Ausentes

This is the latest in a slew of Euro movies to make it to our shores here, promoted as a mystery thriller because of the faux-pas sense of sophistication from everything European.

To its credit, it does keep you guessing. As the premise goes, a serene family of four moves into the suburbs, only for Julia (Ariadna Gil) the mom experiencing things that go bump, even in the day. Loving husband Samuel (Jordi Molla) and kids Felix (Nacho Perez) and Luis (Omar Munoz) do not experience these strange phenomenon, and therefore this leads to tension within the family.

What works is the atmosphere built up, that there are many scenes filled with plenty of emptiness Julia experiences in the neighbourhood, and the bewilderment she felt when she slowly discovers that there is no one else to turn to, not even her husband and children. Feeling extremely isolated, she begins to wonder what happened to have brought about the changes to her surroundings, as well as her family.

On one hand, you want to sympathize with Julia and her increasing exasperation, and Ariadna Gil's performance enables you to do so. However, it's really a case of more than meets the eye, and you might be increasing as frustrated as the character when you attempt to figure out what is happening as well - is it a psycho babble mystery, or something involving the supernatural, or a conspiracy of sorts? You can warrant a guess, and you'll probably be right, but the way the film progresses and develops, doubts will be cast on your assumptions, right until the very last scenes.

If compared to earlier fare like Lemming (happy family in suburbs) and Cache/Hidden (something remotely similar with its CCTV cameras and discovery that you can watch them on TV), The Absent probably is the weakest in terms of storyline, and the least entertaining of the lot. If you're thinking you're up for something quite cerebral, you might end up disappointed.

along the history of cinema, there's been a few films that deceived the viewer, such as hitchcock's "stage fright", alejandro amenábar's "abre los ojos", David fincher's "the game" and this one "ausentes" ("absent"). to begin with, i don't like this kind of films, i feel like somebody is trying to pull my leg.

furthermore, after seeing this film one doesn't know what happened, is such a confusing film. kubrick's "the shining" may be a better or a worse movie, but definitely is more honest than this load of pretentious and dubious situations.

technically is fine -nice photography, fair performance and so on, but the script is so poor i wonder what did the producers see to carry on and shoot this crap.

and this film remarks the 3 guys that wrote the script (calparsoro, loriga and quiroga) are lost in cinema trying to make a masterpiece -or trying to do something to fulfill their stomachs, awaiting for more personal projects.

'The Shining' has wit, visual flair and an iconic performance by Jack Nicholson. 'Ausentes,' however, has none of these things; although it does borrow from its classic forebear; to wit, a man hacking through a door and a woman running around shrieking while clutching a huge kitchen knife. Unlike Stanley Kubrick's great psychological horror film, 'Ausentes' is a work which resonates with a singular lack of genius. It is magnificently, comically awful; it makes the Spice Girls movie look like a work of vital art. 'Ausentes' is the tale of a family that moves to a gated community in the suburbs. All is to be well with the world. They will live in peace and tranquillity; they will calmly go about their business away from those mean old city streets. But no. Ariadna Gill's character Julia starts getting spooked by those things that insist on going bump in the night, by empty supermarkets and doors that close themselves; and her husband Samuel, played by Jordi Molla, switches in an instant from laid-back family man to wild-eyed permanently unshaven nutter, injecting Julia with a drug to keep her under his sudden cosh. Molla, much respected as an actor, is absolutely dreadful in this. Comic rather than menacing, he simply cannot pull off a threatening expression. He just come across as a barroom slime ball who's had one drink too many. So is there anything to redeem this film? No. The script is clunky, the plot non-existent and the cast without merit. Completely without tension and full of be scared now moments, 'Ausentes' is an exercise in how not to make a psychological thriller. It is ridiculous and overblown, but as one of the most unintentionally hilarious films of recent years it's well worth a watch.

A psychological mystery thriller, embedded in beautiful imagery and a hit soundtrack . Decent Spanish horror/thriller deals with an unemployed executive called Julia (Ariadna Gil) and her new husband Samuel who move with the children (Nacho Pérez , Omar Muñoz) to a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. He has two sons from a previous marriage to María (Mar Sodupe) and all of them go to live at a solitary house. Looks like a great place, but contains something else. As Julia discovers that the urbanization is empty. But then things go wrong and gruesome happenings take place , leading to an unavoidable conclusion .

Daniel Calparsoro's successor to his compelling films as Asfalto , Pasajes , Salto al vacío , A ciegas and Guerreros and being competently directed by this Spanish director . This is an interesting and disturbing thriller with intrigue, suspense, twists, turns and the build-up tension is developed step by step . ¨The Absent¨ is a successful suspense thriller, beautifully photographed and set to a successful soundtrack . However, the main character Julia is so unsympathetic that the viewer's ability to sympathize is put to the test. It is an intriguing movie developing its premises little by little until the inevitable denouement. Unfortunately, this already says everything positive, specially with films that want to surprise the viewer with their punchline, naturally it weighs particularly negatively if you already suspect the resolution at the end of the first act at the latest . The final part is at least a little more exciting, but due to the weak resolution, which had already been hinted at for an hour, as well as the stolen elements of "The Shining" . "The Absent" (or "Ausentes", as it is called in the Spanish original) is an acceptable film , though boring at times , and , almost worse, too predictable . Interpretations are uniformly good, Jordi Mollá is first-class as a disturbing and threatening husband, while Ariadna Gil is fine as the deranged and unfortunate wife on the verge of going crazy, and the two children are pretty well, too . Being well accompanied by an enjoyable support cast, including familiar faces providing appropriate acting in brief performances , such as : Mar Sodupe , Alex Brendemühl and cameos and archive footage from Francesc Orella , Mar Regueras , Luis Tosar , Tristán Ulloa , Victor Clavijo, Raul Freire, Maru Valdivielso.

It displays a thrilling and suspenseful musical score by Carlos Jean , though composed by means of a repetitive synthesizer . As well as atmospheric and evocative cinematography by Josep M Civit . The motion picture was well directed by veteran director Daniel Calparsoro, though It has a few flaws , certain confusion , and gaps . Daniel has a long career as filmmaker from his beginning with Basque films as ¨Pasajes¨, ¨Salto al vacio¨, ¨A ciegas¨ , ¨Ausentes¨ ; subsequently making thrillers as ¨Asfalto¨ , ¨Guerreros¨ , ¨Invasor¨ , and the successful ¨Combustion¨ , ¨La advertencia¨ , and ¨Cien años de perdon¨ . He also directed TV series as ¨Inocentes¨, ¨La ira¨, ¨El castigo¨ , ¨Apaches¨. Rating : 6/10 . Decent and passable yarn as well as acceptable horror thriller.