Na Teia do Mal

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but I just wanted to point out the minor discrepancy from the original title to it's English translation. Literally the title reads, "To Enter to Live," though the actual way it would be conveyed, or should be interpreted should be more along the lines of "Ready to Rent" or "Ready to Move In." Two possible headings that those who have ever rented might be familiar seeing in the classified ads.

Though it seems to have received some rather harsh criticism (not entirely unjust) from some reviewers here, anyone who is thinking of watching this should know that it is a film made for television in Spain and IN THAT RESPECT, is far superior to almost everything you'll see on U.S. television in the horror genre and in many cases outside of it. I'd compare it to the old HBO series "Tales From the Crypt" but without the comic book nuance, or that ridiculous crypt keeper.

This film will probably not be well received by many jaded horror fans mainly because it does have a few annoying, "why didn't she!?" "why didn't he!?" and "why did they even both from the start!?" moments throughout the course of its 1 hour and 8 minute run. However, all that can't (or really shouldn't) supersede the fact that it is well directed, suspenseful and loaded with visceral horror from nearly beginning to end.

I'd be more inclined to give this a solid 7, but for the sake of other reader's expectations a 6 will suffice. Good story and plot that could've been executed better, but why not go in and take a look around for yourself? You might not even notice the peeling paint and it could be an inspiring stop on the way to something better.

This medium-length film (about an hour) belongs to a collection of six TV horror films called "Peliculas Para No Dormir", and was the first film in the collection that I saw. Spanish horror has given us good films, so I was curious to see what this film was going to be like. I was not disappointed, the film fulfills what it promises, but that does not mean that it is excellent.

The story is the main weakness, as it seems too far-fetched. Everything revolves around a young couple who are expecting a child and looking for a house to buy. They end up finding a good opportunity, but it is an old apartment, in an empty building in the middle of a decadent neighborhood that they don't even know. Shortly after starting to visit the apartment, the finding of some of their personal belongings there makes clear that something very strange is happening.

The film was directed by Jaume Balagueró, who is responsible for the "REC" franchise and "Mientras Duermes". Although the length is shorter than normal, the director has time to show what is worth. The script has a logical and coherent history but has a lot of very unlikely moments, like the fact that they don't know where they are but they had that address or, at least, the directions to get there. It does not make sense. The usual clichés in horror (rain, old places, a lunatic on the loose) are present but are well used and create a very pleasant tense atmosphere. I think the film loses strength and impact after 40 minutes because everything becomes obvious and predictable. Even so, and despite the relatively uninteresting ending, the film is pleasant. The cast is good, but it is totally unknown to me.

Technically, it is a very well made film. The gray, bland and low-contrast cinematography, in line with the torrential rain and thunder, creates an environment conducive to fear and suspense. The setting is marked by abandonment and neglect, meticulously well thought out with old furniture, torn wallpaper, broken glass and creaking doors. The special effects boil down to some fake blood and other discrete, yet effective and functional effects. The sound effects and incidental soundtrack also proved to be valuable.

It won't keep you awake but it won't exactly send you to sleep, either.

'To Let' is a creepy and unnerving Spanish horror that, to my bemusement upon looking it up after seeing it, was made for television. This works with and against the film: the fact it was made for TV means it will have been produced with the conformities associated with television, namely time limit which is a shame because if the film had been starched out a little further, I feel it would have been a lot better. The film clocks in at just over an hour but what an hour you get – there will be suspense, an atmosphere, dread and plenty of nasty little scenes to keep you occupied.

But then again I'm going to go back to the constraints that keep the film from being great. Because of the limitations faced with this made for TV production, the film must treat its subject matter like a sprint more-so than a marathon and that means instead of establishing the couple at the beginning, we begin with them in a car going to the apartment – it would also eliminate the flashbacks included half way through which, to me, felt a little out of place. Again, the constraints work against the brilliant idea. There are scenes in the film in which the little old lady who runs the apartment acts in a caring and, to her, natural manner. The scene in which she helps the female of the dreaded couple cook a meal for the injured other half feels all over the place because this landlady is supposed to be the antagonist of the story and to have her flash between good and natural and evil and nasty is a little frustrating due to the character's inconsistency.

