Eskalofrío (2008)

Director:

Isidro Ortiz

Writers:

Hernán Migoya (writer) and
José Gamo (writer)

Release Date:

18 July 2008 (Spain)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Santi, a young high-school student with a serious physical reaction to sunlight, is forced by his health to move with his single mother to a shadowy...

Plot Keywords:

Spain | Village | High School | Mother Son Relationship | Teen

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Junio Valverde	...	Santi
Blanca Suárez	...	Ángela
Jimmy Barnatán	...	Leo
Mar Sodupe	...	Julia
Francesc Orella	...	Dimas
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Laia Alemany
Paul Berrondo	...	Óscar
Ariadna Cabrol	...	Raquel (as Ariadna Cabol)
Josep Maria Domènech	...	Teófilo
Roberto Enríquez	...	Antonio
Andrés Herrera	...	Fabián
Katia Klein
Christian Nájera	...	Raúl
Pau Poch	...	Tito
Berta Ros	...	Erica Hassel
Anna Ycobalzeta	...	Gloria

Also Known As:

Escalofrío (Spain) (working title)
Shiver (International: English title)

Runtime:

Germany:91 min (Berlin International Film Festival)

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | Mexico:B15

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

A Punto la Postpo

Genuinely beautiful & scary Spanish horror

After Santi (Junio Valverde, 'The Devil's Backbone') is warned by his doctors of his worsening allergy to sunlight, he and his mother move to a remote town in a sunless valley. Soon after they arrive, strange events occur around the village. First, a farmer's sheep is viciously mutilated and left for dead. Then, the town bully is brutally murdered. As the horrific incidents continue, it becomes clear that the one responsible for the murders wants Santi next.

The past few years have brought many nations into the center ring of the horror genre. One of these recent powerhouses is Spain. With such instant classics as 'The Orphanage,' 'Rec,' and 'Pan's Labyrinth' (questionably horror, still, but impossible to not mention), Spain has aided in giving some much-needed relief from the seemingly unending stretch of Hollywood unoriginality. In late 2008, Spain released the rarely mention (stateside, at least) film entitled 'Eskalofrí' or 'Shiver.' Combining the direction of Isidro Ortiz ('Faust 5.0'), cinematography of Josep M. Civit ('Guerreros'), and the production design of Pilar Revuelta ('Pan's Labyrinth'), 'Shiver' is presented as a strikingly attractive film with some extremely beautiful and well captured settings. However, it's not all about the visuals here. A strong script by a relatively fresh group of writers is very substantial and fulfilling. The cast, of which I am mostly unfamiliar, easily manages to capture all their roles. On the other hand, I suppose there are a few problems. First the script could be a BIT juvenile at times playing off, as one reviewer said, like a darker episode of 'Buffy.' Also, I must note that the editing was not the best. Perhaps one more (or, in some instances, one less) run through the cutting room would've made for a better film as there were a few times where some great tension was ruined when the build-up was left with no reward in a too-quick cutaway. Regardless, even with the few flaws, 'Eskalofrío' remains as a very solid and genuinely creepy modern horror that satisfies the necessary style & substance of a true quality film.

Final Verdict: 7.5/10.

-AP3-