Shiver - L'Enfant des Ténèbres

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.

Shiver is a story of a boy who suffers from photo phobia which forces him to move to a location with less sunlight & shorter days,unfortunately this place also hides something very terrifying and so the real story begins.The film was good with a some really terrifying sequences and an interesting story.It makes you feel like watching the Swedish masterpiece 'LET THE RIGHT ONE IN' in a different way,but the films differ very much on many grounds and i am sure that many would agree.Many of my friends who have seen it believe its the best Spanish horror flick of all time,i believe a horror fan(&otherwise also)should never miss such an interesting film which now has prompted me to search for other Spanish thriller/horror movies...definitely better than your average horror flick...

After Santi (Junio Valverde, 'The Devil's Backbone') is warned by his doctors of his worsening allergy to sunlight, he and his mother move to a remote town in a sunless valley. Soon after they arrive, strange events occur around the village. First, a farmer's sheep is viciously mutilated and left for dead. Then, the town bully is brutally murdered. As the horrific incidents continue, it becomes clear that the one responsible for the murders wants Santi next.

The past few years have brought many nations into the center ring of the horror genre. One of these recent powerhouses is Spain. With such instant classics as 'The Orphanage,' 'Rec,' and 'Pan's Labyrinth' (questionably horror, still, but impossible to not mention), Spain has aided in giving some much-needed relief from the seemingly unending stretch of Hollywood unoriginality. In late 2008, Spain released the rarely mention (stateside, at least) film entitled 'Eskalofrí' or 'Shiver.' Combining the direction of Isidro Ortiz ('Faust 5.0'), cinematography of Josep M. Civit ('Guerreros'), and the production design of Pilar Revuelta ('Pan's Labyrinth'), 'Shiver' is presented as a strikingly attractive film with some extremely beautiful and well captured settings. However, it's not all about the visuals here. A strong script by a relatively fresh group of writers is very substantial and fulfilling. The cast, of which I am mostly unfamiliar, easily manages to capture all their roles. On the other hand, I suppose there are a few problems. First the script could be a BIT juvenile at times playing off, as one reviewer said, like a darker episode of 'Buffy.' Also, I must note that the editing was not the best. Perhaps one more (or, in some instances, one less) run through the cutting room would've made for a better film as there were a few times where some great tension was ruined when the build-up was left with no reward in a too-quick cutaway. Regardless, even with the few flaws, 'Eskalofrío' remains as a very solid and genuinely creepy modern horror that satisfies the necessary style & substance of a true quality film.

Final Verdict: 7.5/10.

-AP3-

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.

Mystery , terror , intrigue about a teen with a serious physical reaction to sunlight and seeking clues about strange killings . Spanish horror film full of thrills , suspense , chills and eerie twists and turns . A young high-school student called Santi (Valverde) has a disease which makes him sensitive to the light , he suffers from a photosensitivity disease , running through the city as the dawn chases him . He is forced by his health to move with his single mother (Mar Sodupe) to a shadowy , isolated village in the mountains of Spain . As Santi moves to a far-off village lost in the mountains with his mother where the inhabitants begin to reveal themselves as strangely xenophobic . Then Santi befriends a beautiful young student called Angela (a gorgeous newcomer Blanca Suarez) , though he also makes enemies . But horrible , violent deeds begin to occur . There then appears a killer committing a criminal spree , as the murderer is hunting them all down . When , the lonely adolescent becomes first a pariah at school and then strongly suspected by the police (Roberto Enriquez) of hideous murders . A series of odd events will shock the place and he will become the main suspect .The only way to prove his innocence will be disclosing the terrible secret the wood hides .

This exciting , bizarre film contains tension , thriller drama , mystery , plot twists and shocks , including decent scares with tense terror sequences especially in its final part , in a creepy denouement . ¨Eskalofrio¨ or ¨Shiver¨ suffers from some sputtering about a quarter of the way in , the sputtering came from a complete change in story direction, away from the spectacular beginning and toward a much simpler story line , one which suffers from a severe lack of ingenuity . Interesting screenplay by Hernán Migoya and the same director revolving the mental disintegration of an adolescent and the various amazing surprises he finds . The motion picture is pretty well , although sometimes slow moving and packs turns ; however is entertaining for continuous suspense and unsettling atmosphere . The picture is thrilling and some moment brilliant, and the players are quite reliable . Ghastly movie builds taut by showing virtually well staged killings , evocative settings , appropriate soundtrack and adequate cinematography . Few disagree that the film is professionally mounted, the performances solid, and that it respectfully carries on the tradition of Spanish "horror" films like The Devil's Backbone, Pan's Labyrinth and The Orphanage , borrowing—in fact—teenage actor Junio Valverde from Backbone, Labyrinth's Oscar-winning set designer Pilar Revuelta, and The Orphanage's composer Fernando Velázquez to firm up its genre pedigree . Colorful cinematography by Josep M. Civit showing splendidly mountains , woods and villages from Picos De Europa , Ponga, Asturias , Elizonda , Erratzux, Navarra, Spain . Josep M Civit is one of the best Spanish cameramen as he has demonstrated in "The Hidden Face" , ¨Shiver¨, ¨Warriors¨ , ¨The Absent" , ¨Asphalt¨ , ¨Anguish¨ and many others . Exciting as well as frightening musical score by Fernando Velazquez who has composed for successful terror films as ¨The orphanage¨ , ¨For the God of others¨ , ¨Devil¨ , ¨Julia's eyes¨ and ¨Mama¨ .

This motion picture displaying genuine chills , suspense, mystery and dark atmosphere and a twisted finale , being skillfully proceeded by Isidro Ortiz and turned out to one of the most unusual Spanish thrilling movies of the 2.000s and certainly one of the most unsettling . Ortiz is a good director and writer, known for Fausto 5.0 (2001) , Jugar a Matar (2003) , Somne (2005) , Asesino de Parking (2006) and especially this Eskalofrío (2008) , his most successful film . Shiver or Eskalofrio premiered in the Panorama section of 2008 year's Berlinale to tepid critical response.