Sister Death

From the trailer the film visually looked a little more like an independent film in the sense of having long shots and a fixed camera. I have to say that I liked it a lot, the atmosphere is well constructed, the actors do a good job and above all, as many here have said, it is better than The Nun. I haven't seen the movie Veronica, but after watching this movie I'm going to watch it. I, personally, had not seen a horror film so well constructed and so well crafted for a long time, I was left speechless. I like Spanish cinema, and this director has done it quite well. The photography, on the other hand, is spectacular, it should win the Goya award for best photography, I hope so.

"Sister Death" is a remarkable horror film for its stunning cinematography, with a palette of vibrant colors and dazzling lights that, if there were a category for Best Cinematography in Horror at the Oscars, would certainly deserve a nomination. Despite a plot that didn't fully engage me, the evocative atmosphere harks back to independent religious horror productions from the 60s and 70s.

Despite its imperfections, it outperforms previous films with a "nun" theme in the horror genre, such as "The Nun." However, some unresolved issues in the third act leave something to be desired, and there were certain points I didn't quite grasp, which might be due to my lack of recollection about "Veronica," the film to which this serves as a prequel. In summary, "Sister Death" is a visually stunning experience, though a more engaging narrative could have made it truly memorable.

Sister Death: A prequel to Veronica (2017) which gives the backstory of Sister Narcisca. As a child in 1939 she has a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is much admired. In 1949 as a Novice she travels to a convent to join the teaching staff. The Reverend Mother warmly welcomes her but the stern Sister Julia doubts her sincerity. These two nuns are hiding a secret which is central to what follows. Narcisca sees visions, hears voices, she is guided to the basement where she finds the mummified hand fo a Saint, it had been missing since the Convent was ransacked during the Spanish Civil War. More hauntings occur and the atmosphere at the school becomes darker. Narcisca's investigations puts her in physical and spiritual danger, Not a great horror film but it does hold your attention, The mystery works well, who is child whose voice we hear? Why is Sister Sagrario missing? Quite a few jump scares as the tale leads to a grand guignol ending. The shadow of the Civil War hangs over this entire film. Directed & Co-Written by Paco Plaza, On Netflix. 7/10.

I had the good fortune of seeing this at Sitges Film Festival today, and it delivers. In my experience the Spanish like their horror layered in religion, blood, nuns, blood, self-harm, long psychological turns, blood, religion, harm, and to top it all off add in a narrative of historical reference and voila! To me, it's like there should be a whole other category labeled S-Horror akin to K-Pop or J-Horror. But to the matter at hand!

I loved La Abuela, so have a hard time seeing its rating reaching only 5.9!? To be sure Paco Plaza this time around keeps Sister Death firing on all pistons. The black and white (white and black, if we are being Spanish Spanish) archival elements opening and closing, the completely believable religious environments, and the stupendous set design. Mwah, chef's kiss.

But let's talk SCREAMS. Aria Bedmar may just be the newest Scream Queen. My mind rushed with Linnea Quigley, again and again. And really, I wasn't expecting it, because should I have? Maybe. But man oh man it resonates, along with all the play on sight, eyes, and general ocular type things. Which for the record is not a spolier, just look at the movie poster.

In short, kudos to Plaza on another genuinely engaging horrific (in a good way) romp, give it a go -

The name - Paco Plaza - is almost enough assurance for a horror product to work. Here's a nun movie that's way better than both The Nun entries from The Conjuring universe, and it comes from one-half of the directors of the REC films. This is a prequel to Plaza's 2017 chiller Veronica, focusing on Sister Death's side of things. For a film that just runs for 90 minutes, there's a surprising level of depth in storytelling, and Plaza's use of visual metaphors is on full display here. The "eclipse" aspect is wonderfully incorporated into the storyline, and while the first two acts may come across as slightly less effective from a narrative standpoint, the final act where the dots begin to connect, is truly spectacular. Even in those first two acts, the atmospherics are remarkably set up.

The makers of The Nun films could learn a thing or two, in terms of how to design aesthetically spooky frames. The smart usage of close-up shots, the innovative use of gore, and the commendable performances of the child actors help Sister Death rise above your generic supernatural horror film. The only thing that sort of baffles me, is the makers' decision to add synth beats to a couple of chilling scenes, which made me tune out of the film's madness albeit for a few seconds. I have to say I enjoyed this a bit more than Veronica, and that may (or may not) have to do with how disappointing the recent demonic nun movies have been. This is a solidly packaged pre-Halloween gift indeed.