News

Paco Plaza’s ‘Verónica’ is Full of Terror and Tenderness [Review]

Published

6 years ago

March 3, 2018

We had recently shared the news that Paco Plaza (of [REC] fame) has a brand new film that – to everyone’s surprise – dropped on Netflix without warning. Netflix took a page from their own playbook with the release of Verónica, a Spanish possession horror that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017.

Based on the true events of the supposed possession of Estefanía Gutiérrez Lázaro, Verónica takes place in Madrid in 1991. It’s been hailed for being so scary, some viewers can’t finish it.

via IMDb

So, that being said, let’s get something out of the way here.

Yes, this is a Spanish film with subtitles. If you’re avoiding watching it just because you don’t like watching a movie with subtitles, I’m disappointed in you. You’re closing yourself off to a whole world of absolutely incredible horror films. I’m not trying to lecture, but seriously. You will get used to subtitles, I promise you.

Additionally, let yourself be scared! If you’re going into a film with a defiant attitude, you’re not going to actually enjoy it as much as you were hoping to. There are no awards for remaining stone-faced during a movie. Just have fun.

Moving along.

Plaza masterfully weaves a tale of terror with Verónica. The titular character (played by newcomer Sandra Escacena) meets with two of her friends during a total solar eclipse, taking advantage of the supercharged natural phenomenon to try and contact her recently deceased father with an Ouija board.

via IMDb

As this is a horror film, their seance doesn’t go as planned, and soon Verónica is plagued by suspicious and discomforting unexplained activity. She placed a call to the other side and someone – or something – answered.

As an audience, we’re drawn in by the relationship that Verónica has with her young siblings – twin sisters Lucía and Irene and little brother Antoñito. With their mother working long hours at a local restaurant, the teenaged Verónica is left in charge of caring for the children.

As we observe this bright young girl though her daily life – waking, dressing, feeding, and bathing her siblings as the primary present caregiver in the home – it’s easy to understand why she would long for a connection with her father.

via IMDb

She has essentially taken over the duties as a parent and – under enormous pressure to “grow up” – you can absolutely sympathize with her for wanting to be able to act as a daughter again, even for just one brief conversation with an Ouija board. She is unable to properly grieve for her father – there’s no time in her day or room for weakness in front of her siblings.

We are constantly reminded of her youth – from the oversized school uniform and braces to the band posters decorating her room. She’s not a confident, rambunctious, wild teenager. She’s a girl who is desperately trying to maintain normalcy for the sake of those around her.

via IMDb

Once the threat becomes more and more apparent, Verónica is dedicated to protecting her siblings. An effective and often-used horror trope is childhood isolation – that sense that the monsters are real and there’s no one there who can protect you. Verónica thrives on this.

Fans of [REC] will notice that Plaza’s Verónica shows a stylistic maturity. The camera movement is sometimes subtle, but at the climax of the film it tracks the action so deliberately that you feel like you’re part of it. These frantic finale scenes are finessed with long takes and constant movement to drive the horror forwards.

via IMDb

Music is also a key component. The score is dissonant and unsettling, but offset with pop hits provided by Verónica’s walkman (from her favorite band, Heroes Del Silencio). This builds atmosphere while adding a personal touch to our connection with the character.

The film builds dread in an incredible way – some scenes are so thick with tension that you feel like you could cut it with a knife.

All of the young actors are phenomenal in their roles; while Escacena does the heavy lifting as Verónica, we should definitely acknowledge the wee Iván Chavero as Antoñito. He’s absolutely adorable and steals every scene with a sweet innocence.

via IMDb

Also, a shout out to Consuelo Trujillo as Hermana Muerte (aka “Sister Death”) for nailing the dichotomy of a wise and good-intentioned yet terrifying nun.

Overall, Verónica is a solid film with a healthy balance of fear-inducing dread and genuine heart.

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Related Topics:Netflix Paco Plaza REC Verónica

Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

17 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

19 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

20 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.