Spanish horror appears to be the next big thing. The trend is creeping up on us constantly both in front of and behind the camera, with Spanish directors, Spanish filming locations and Spanish actors. We take a look at the Spanish horror evolution, by going on a journey through the top horror films with a Spanish connection.
Let’s start with El día de la bestia (1995) which translates as The Day of the Beast. This is a Spanish horror film set in Spain and directed by Álex de la Iglesia. In the film a Basque priest discovers that the anti-christ is due to be born in Madrid, Spain on Christmas Day. A more straightforward version of The Omen, the priest acquires the help of two unlikely individuals to kill the baby, making you squirm in your seat at every turn.
Back in 2001, The Others was created by Spanish writer and director, Alejandro Amenábar. It’s a film that reminds you, you are not alone. Grace Stewart (Nicole Kidman) is an ordinary woman, who during the end of the Second World War retires with her children to Jersey. The children have an ailment which leads to strict and oppressive rules that could be deemed religious, until they welcome a new arrival and things begin to unravel in this breath-taking horror.
What about Rec (2007)? It’s a Spanish documentary style feature film directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, like paranormal activity but without the paranormal activity. When a reporter and cameraman follow civil servants into a dark apartment building, who would have thought something scary would take place. If you thought the drama ended with Rec, Rec 2 picks up exactly where number one left off, continuing the documentary style, this time the actors are fitted with cameras and are separated into a sealed off compartment. Somebody help them.
Kidnapped (2010) also known as Secuestrados is a horror directed by Miguel Ángel Vivas, a Spanish director, known for his work on film Reflection (2002). Jaime and his family move into their dream house in Madrid, planning a celebration for that very evening, what could go wrong? Well, when three violent hooded thieves invite themselves in, everything goes wrong. A film involving hostages, money, and terror, this is the best example of a Spanish horror invasion yet.
Juan de los Muertos (2011) doesn’t sound too creepy in Spanish, but translates to Juan of the dead, a spooky pun on Dia De Los Muertos, day of the dead. Juan de los Muertos is a film written and directed by Alejandro Brugués about a guy who represents the dead, that doesn’t sound creepy or horrific at all. Juan (Alexis Díaz de Villegas) is the slacker attempting to reconnect with his family, and a similar story applies to his friends; this is until they notice that the locals are becoming cannibals, with the local government and media claiming that the coming of the zombies is imminent. Of course in a crisis like this most people don’t think “how can I make a profit on this”, fortunately for us Juan and his buddies do. Note to self, when in a scary situation turn it into a business venture.
Most recently, in his directorial debut, Andy Muscietti from Spain, directed the paranormal thriller MAMA (2012) along with his sister Barbara Muscietti also produced the film. MAMA is the gripping tale of two little girls who disappear on the day that their mother is murdered. Alone and lost for five years deep within the woods, two sisters are unexplainably discovered alive in a decrepit cabin, in a search funded by their uncle, Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). With the help of his girlfriend, Annabel (Jessica Chastain) he attempts to bring the completely feral young sisters back to civilisation. However, it soon becomes clear all is not what it seems, and the new family may not be the only ones living in the new house, as an unseen and untouchable MAMA prowls.
With the use of old and new horror conventions, the Spanish horror genre is surprising us all making us grimace, scream, squirm and cry. Let it continue. Viva los Española’s horror!
MAMA is available to buy from 17th June, 2013 on Blu-ray™ and DVD, both with UltraViolet, and to download. MAMA is available to pre-order here now.
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