amandalhua

Orozco the Embalmer (2001) 6/10: This documentary offers a gritty and sorrowful look into the life of an embalmer in Colombia, a country fraught with violence. While it's not technically horror, the raw footage of Orozco performing his craft on countless murder victims is deeply unsettling. The film focuses more on the context of death than the embalming itself, highlighting how violence permeates everyday life in a dangerous environment. The relentlessly bleak mood is somewhat undercut by the awkward, grating soundtrack, which feels out of place. As the film draws to a close, Orozco's story ends on a mysterious, unresolved note, making it even more haunting. It leaves viewers contemplating the brutal realities and complex emotional weight Orozco must bear and what the heck happened to him really. While the documentary is thought-provoking, the slow pace and tonal dissonance from the soundtrack might not be for everyone.

The film's atmosphere captures a raw, gritty vibe, blurring the line between what's playful and what's unsettling. It's smartly paced, offering just enough time to figure out the ambiguity before diving deep into the darker side of things. The interplay between the characters creates an engaging dynamic, and the found-footage style enhances the believability, making it feel like you're unraveling the truth alongside them. The tension builds gradually, but once the facade drops, it gets uncomfortable in the best way. It's refreshing how it doesn't overstay its welcome, staying concise while maintaining suspense. "What do you mean you don't like it?"

The setup is interesting enough-a coastal town celebrates its centennial just as a mysterious fog rolls in, bringing with it a vengeful leper spirit. The plot revolves around a curse, and now the ghosts return to collect six lives as retribution. While the concept of ghostly revenge is cool, the movie's slow pacing left me disengaged at times. There's tension, sure, but the characters' responses to the fog felt a little underwhelming. I wanted more depth in their reactions to the horror surrounding them. Maybe it's just that I didn't connect with the mystery as much as I'd hoped, despite some solid scenes and eerie atmosphere. The Mist is more like it in terms of execution and tension.