Parvulos

It takes real talent for a filmmaker to successfully combine elements from several different genres in one picture and make the finished product work, but that's precisely what Mexican writer-director Issac Ezban has done in his latest offering. This post-Apocalyptic sci-fi saga fuses elements of classic horror, smart horror, high camp and zombie tales into an entertaining guilty pleasure that features moments of frightfulness and comedy, as well as heartwarming nods to tender family togetherness (albeit not in the most typical sense). In a world where things have fallen apart due to the effects of an inadequately tested vaccine used in treating the virus behind a global pandemic (a timely touch), those who have managed to stay unaffected have taken refuge in remote hideaways, trying to stave off the diseased monsters that now roam the landscape. Such is the case with three brothers (Mateo Ortega Casillas, Leonardo Cervantes, Farid Escalante Correa) who have holed up in a remote forest house that they found in their wanderings. But, despite their ardent efforts to survive, there are still monsters all about, including in the basement of their new home. "Párvulos" is thus their challenge-ridden tale to stay alive, one filled with terror, as well as unexpected laughs (including a music video parody montage) and a host of strangers who cross their paths, making everyday life perpetually interesting. The story is effectively brought to life with fine performances by the three young actors and inventive cinematography featuring an intriguing palette of black-and-white images tinged with bleak red and green accents, a suitable color scheme befitting the nature of the film and its setting. The use of red, of course, is integral to the ample blood and guts on display here, so sensitive viewers may want to take heed, although such gratuitousness is wholly appropriate for the tenor of the narrative, often enhancing the campy aspects of this story. Perhaps my only issue with this release is that its script sometimes meanders somewhat more than I'd like, with certain plot developments seemingly emerging out of left field - not that they're ill-conceived, but their appearance feels a little more happenstance than expected. Still in all, this multi-genre offering is a ghoulishly fun romp with a macabre sense of humor, good scares and a few surprisingly heart-tugging moments. And, with a combination of qualities like that, what more could anyone ask for?

"Párvulos: hijos del apocalipsis" is a very original zombie film from the perspective it is told, the script talks about brotherhood, family relationships, the apocalypse and the domestication of zombies, in a way a tribute to "Day of the Dead" by George A. Romero, in addition to including dark comedy excellently captured by director Isaac Ezban and the drama that he uses in the main characters and their relationship, as well as how they care to their parents who have become zombies. The old-school makeup effects are tremendously accomplished, the gore highlighted in several scenes. The costume design of the three brothers is very reminiscent of those used in films of this type in the eighties and turns out to go wonderfully with the story of the film. The cinematography is great, the dead colors stand out giving almost a black and white image in some scenes. The performances of the three protagonists are outstanding, achieving great chemistry on screen in their roles as brothers. "Párvulos: hijos del apocalipsis" is the best Mexican horror film of this year 2024.

Or is it neighborhood? Well whatever the case , no pun intended. Also hi to the director, who had quite the interesting and long foreword before the movie started at Fantasy Filmfest (in Stuttgart for me). He said he would be checking imdb, X and letterboxd to see if anyone would be rating his movie - and here we are.

But I am not writing this for the audience of 1 - although I don't mind if it is just one person who swings by. You can't get them all - and concerning this low budget movie, it will have a hard time to find its way into cinemas - at least in Europe. That said, it really does not take any prisoners (well no pun intended once again, also not meant literally).

You have brothers who have to survive. They have to work together in a situation that adults would have problems to deal with anything ... that said, we do also get a glimpse of something ... we hear something ... and we can guess what or who that would be ... I doubt many will be surprised or will see the resolution as a great twist.

That said, the movie has enough story tweaks and stuff happening that I did not expect, so it is able to catch you off guard. Cinematography is great ... the set design is amazing ... and the bleak tone (almost devoid of any color and you can make your own deductions about that, psychologically speaking, but also otherwise) sets a tome that the movie is able to maintain throughout.

How do you end a movie like this? It will be quite ... well moving! Yes I went there - and the characters sort of too ... not for the faint hearted for sure! Be aware of that and the movie will be able to have you at the edge of your seat almost al the way through.

Parvulos: A bleak Mexican Zombie film, it does have a line of dark humour running through it which at times gives it a flavour of Citizen Z. Three brothers, 17, 12 and 7 years old live in an isolated mountain cabin, the youngest wondering when their parents will return. In the basement there is a monster which the older brothers feed rats and dogs to. It's been years since the Omega Virus struck and civilization has fallen. The brothers eat worms, frogs, and try to cultivate plants. Much falls on the shoulders of the elder brother even though he has lost a leg. Difficult and dangerous scavenging journeys take place. The infected aren't the only threat, there are also bands of religious fanatics who cut out people's hearts. The infected look like Zombies but aren't dead. The hope of cure remains, however unlikely. Attempts to train and rehabilitate the infected provide some of the humerous scenes in Parvulos but there is always the threat of being bitten. Filmed in washed out colour, almost monochrome, the loss which the brothers and humanity has suffered is appositely portrayed. The never ending grind of surviving from day to day, the inability of the younger two brothers to fully appreciate the horrors which they face and the refusal of the oldest brother to allow room for sentiment sets up the grim scenario of this film. Some truly horrifying and downright disgusting scenes, this is not a film for the squeamish. Some plot twists/reveals won't really come as a surprise but others will. An impressive coming of age tale. Directed by Isaac Ezban, Written by Ezban and Ricardo Aguado-Fentanes. 8/10.

Living alone in a post-apocalyptic dystopian society, a family of brothers forced to live on their own while trying to survive the elements as well as the vicious, ravenous creatures they have chained up inside the basement which would threaten their existence if it were to be revealed.

This was a rather challenging if still enjoyable effort. One of the better elements of the film is the incredibly strong and accomplished storyline that mixes together some really intriguing elements. The main starting point about the brothers being sent off into the wilderness for their own survival and trying to balance not just their personal problems but the escalating situation around them is a fantastic one offering the chance to slowly introduce the brothers in this particular universe but also to focus on the individual growth that takes place during the film. As personal curiosity over the savage creatures in their midst continually brings the kids into danger forcing them to be saved while also needing to continue their traditional survival operations involving scouting abandoned locations for supplies, securing food, and other general security aspects at play, this aspect is brought about incredibly well spending nearly the entire time here with the kids. That fine setup brings about a series of fine sequences as the group struggles to maintain a semblance of civilization with the creatures living among them. Growing far more comfortable with what's going on the longer they're around the creatures, being skittish and unsure of what to do which nearly leads to several close calls where they get saved just before the creatures get to them into being confident enough to try to tame them. This leads into some really fun scenes here featuring the kids trying to stay alive which brings about some intriguing scenarios involving the kids and the creatures before taking the spectacular action route into the film where they have to fight back against a series of intruders which are brought into the fray. This allows for some of the more impressive sequences and action which has the great ploy of allowing for some solid make-up work on the creatures and plenty of bloodshed to all make for a really impressive effort. There are some factors here that do hold this one down. One of the main drawbacks present here is the unwieldy and uncomfortable running time that lasts far longer than it should. Given that so much of the film is spent with just the brothers living together trying to let their curiosity involving the preferential treatment of the particular creatures in their care forces plenty of scenes involving socializing or reconnecting with them which helps to instill the kind of storyline attempted here but instead comes off with the feeling that it could've been trimmed down to not eat up the running time. The final confrontation is also way too long with so many means of saving the kids just because of their age that feel unrealistic, and while the action is great introducing this many wild storyline elements just makes for a tough time here. Alongside the infuriating nature of the kids' stupidity continuing to put them in danger, it does have some drawbacks.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, and children-in-jeopardy.