T. Rigney (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} filmfiend) wrote,@ 2006-10-09 21:29:00 |
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Romasanta
It's not what you think. Honestly.
---
Brian Yuzna takes a lot of crap from genre fans, but the man has done some quality work in his time. If you doubt my words, you pathetic troll, I suggest watching the unrated version of Return of the Living Dead 3 and the surrealistic nightmare that is Society. While he does have his shortcomings as a director, he's by no means the worst in the field. The man's got one hell of an imagination, and I think this translates better when he takes on the role of producer. His company, Fantastic Factory, has already produced two great films, Dagon and Beyond Re-Animator, and they continue their legacy with Romasanta: The Werewolf Hunt, a disturbing little character study based on one of the world's first serial killers.
The small village of Allariz is under siege from a sadistic madman, one who leaves a trail of mutilated corpses in the nearby woods, completely stripped of their precious body fat. How's a corpse supposed to stay warm? Anyway, the culprit is none other than Manuel Romasanta, a traveling salesman who just might be a bloody-thirsty werewolf in disguise. As the body count rises, so does the suspicions of his lover, Barbara, whose sister and niece, unbeknownst to her, have also fallen prey to his charms. Soon his sinister deeds are discovered, and the hunt begins for the region's most notorious murderer.
If you think I've given too much away, you're wrong. The movie isn't about tension or suspense, nor does it contain the usual bevy of cliches found in your typical genre picture. Instead, the film focuses on Manuel's warped psyche and the many lives he destroys along the way. The notion that Romasanta is actually a werewolf is rarely discussed; only the man himself really believes this nonsense, which was something I was thankful for. I'm not really a fan of werewolf flicks, so it was a pleasant change of pace to see the story handled in such an unconventional way. Like Filmax's other release, The Machinst, the audience is essentially on a journey with the title character, discovering his quirks and ticks as the story slowly unfolds. For some, the pacing might not be quick enough to keep you watching. Instead of flashy cuts and rushed scenes, we're given the opportunity to get to know these characters, to observe their lives as our killer walks undiscovered amongst them.
Julian Sands stars as Romasanta, and the man does a fine job. Though a genre veteran with such films as Warlock, Gothic, and Boxing Helena under his belt, he's also a fine dramatic actor who doesn't get the respect and attention he rightly deserves. Instead of portraying Manuel as a crazed lunatic with a insatiable thirst for blood, Sands instead goes for a more subdued performance, allowing all of those dark secrets to slowly rise to the surface over the course of the film. When we finally see Romasanta for who he truly is, it's actually quite powerful and more than a little disturbing. After all, beneath those good looks and that charming demeanor beats the heart of a truly deranged man. Kudos to director Paco Paza, whose skill behind the camera not only gives the film its gothic charm, but also keeps the story from slipping into melodrama, which I figured would happen about two-thirds of the way through.
The only problem I have with the film overall is that it might be a tad TOO slow, but that's not really a bad thing. The main reason I bring this up is because it seems to be a common attribute given to the film by other critics. I, for one, enjoy what many refer to as a "slow burn," which is essentially a movie that takes its time getting to the point, allowing the audience to get a feel for the characters and their plight. Sure, the gore quotient may be small, but this film really doesn't need that. It's interesting without tossing around severed limbs and splashing its cast with fake blood, though we do get a few lingering shots of the aftermath of Romasanta's madness. As I've stated before, the movie is more of a character study than a horror film. You've been warned.
I'll sum everything up this way: If you enjoyed the pace of Darkness and The Nameless -- two fine genre productions in their own right -- then you won't have a problem with Romasanta. However, if you need flashy Hollywood edits and lots of brutal carnage, you'll do well to find something else to watch. It's definitely not for those with symptoms of ADD. But if you don't mind a dark drama with a historical twist, you could do worse than joining the hunt. This is quite possibly Fantastic Factory's finest hour.
I can't wait to see what they do next.
It's not what you think. Honestly.
---
Brian Yuzna takes a lot of crap from genre fans, but the man has done some quality work in his time. If you doubt my words, you pathetic troll, I suggest watching the unrated version of Return of the Living Dead 3 and the surrealistic nightmare that is Society. While he does have his shortcomings as a director, he's by no means the worst in the field. The man's got one hell of an imagination, and I think this translates better when he takes on the role of producer. His company, Fantastic Factory, has already produced two great films, Dagon and Beyond Re-Animator, and they continue their legacy with Romasanta: The Werewolf Hunt, a disturbing little character study based on one of the world's first serial killers.
The small village of Allariz is under siege from a sadistic madman, one who leaves a trail of mutilated corpses in the nearby woods, completely stripped of their precious body fat. How's a corpse supposed to stay warm? Anyway, the culprit is none other than Manuel Romasanta, a traveling salesman who just might be a bloody-thirsty werewolf in disguise. As the body count rises, so does the suspicions of his lover, Barbara, whose sister and niece, unbeknownst to her, have also fallen prey to his charms. Soon his sinister deeds are discovered, and the hunt begins for the region's most notorious murderer.
If you think I've given too much away, you're wrong. The movie isn't about tension or suspense, nor does it contain the usual bevy of cliches found in your typical genre picture. Instead, the film focuses on Manuel's warped psyche and the many lives he destroys along the way. The notion that Romasanta is actually a werewolf is rarely discussed; only the man himself really believes this nonsense, which was something I was thankful for. I'm not really a fan of werewolf flicks, so it was a pleasant change of pace to see the story handled in such an unconventional way. Like Filmax's other release, The Machinst, the audience is essentially on a journey with the title character, discovering his quirks and ticks as the story slowly unfolds. For some, the pacing might not be quick enough to keep you watching. Instead of flashy cuts and rushed scenes, we're given the opportunity to get to know these characters, to observe their lives as our killer walks undiscovered amongst them.
Julian Sands stars as Romasanta, and the man does a fine job. Though a genre veteran with such films as Warlock, Gothic, and Boxing Helena under his belt, he's also a fine dramatic actor who doesn't get the respect and attention he rightly deserves. Instead of portraying Manuel as a crazed lunatic with a insatiable thirst for blood, Sands instead goes for a more subdued performance, allowing all of those dark secrets to slowly rise to the surface over the course of the film. When we finally see Romasanta for who he truly is, it's actually quite powerful and more than a little disturbing. After all, beneath those good looks and that charming demeanor beats the heart of a truly deranged man. Kudos to director Paco Paza, whose skill behind the camera not only gives the film its gothic charm, but also keeps the story from slipping into melodrama, which I figured would happen about two-thirds of the way through.
The only problem I have with the film overall is that it might be a tad TOO slow, but that's not really a bad thing. The main reason I bring this up is because it seems to be a common attribute given to the film by other critics. I, for one, enjoy what many refer to as a "slow burn," which is essentially a movie that takes its time getting to the point, allowing the audience to get a feel for the characters and their plight. Sure, the gore quotient may be small, but this film really doesn't need that. It's interesting without tossing around severed limbs and splashing its cast with fake blood, though we do get a few lingering shots of the aftermath of Romasanta's madness. As I've stated before, the movie is more of a character study than a horror film. You've been warned.
I'll sum everything up this way: If you enjoyed the pace of Darkness and The Nameless -- two fine genre productions in their own right -- then you won't have a problem with Romasanta. However, if you need flashy Hollywood edits and lots of brutal carnage, you'll do well to find something else to watch. It's definitely not for those with symptoms of ADD. But if you don't mind a dark drama with a historical twist, you could do worse than joining the hunt. This is quite possibly Fantastic Factory's finest hour.
I can't wait to see what they do next.
