Los últimos días

Los Ultimos Dias is quite simply one of the best Sci-fis I've seen in years. Apocalyptic in style and set amidst the backdrop of Barcelona it explores several modern themes: our ever increasingly insular, urban and isolated lifestyles and our obsession with individualism and self reliance.

Directors David and Alex Pastor deliver us these themes with European subtlety; never lecturing nor forcing the point in a way American cinema seems often too frightened to attempt with this genre; a film for adults comparable and, dare I say it, even better than The Road (although not quite as morbid).

I suspect the subtitles will put some English speakers off, which is a shame as the script is tight enough, the sets visual enough, and the acting engaging enough, as to hardly notice them; so lost I was at times in this dark, apocalyptic, nightmare.

More ambitious European projects please! I may be English but I still find myself relating more to a Spanish sci-fi than to the heavy handed, patronising, spoon-fed treacle that constantly oozes from Hollywood.

A mysterious epidemic similar to agoraphobia but with fatal outcome, extends worldwide, so that people cannot go outside, they were forced to take refuge in buildings and other enclosed spaces. Marc a computer programmer trapped in his company will try to meet his girl through the subway line and makeshift tunnels.

The new Pastor Brothers film, (Carriers 2009), is visually very powerful, both in photography and in the types of plans, showing an unusual Barcelona, scorched and desolate, but mostly deserted, with streets and avenues without a soul, a lawless city.

Good attempt at criticism from managers trying to make us reflect on our current way of life, so far from our natural origins. That with the help of a well-selected soundtrack might make more conscious thought to the room.

In terms of in script, it is the Achilles heel of the movie, because development of the story is very predictable, full of clichés and are not surprising, what is worst of all, dealing with an original idea in which people cannot go outside, it is unable to generate anxiety and claustrophobia in the viewer, giving the feeling that we are again faced an adventure story before an almost apocalyptic thriller.

6/10

This is an entertaining, not pretentious survival movie that has not zombies in it and that's a lot to say nowadays.

The movie takes place in Barcelona and tells the story of a software engineer caught up in the middle of the disaster. Nothing extremely original but it is just well done. The film-maker paid attention to details, cast performance is rock solid specially Coronado's and the pacing is perfect. The main actor also delivers but I didn't like his voice very much and sometimes couldn't make out what he was saying.

It sends some messages and social commentaries but not in a pretentious, superficial way. Maybe I would have hoped that the main female character ,played by actress Marta Etura, be more important in the storyline.

This is a good European catastrophic movie. We need more of these!

Thrilling film about a mysterious epidemic spreads across the planet , being well set , splendidly acted , including great production design , state-of-art FX and rightly directed . This chiller with supernatural elements was stunningly realized by Spanish filmmakers David and Alex Pastor . ¨Los Ultimos Dias¨ or ¨The last days¨ packs intrigue , intense drama , action and astonishing suspense film about strange sudden incidents altering the planet , leaving them stranded with no line of communication to the outside world . It is set in 2013 , Barcelona , a mysterious epidemic spreads across the planet . Humanity develops an irrational fear of open spaces that causes instant death . Soon , the world population is trapped inside buildings . As Barcelona descends into chaos , there Marc (Quim Gutierrez) without ever going outside sets off on a quest to find Julia (Marta Etura), his missing girlfriend , as she works along with Andrea (Leticia Dolera) at a puppet shop in a shiny shopping center where Marc attempts to go . Along the way , Marc finds Enrique (Jose Coronado) , nicknamed "The Terminator" because he dedicated to fire people . Enrique accompanies Marc who wants to search for Julia . They start their way on the subway, following the typical leaflet with the station map and the GPS .

Intrigue , intense drama , action and suspense film about a deadly and rapacious virus spread by means of contacting to exterior world . Suspense thriller that deals with a particular buddy movie between Quim Gutierrez and Jose Coronado , a special relationship among two different characters turning into an intimate friendship . The pictures results to be a metaphor for social panic in the same way that 50s extraterrestrial films mirrored fears of Red Menace . Nice performances from Quim Gutierrez , Marta Etura and special mention to Jose Coronado who stands out as a tough as well as sensitive veteran become an action man . Colorful and appropriate cinematography by Daniel Aranyó who has also worked in Hollywood as ¨High School Musical ¨ saga and subsequently photographed ¨Invasor¨ and ¨Combustion¨ . Stirring and thrilling musical score by Fernando Velazquez who previously composed for successful terror films as ¨The orphanage¨ , ¨For the God of others¨ , ¨Devil¨ and ¨Julia's eyes¨ .

Good direction by Pastor Brothers who do have its thrilling moments , most of them in the first half , though the second half being mostly dramatic and tragic , including a touching finale . The motion picture was original and compellingly realized by David and Alex Pastor . They offer us an intelligent flick of the apocalyptic world movie , intimate , committed and lots of action . This one resulted to be their second film and David and Alex Pastor Brothers had directed in 2009 ,¨Carriers¨ , with international cast such as Chris Pine , Lou Taylor Pucci , Piper Perabo , Emily VanCamp and Christopher Meloni ; also dealing with a strange virus that causes instant death , as the world population is trapped in illness , contagion and infection . It marked David and Alex Pastor's debut feature as directors but was garnering so much attention from international sites . This his second film offer us an intelligent flick of the apocalyptic world movie with strong intrigue and suspense including considerable violence , developed in Barcelona city , in which they manage to convey an eerie atmosphere to dismay . Rating : Above average . Well worth watching .

The synopsis for this movie almost put me off as it seemed a little dull but I am so glad I decided to give it a go.

The basic premise is a guy looking for his love after developing "The Panic", a form of agoraphobia so severe it causes instant death. There is a little bit of buddy action thrown in as he goes on his travels. Please don't let that put you off, I am not into romantic films or buddy movies and I loved this. Well acted, beautifully shot, this one draws you in from the start and has you rooting for the main character until the end. There is not a huge amount of dialogue so even if you are not a fan of subtitles, it didn't detract from my enjoyment. There is a little action in it but it is mostly about how people deal with an apocalyptic event in a completely human way.

If you like your films with loads of action, gore and special effects then this probably isn't for you but if you don't mind something a bit slower like The Road for example, then you'll like this one.