Das Tagebuch

El Diario is a Mexican psychological thriller bordering horror that is available on Amazon Prime and original languages Spanish.

It is a film that revolves around an eight year old girl whose parents are divorced and living with new partners and she has to live with them both as per custody rules.

The main character however seems to be her mother who buys a new house that seems haunted. She finds a box that contains a diary and everything she reads, comes true.

It gets a bit spooky and intense as the premonitions mix with reality and the child seems to be spun in the middle of it.

The movie explores problems related with changing family dynamics, intimacy, jealousy, mental health, emotional irregulartion and the mental health of young children.

El Diario kept me until the end and although I was confused how exactly El Diario (The Diary) worked, it was interesting.

Normally for movies such as this we are force fed stupid people making extra stupid decisions that defy common sense.

But here we are dealt a hand that is pretty much devoid of these cliched stunts that are used to pad the run time of this genre.

Although part of this plot was exposed midway through as to who was what and where. It writing and direction didn't falter and kept me focused.

It also took a supernatural/psychic/fortune telling turn, with less gore and more psychic tension with the child playing her role well. There was a bit of misogyny with the father forcing a relationship between the daughter and his new girlfriend. So he did a great job of selling the father as somewhat stubborn/pigheaded. Although the graphologist was a reach with some of her observations, but I am not an expert, so she might have been on point.

Maybe not for everyone, since it is not a gore fest and some of the scares won't send you out of your seats, but I did enjoy it.

I have no idea why this has scored So low, I'm writing this 2024 So maybe because it's new, maybe misunderstood?

It's well acted, intreging, good storyline, Atmospheric without being over the top, emotional without being dramatic.

Is it paranormal or medication, are prevention actually making things happen?

Not all questions are answered but it doesn't affect the film. It starts off as a haunting and then a determined mother investigating.

I was guessing all the way through, I didn't predict the end. I know I will watch this again and enjoy it.

I advise you to read the other reviews scoring 8 and above.

Wow! A lot better than I first thought.

The film is only 82 minutes long and offers a unique and original story.

They had done a very good job with limited resources and time, to maintain the mistery and creepines from begin to end. It is also very realistic and the decisions made are correct.

The film has a great way of storytelling and the actors did a fabulous job at keeping the audience intrigued.

You can't expect a child actress to pull off such powerful scenes with too much ease. And she has been precise with how much emotions she has to show, she does simply a great job!

The Diary has a very low ratin by the way, and is a must-watch for horror an psycho fans!

El Diario is a captivating horror film that deserves more recognition than some critics have granted it. While a few reviews claim it was poorly executed, I have to respectfully disagree-it's as if we watched entirely different films.

Yes, there are some story elements that aren't perfect, but this is a paranormal horror movie, and expecting it to be completely logical undermines the essence of the genre. The supernatural thrives on mystery, and I've certainly seen films with far bigger flaws receive more praise for their so-called "execution."

What truly stands out in El Diario is the way the actors carry the film. Their performances build and sustain the tension, turning otherwise simple scenes into moments of real suspense. Their commitment makes the eerie atmosphere believable, drawing the viewer deeper into the unsettling narrative. The film doesn't rely solely on jump scares or effects-the cast drives the emotional weight and makes the thrills effective.

The direction also plays a key role, with lighting and cinematography adding a moody, immersive touch to the film. The suspense never fully lets up, and the story keeps you guessing about what will happen next.

If you're in the mood for an intriguing, well-acted horror movie with some creative ideas, El Diario is worth your time. Even the non-paranormal moments add value to the story, not just filling space but enhancing the overall experience. The team behind this film deserves recognition for their work, especially the cast, who elevate the tension and make the thrills truly land.

Give it a try.