But rather than go on about what I would have liked to have seen had the film been longer, I will say that the film works overall as the piece that it is. The idea is excellent and the film captures its own premise brilliantly by utilising its location of an apartment building. I've been to Spain twice in the last two and a half years and on both occasions I stayed in an apartment building run by a landlady – eerie as it sounds. But the large, marble walls that greet you when you enter and surround you unless you are in your respective room work really well here. So do the open, echoing corridors and staircases that just add menace to the situation and location. So the apartment location works wonderfully well here and credit to the director for capturing a location that resembles a real life locale so much, because I've been there and stayed in two respective apartment buildings in the Mediterranean region and I can tell you; just the 'look' and 'feeling' of being there is captured 100%.

So along with these ideas of getting right the setting and most of the other aspects of mise-en-scene, To Let is not just let down by its shortish runtime. But then again, perhaps it is because the logistical flaws that begin to creep in toward the end can only really be put down to its short run time: the film is a sprint, not a marathon and thus must round things off quickly by speeding up its plot points and revelations. There are times in the film when you think the characters will either be smarter or more bloodthirsty. I'm going to reference another 2006 horror film similar to this one; Eli Roth's first Hostel attempt. When Paxton finds himself in the situation he's in when the film enters its final third, he knows its kill or be killed and as a result shoots and chops his way out of trouble - he has gone from 'innocent', fun-loving young adult to killer and that's exactly what I would have expected in this film.

The truth is the characters of Mario (Collado) and his twin-protagonist girlfriend are still just too nice to strike out. Mario cannot attack the old woman with a mêlée weapon in the kitchen soon enough and when Mario's other half and another captive are in an elevator trying to escape, the land lady's face comes right up to a grill: the hostages have a sharp knife at their disposal and will win the battle if they had just used it right there. By this point, and especially when another character whom we thought was a captive but is actually on the landlady's side is released, the couple at the start are not smart enough or fit enough to survive and it's a shame that their idiocy sees them come so close to loosing out in the end.

Twinned with this, the music playing throughout sounds like it's from some 1950s, American sci-fi B-movie and it is difficult to get your head around the fact that the antagonist is, after all, a little old lady who I doubt would put up much of a fight if properly challenged. This made me wonder during the film: what if the landlady was actually a male? The film would've been much more savage since it is the girlfriend who is chased and humiliated for most of the early exchanges and there could've been some great scenes where the landlord is fought, beaten but then is strong enough to get back up again and continue the chase. Still, with a longer time allowance; more money and bigger exposure I guess anything is possible.

This is so disappointing. From the man who gaves us the rec series. IMHO the best Spanish horror movies ever made. But this one... In a couple of words...Stupid people, doing stupid things at stupid moments.

For instance, keepings doors unlocked (in a way they could lock-up the baddie), killing off the baddie when they had the chance (or a least making her unable of being a danger, waiting to use the scissors until she's been tied, just being plain stupid (looking in the sons eyes and you had to see there was something wrong with hem).

And what about using the shaking cam every time when the guy with a headache is in view!!???

It could have much better. The idea is great, the location is great, the atmosphere is great, even the acting was good.

Just bad scripting....

Balaguero gets infinite respect for making rec, so I'm willing to forgive this mistake. That and the fact that this one is made before rec. He was still learing... :-)

Here's a little Spanish horror TV movie that works despite its low budget. Having a good director can really make a difference. Jaume Balaguero also did Rec, though personally I prefer his underrated Fragile.

Mmm. I'd rather not describe too much of the story 'coz part of the fun of it was finding out what was happening as it was happening. Let's just say it's about a young couple checking out an apartment they're thinking of renting, and it gets intriguing from there.

Balaguero gets the suspense right, as well as the tension of the action sequences. It helps too that he had good actors playing the victims and villains. Really too bad this movie didn't get a theater release. Maybe it'll get a US remake too, like Rec.