued. Watch out for the scene in which the young researcher reconciles the two bickering kids.

The differences between their families are brought out right in the opening scenes. Jorgito's family members are staunch Communists , and Malu's mother is a strict Catholic. There is a small scene, in which the sign board on Malu's house reads " Lord,this is your house" , and the one in Jorgito's reads "Fidel,this is your house". A deft masterstroke !!

The movie is a tad too slow , and definitely not as good as "Kikujiro" , another similar movie. The runtime is only 80 minutes , but there were a few scenes which could have been either shelved , or shot in a different manner. Still , no complaints at all !! This manages to keep you interested in it.

I will go with 3.5 out of 5 , for this simple,yet touching movie , which manages to strike a chord.

VERDICT : Very good. ( 3.5 / 5)