Eskalofrío

A wonderful imaginative film that make me enjoy a lot whit a very good constructed story and a couple of greats actors(From the novel Blanca Suarez to the best actor academy winner Fransec Orella and especially the main character Junio Valverde). The art direction from Pilar Revuelta ( Oscar for "El labyrinth....) is solid and the music from Fernando Velazquez sounds like the classics.The light of JM Civit show us the continuous battle between the light and the darkness (or is in the other way). Isidro Ortiz plays with the mains topics of the genre to give us a complete new version of the genre films for this century where he don't need blood explosions o sound effects to keep us sitting in the chair.

Santiago is cursed with photophobia, an intense allergy to light, especially sunlight. To help him adjust to life, he and his mother move to the northernmost part of the country away from the sun. Unfortunately, being the new and weird kid doesn't pay off when murders pop up around Santi and he appears a prime suspect.

I hadn't heard of "Shiver" prior to receiving my review copy, so I wasn't sure what to expect. As of late, the European films have overshadowed the American ones in quality (particularly the Swedish of all origins). And the people behind "Shiver" were quick to point out its connections to the much better known and more widely advertised Spanish films "Pan's Labyrinth" and "The Orphanage". It's a fair connection, albeit a bit of a stretch.

"Shiver" is by no means on par with "The Orphanage" and neither is in the Oscar league with "Pan's Labyrinth"... but the cinematography here is crisp, and the characters rich and alluring. This is not just some simple throwaway plot and production. If ever there was a labor of love, I think it's to be found in "Shiver".

The weakness of the film is due to its strength. The first half of the film builds up the case for Santi's involvement in mysterious murders and hints at supernatural elements -- parallels with vampires and werewolves. It is beautifully crafted, but this falls sharply once the plot turns and the real story becomes more evident. Unlike many films, the "twist" comes far too early and leaves little suspense for the second and third act. Even Santi's aversion to the sun, a unique aspect of this film, barely comes into play. Its removal would have affected the story only minimally.

Without giving anything away, I want you to see this picture. As I type, "Quarantine" and "Saw V" are rocking the theaters... but the real gem is "Shiver", available on DVD. Screw Hollywood and give Spain a chance if you haven't already. You'll be hard-pressed to find another film this year with such good sense of camera use and the proper story to tell with it.

Horror is the only genre I feel nostalgic about. I fondly remember the days when I trawled through the horror bins of the local video store, marvelling at the outrageous covers promising unspeakable oddities not meant for the regular, god-fearing folk; Ze do Caixao, Nurse Sherri, Ilsa, I Drink your Blood, it was all there. The covers and ballyhoos were usually misleading, but the tingle of excitement out the store clutching the next film was the same every time. But for every five or six Nurse Sherris there came a Cannibal Holocaust to tear me asunder.

So I hadn't been in a video store in ages, and I got the craving the other day. I went down and trawled like I did then; only now the collection was small and mostly recent films. Yet lo and behold, the experience was just the same. Another mess, avidly promoted as a searing experience that I would not forget.

City people moving to a small village in the county surrounded by ominous forests, the village as a hotbed of dark secrets buried deep - within the woods -, mystery pursued through a google search that yields the crucial clue, and the revelation meant to throw us for a loop; a bunch of well-worn tropes mashed together into shapeless murk.

We're left with the dark forest and some time-lapse photography of shifting skies. But the forest means nothing, the skies mean nothing, and the shocking twist is plodding and stupid.

So lately the Spanish - probably inspired by Del Toro's well-received, Spanish-speaking efforts abroad - have been working out a genre industry of their own. They turned to horror, always a profitable market. I've seen very few of these to pass judgement, but what I've seen so far has been mostly crap. I lament this, because the essence of their world is religious suffering and so much could come from it. No, not Del Toro.

Watch this to be reminded again that you can make a better movie.

SHIVER is the story of a young boy named Santi (Junio Valverde) and his mum (Mar Sodupe), who relocate to a small, rural village in northern Spain. The move is to take advantage of the dark canyons, due to Santi's medical condition.

Upon arrival, things begin to occur that eventually plunge mother and son into a nightmare of mystery, savagery, and death.

Young Valverde is quite believable in his misunderstood, lonely role. He's forced to face horrors that no one else believes in, and is suspected of the very crimes he's trying to solve.

There's a nice twist and a disturbing revelation. If you're hungry for terror and suspense, SHIVERS delivers...

This is an excellent Spanish horror thriller which follows closely in production both The Orphanage and Pans Labrynth and there is also a touch of 'Orphan' about it with the 'wild child' theme.

The fact that Santi has a suffering of his own with the skin disease and that Santi quite possibly sleeps in the bedroom that would have been Erikas when she lived at the house with her German parents suggests that she felt a sympathy for him. His suffering is apparent from the opening scene and I think paramount to the film itself; many of the key events happen at night, there is a lot fine attention to detail on this issue.

The story is acceptable enough with the Mother working as a translator and opting to take Santi with her to a northerly point in Spain (on medical advice) where Santi will have the effect of the sun least.

The 'Gecko' has its role to play in its relation with Santi and in his relation (call it that) to the wild child who saves him at the end.

the very final scene is baffling to all and myself included and I have watched it through on many occasions. The rock in the hand and the gecko have some relevance (and who comes into the room?) but it shouldn't detract fromt he entertainment value of a very fine film.

Think I would have preferred it in original Spanish language and not dubbed over with American accents, so unnecessary, I would have been content with English subtitles, as in many foreign language movies.

Nothing vampiresque about this movie despite the blood-letting by the wild child but Twilight comes slightly to mind in the flirtatiousness between Santi and the Policemans Daughter.

SHIVER is of course the English title to the movie. definiely a movie for DVD and to wonder about almost every scene. A horror film which really makes you think, it is intelligent slick worth watching without a doubt!