Trail of Ashes

Keeping in mind that this is a completely local Puerto Rican production and that they were working with a very limited budged, this is an amazing film with an original premise and setting. The plot and world building are fantastic, but are limited by the lack of grand visuals common in many movies now. Without the headspace to fully flesh out the grand ideas on the script, viewers may be left disappointed when large plot points aren't as visually impactful as one may be used to. If you personally can get past this point, like I did, you will find a very enjoyable movie with a clear vision and good execution.

This is not a real review, it should be taken more as a collection of impressions on the film.

This film doesn't have an ending, damn it, that is, there actually is an ending but it's not absolutely satisfactory and in my opinion this film deserved something better because at least the second part, even if boring, is cute and full of mystery. In my opinion the film is clearly divided into two parts, the first part is very boring and without rhyme or reason, in the second part however the film at least makes sense while remaining very boring and very slow but at least it captivates the viewer to the extent of the rubbish that it is the end. So the beginning is boring, the development is boring but at least it's interesting and the ending is boring and also bad.

Nice dress for the queen, few nice views, but rest is not so impressive. Just check the trailer

This is really two films - one good the other not so good. On the positive side: the production, the location and overall look of the movie is impressive. It can't have had much of a budget so the use made of local scenery, light and shade works well to create the working scenario for the rest of it. Now that, sadly, is the bit that lets it down. The story centres around the search for the daughter of the Empress who has been missing since her people were conquered by the "Lothos". That quest reunited two estranged brothers "Marco" (Hector Escudero Lobe) and "Silas" (Arturo Lizardi) but what doesn't really ensue now is much by way of action or adventure. It's a bit wordy (with some unnecessarily thick accents) with some rather ropey political intrigue, and at times the narrative jumps around the timeline just once to often to readily follow. It's really got the feel of a short story to it, and stretching it out for just shy of one hundred minutes proves just a bit too difficult for the assembled talent in front of and behind the camera. It is worth a watch for the ambience of the thing, but that's the height of it I'm afraid.

I was very intrigued with the world the story is set in. The costumes, the ambience in general, the cultures, it all felt rich and left with plenty of room to explore. If the story were to continue, I think it would work better as a series, instead of a trilogy. This is not your regular action-adventure fantasy film. It is an indie-slow burn- mystery with little magic/sorcery (which is as much as I like anyways). Looking forward to explore more of this world.