Shades of Decadencia

At first, this seems as a Spanish version of "Fifty Shades of Grey". The story is similar (young and beautiful woman falls for rich, intense business person). For half the movie, you would think you are watching just an adaptation.

However, at some point, it becomes dark. It is like a train wreck that you know that it will end bad yet you can't move your eyes from it.

It is hard to love this movie. It is easy to hate it. But it is hard to say that it is not realistic. These things do happen. These situations do exist. And this movie was a stylized representation of what happens when a innocent person falls for a psychopath.

I do suggest you watch it. Love it or hate it, but it will hit you hard.

Not sure how long the 50 shades of Grey reference will live on. Apart from the books (never read them), there are also 3 movies (only watched the first one so far, to see what the fuss was all about). Now this was apparently released in the same year the first Shades movie got out. Looks like the Spanish company that made this wanted a piece of that (cake).

As backwards as Shades was, this is similar in its approach. Naive young woman falls for insanely rich guy. He also looks good, which I guess helps. Now nothing in life comes for free. And someone who has it all, is not automatically evil ... checking him before falling head over heels won't hurt though - not checking him might hurt in the long run on the other hand.

Decent overall, even if riddled and filled with cliches that make this as predictable as it gets

For me this was an unexpected gem. Nataly Umana turned in a fine performance as the naive and idealistic central character. She carries the film, which is essentially a two-hander. It's an interesting story - we see how she grapples with the increasing sexual demands of the man she loves. For him it's kinky sex, for her it's love and the conflicting desires are at the heart of this film. Umana is a stunning looking woman and is totally believable in her role. The ending is powerful and appropriate though perhaps a little rushed. Well worth a couple of hours of your time.

Anabel is a working-class woman, eking out a living in a low-paid job. Then she starts a relationship with Oskar, a handsome, extremely wealthy entrepreneur. Their relationship flourishes and for Anabel this is a dream come true - she loves Oskar and he is her ticket out of her dead-end life. However, Oskar has a rather perverse side to him and starts to demand more and more of Anabel. She is uncomfortable with the direction the relationship is headed but is she willing to give up the benefits of it?

Provocative and intriguing and had potential to be quite profound. The quandary Anabel finds herself in - give up all the luxury and wealth involved the relationship or stick with Oskar and endure his fetishes. Even after the climactic scene of the movie and its result, there was room for a deep, powerful ending.

However, rather than explore the situation, director Joaquin Rodriguez takes a rather quick, easy and trite path to the conclusion. There's no profundity or comeuppance, just an end. Even the ending he chose is badly done - sudden, like there was a time limit on the film.

Overall, still worth a watch for the build-up to the conclusion. Just be prepared to be let down after that.