La chambre du fils

Unsatisfied after finishing a horror movie that we thought would scare us straight, a few friends and I looked for a movie On Demand. We were intent on ending the night terrified, but as the a.m. crept up on us, we decided to just settle for a laugh. And, upon reading the title of this movie, "The Baby's Room", as well as the comical synopsis On Demand provided, we thought that was exactly what we would get.

We started the movie and chatted through the first ten minutes or so. One friend refused to watch a movie with subtitles, but quickly noticed what they were saying and got interested. Five minutes later, everyone in the room was screaming.

That's one of my favorite things about this film. Typically, good horror movies start slow, build suspense, and end with a terrifying finale. "La habitación del niño", or "The Baby's Room", starts with a bang, leaving you on the edge of your seat for the rest of the movie. There are slow parts here and there, but the mystery of the plot and the knowledge that anything could jump out and scare you at any moment helps you through those patches and smoothly escorts you to the explosive climax.

In short, a man and his wife have moved into a new home with their newborn baby. Just as they begin to settle in, they start to hear noises on the baby monitor. Surprisingly, rather than passing it off as house sounds or coincidence, the protagonist believes that something fishy is going on. He buys a baby monitor with a video display, so he can see into his son's room at all times. The video monitor uncovers even more paranormal activity and therein lies the beauty of this film. The way they centralize all the horror around something as simple as a baby monitor is brilliant.

I understand that the title of the film, or the short description you may read for it On Demand, can easily warrant hesitation. But, I can assure you that this movie will suck you in early on, and keep raising your interest, slowly but surely, as the plot spirals into a complex, thrilling mystery, until you arrive at the ultimately satisfying and chilling ending.

In Spain, the journalist of sports Juan (Javier Gutiérrez) has a perfect life with his wife Sonia (Leonor Watling): they have just had a baby and moved to an old house that needs to be repaired in a fancy neighborhood. When Juan's sister and her husband visit the couple, they give an electronic nanny to monitor the baby's room. During the night, Juan and Sonia hear voices in the room but they do not find anybody. On the next day, Juan hires an alarm system for the house and a monitor to observe the baby's room. When Juan sees a man in the room, he gets a knife to protect his son; however, Sonia believes her husband is insane and moves to the house of her mother. Juan investigates the happening with the former journalist Domingo (Sancho Gracia), who explains him the paradoxical experiment Schrodinger's Cat and the existence of parallel worlds. Further, he advises the obsessed Juan to leave the house otherwise could be trapped in another world.

"La Habitación del Niño" is a great supernatural movie, with an original ghost story explained through the complex Schrödinger's thought experiment. The first half of the story is magnificent, with Juan and Sonia showing a deep love for each other; however, Sonia not believing on her husband contradicts their love and friendship and the madness and obsession of Juan recalls Jack Nicholson in "The Shining". Anyway it is a totally different tale of haunted house, with great acting, frightening atmosphere and beautiful cinematography. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Presença do Mal" ("Presence of the Evil")

This is so good. It's just not a normal haunted house, it's not a normal film with strange events around a baby. Totally different, clever and effective, even if the plot could have been a bit more developed.

This movie is the first one of a series of movies made for television which are supposed to revive the spirit of the TV - show "Historias Para No Dormir". The show was very successful at the time, each episode would be a scary or disturbing story with a twist at the end. I've watched very few of these episodes as well... i am young, i wasn't even born when the show was on. The few episodes i watched had in common that there was a basic story-line which was respected all way through, except the ending, which was twisted in some way and effectively left you sleepless (As the title would say). This movie brings back the spirit and man... it feels good.

The story is very simple. Couple moves in to this house with their new born baby. At night time they hear voices through the baby-speaker, and realize that there is someone else in the baby's room. Alex De La Iglesia is an amazing director (La Comunidad, Ferpect Crime or The Day Of The Beast have confirmed this) and in here we see how with all his experience he is capable of making a typical and simple story into an entertaining and almost scary story. The final scene is very effective thanks to, Leonor Watling. I am in love with this actress not only is she beautiful but in every role she is in, she just owns it and the film, I would watch anything just for her. She delivers an interesting performance and manages to add credibility to a very intense role. Javer Guiterrez also delivers a coherent performance and manages to convey the idea of madness and confusion. Those of you are thinking that the ending made no sense, or that there is lots of things which remain unexplained... well that is the point, this is a horror flick, its only pretension is to make you tense and make you nervous all way through. As in "Historias Para No Dormir" De La Iglesia manages this , with a great story and ending, and with the great Leonor Watling.

Best Bit: L. Watling and kick - ass ending. Worst Bit: The whole thing with that old lady seemed a little too cliché and unnecessary for the story.

Alex de la Iglesia's contribution for the "Peliculas para no dormir" TV series is disturbing and, for a movie that dwells in the supernatural, well-explained and structured. The rhythm goes in crescendo and the end is really worth it. You're gonna discharge certain doses of adrenaline here, a lovable exercise for us, lovers of terror, in cinema, of course. The two main actors are not at their best, although the masculine one does nicely when in panic. Sancho Gracia, as usual, makes a very good performance, but old lady in the home is not convincing either. In spite of this regretful actors direction, I absolutely recommend its view, because, in addition to the entertainment, like good terror movies, reminds you of your own deep old fears. Good for you, Àlex!!