Pipa

There's 10 minutes in the movie where it's a subplot about native Americans and it has nothing to do with the rest of the movie. What the hell. That makes zero sense.

As "Recurrence" (2022 release from Argentina; 115 min.; original title: "Pipa") opens, a woman is found dead. We then go to "A Few Hours Earlier", and we get to know a rich family in a remote rural area of Argentina. There is a big party at the family mansion, and one of the staff people, Samanta, is the woman found dead some hours later... What exactly happened here? At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from Argentinean writer-director Alejandro Montiel ("Intuition"). Here he intends to bring a crime thriller. It's not at all clear for quite a while that the key character is a woman named Manuela, apparently an erstwhile cop. I kept waiting for things to pick up, and kept waiting, and waiting... I could not get into it whatsoever and gave up an hour into the movie, sorry. It wasn't until afterward, when I read up on this movie, that I realized that "Recurrence" is a sequel of sorts to a prior movie (20178s "Perdida", or "Loss") starring that same character Manuela (and played by the same actress, Luisana Lopilato). Even though "Recurrence" is supposed to be a stand-alone film, it's pretty clear to me that having seen "Perdida" would've answered a lot of questions I had about the lead character, and would also have given me a much better context within which to appreciate "Recurrence".

"Recurrence" recently premiered on Netflix, where it was "suggested" to me based on my viewing habits. Typically I trust these suggestions quite a bit, but in this instance, I wish I was aware that "Recurrence" comes after "Loss" and "Loss" (also on Netflix) should've been recommended to me before "Recurrence". Viewer beware!

First thing first I haven't seen the other two movies of the series, but I read about their plot and they didn't seem that much linked. Overall the movie is entertaining even if without rhyme or reason.

Soundtracks are the best ingredient of this movie for sure.

Honorable mention goes to Aquiles Casabella aka Cruz Carreras: he made interesting and appealing all the scenes where he appears thanks to his acting skills.

First things first: it has been a minute since I saw the first movie that starred the character of Pipa. It still remains the best of the three movies that have been made. And I never even thought back then that it would become a lose trilogy of sorts. Pipa wouldn't have thought so herself, so there is that.

Now I do more than respect any other opinion and I say this knowing that I will probably get more thumbs down reactions than "helpful" ones. But I still want to point out what this is not: a tv show! Now if you don't like the movie, that is as I have said many times, more than understandable. We all have different tastes. Just do not confuse what this is, with what you think it is. Also be honest enough if you either didn't watch it through or not at all.

That aside and either assuming you have seen the other two movies or do not really care that much, I can tell you that you do not have to have seen them. It would give you a more nuanced look at the backstory of our main character (Pipa - though it had a different title when I started it on Netflix yesterday). She was in the police force - and that is why when something happens in this movie ... well she thought she was out and they drew her back in (no pun intended - you may recognize that quote from another movie - not making connections).

The movie is making political but also social statements. Some things are a bit cliche (especially when it comes to the whole poor vs. Rich thing), but it works in the realm of the story and movie. Well played and acted, this may have flaws, but is overall a decent movie - if you suspend your disbelief enough that is.

This film is the weakest of the trilogy, the first was really good and had a fresh take on women as cops victims etc.

The second stretched reality a bit, this film has good intentions but the car chase looked like wacky races, the natives were cardboard cutouts and the bad cops fat ugly and lazy, the good cop is a hunky model, some of the killings were laughable and the music seems to have been written for something else and let's face miss Marple would have had them clapped in irons by 3pm for afternoon tea.

Luisana Lopitalo ( forgive spelling) kicks ass and does a good job but she's drowning in a mediocre script. In short no I don't recommend it, the first two are good.