HIERRO
German Title:
Hierro - Insel der Angst
Spain, 2009
Director: Gabe Ibáñez
6,5/10
Recommended to fans of movies like "Vinyan", "Flightplan" or "The Vanishing".
German Title:
Hierro - Insel der Angst
Spain, 2009
Director: Gabe Ibáñez
6,5/10
"Hierro" is a cool and awesome-looking Spanish mystery-thriller about a mother in search for her lost child. A bit flawed and far from being perfect, but overall quite satisfying.
What's good:
It's packed to the brim with incredibly depressing-looking, yet visually stunning settings (bleak beaches, deserted landscapes, weird greenhouses, a rundown campsite), all beautifully filmed by the relatively unknown Alejandro Martinez.
It's packed to the brim with incredibly depressing-looking, yet visually stunning settings (bleak beaches, deserted landscapes, weird greenhouses, a rundown campsite), all beautifully filmed by the relatively unknown Alejandro Martinez.
Elena Anaya's ("The Skin I Live In") performance is powerful and very believable, the "Ring"-like score is terrific, the direction is interesting and there are enough suspenseful and creepy scenes to keep you on the edge of your seat.
What's bad:
The first half hour is way too tedious and slow-paced, the plot is a bit unoriginal and often too predictable, and there are way too many questions that remain unanswered.
The first half hour is way too tedious and slow-paced, the plot is a bit unoriginal and often too predictable, and there are way too many questions that remain unanswered.
Recommended to fans of movies like "Vinyan", "Flightplan" or "The Vanishing".
Posts
I like the stark emptiness of barren locations, so this sounds like something I might enjoy. I'll keep an eye out for it!
ReplyDeleteI really wanted to like this one, but I didn't. It had the potential, but ended up being a complete lackluster with zero imagination, suspense and proper scares. Mediocre at best. I see your point though ;)
ReplyDeleteI've never been a fan of Spanish and Asian horror but I do try to give every movie a chance. :)
ReplyDelete@Craig:
ReplyDeleteMe too! That's probably why I enjoyed it so much.
@Neb:
It sure could have been better, but overall I liked it a lot.
@Jen:
Reall? I love oldschool and newschool Spanish horror (Orphanage / REC / The Blind Dead etc.), and I'm also a fan of 90s / early 00s Asian horror cinema (Ju-On / Ringu / Pulse).
I like Hierro but I agree completely with the entire what's bad section.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good watch but it doesn't come close to The Orphanage or Julia's Eyes.
It's a rare blip in my Spanish collection!
K :-)
Yeah, it's far from supercreepy stuff like Orphanage, but it's at least a cool and interesting little chiller.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it! :)
The mother searching for lost child is kind of over done. I could rattle off a dozen horror flicks with this very theme.
ReplyDeleteThough I agree with you, I was still surprised how good HIERRO actually is. Unoriginal but creepy and well-made.
ReplyDelete