June 16, 2009
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Child killers have industrial complexes.
Spanish director F. Javier Gutiérrez's outstanding genre-bending post-apocalyptic serial killer chiller Before the Fall (aka Tres Días) accomplishes what all great thrillers should strive for, which is, of course, to take a concept that works, restructure the entire formula, and deliver an original, nail-biting experience that operates efficiently within the confines of the genre. Victor Clavijo stars as Ale, a troubled man who has lived in the shadow of his heroic old brother Tomas since they were children. During their youth, Tomas helped authorities apprehend a notorious child murderer who, thanks to the breakdown of the penal system following the announcement of the world's inevitable demise, is now on a blood-thirsty quest for vengeance. With no one left to protect his brother's children, Ale must take matters into his own hands. The doomsday scenario works better here than it does in both Armageddon and Deep Impact, two grossly over-produced clunkers that, for various reasons, never made us feel that the world was ever in any real danger. And although we never really see what's happening beyond the family's secluded homestead, there's always something there to remind us -- be it news reports, pillars of smoke, or debris in the sky -- that these characters are doomed regardless of the killer's success. Stark, washed-out, yet strangely beautiful, Before the Fall is an effective, well-paced film that somehow manages to succeed on all fronts. Highly recommended.
Recipe For Success: F. Javier Gutiérrez's Spot-On Direction + Victor Clavijo + An Immersive Visual Style
Creepy Guy Alert: If you know a serial killer is on his way to murder you, shoot first and ask questions later.
Especially when said weirdo is are camped in your front yard.
Posted by
The Film Fiend
2 Spasms:
I've been meaning to watch this for months. Glad to hear you liked it.
I was very surprised by this one. Very tense, very dreary, yet utterly watchable. I'm amazed by the genre films coming out of Spain right now.
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