Las tinieblas

This is a typical Spânish horror film in the line of IT COMES AT NIGHT, made the same year, and speaking of a very very close topic. I preferred the other one, but this movie from Spain is not bad either, and as any other horror film produced in this country, it presents kids or teens, but not in the same way as the made in US terror flicks. If you watch closely the Spanish features made since decades now, most of them show children, and this one makes no exception at all. I understand that it is not for all audiences because it needs to use some philosophical thoughts to fully get the message of the whole stuff; that I did not succeeded at. It is question of family and relationship between kids and their old man. Many links are available. Yes, it is too much complex to be accepted by most audiences. The Hollywood industry would have never made such a film, or in a different way.

Can this even be reviewed without spoilers. Well, maybe. Will give it a go.

This had elements going for it. Cast was creepy, location was creepy, lighting was well done.. it did not feel forced. It is a very steady and slow paced flick.

As the movie progresses it begins to build animosity and mistrust between the characters for reasons so preposterous you as the viewer are confused. That stems from the lack of communication between the characters about what is going on around them. That is actually on purpose.. perhaps he is trying to protect the kids, perhaps he doesn't know. Anyway, the man is portrayed as a semi villain yet caring enough of a person. It never really lets the viewer settle on either side of him, you are constantly wondering if somebody will go full postal...

This movie gives you vibes of 10 cloverfield lane where the woman is kept against her will for her safety as she doesn't believe or understand the world. This is very much the same play out here except replace woman with kids. And i don't have an issue with it from an originality or execution side. What i have an issue with is that after it ends you realize it is a big nothingburger. You have no idea what happened, you have no idea what will happen and nothing is explained. There are vague suggestions as to what is going on but none of it really fits together too well. It is so vague and open ended you can fit in any explanation you want and it will probably work... But then, why watch this?

It is a movie with no plot. Just a collection of scenes that lead nowhere. It is unfortunate because the scenes that we have are decently well done. There is that tension, that anticipation, that creepiness.. But ultimately it is wasted because there is no purpose to any of it. It just a movie that never got finished.

This will get your attention and keep it, and then at the end, smack you with a big fat "haha" and go to credits. The haha is the realization you will never get any closure from this. It also felt like a troll, but i have to write it off as incompetence or lack of money. I mean the budged is no more than 200$ for this and they used it all up and had to end it. No other explanation here.

5/10 because what is there is not horrible at all. 5/10 because it will make you hate how it wasted the good things it had going.

Watch it but just expect nothing out of it.

I'm not sure what reviewers who wrote "boring" or "nothing happens", were expecting, but this film was captivating. It is NOT in the genre of Marvel action films, so don't watch it if thats what you're hoping for. This film would best be described rather, as "understated", "beguiled". Definitely an artful thriller.

This movie had some superb acting, but the story needed some work. There were to many questions left unanswered especially the ending. The rating is purely based on the lack of a cohesive story and ending and is not a reflection of the performance of the actors.

Nothing happens, don't waste your time watching this film. The whole argument could be reduced to 10-15 seconds.