WARNING: This Article May Contain Spoilers
Here we have another continent, and a pretty big one at that! There was no way I would have been able to find enough films per country – but it also means there is likely to be a ‘South American Horror: Part 2’ as there are so many countries to cover….
The Entity (Peru)
Where better to start our tour of South American horror than with my favourite sub-genre, ‘found’ footage! However, it’s much more than that – something like Cloverfield meets The Ring, ‘found’ footage meets ‘cursed’ film. The opening felt pretty intense and because of that, for me, it felt like the rest of the film began to drag a little in comparison. OK, it didn’t help that the opening featured weird things happening to statues in a cemetery and I’ve never really recovered from the Stone Angels in Doctor Who. Honestly, I had to rewind a couple of times to make sure I was seeing what I thought I saw but I love the fact that you can’t see the antagonist, well not completely.
El Duende Satiro (Ecuador)
The title of this film translates as The Satyr Goblin. Interestingly, a Satyr is from Greek mythology and a Duende is a woodland dwelling goblin from Latin American folklore. I have to admit, the acting in this film does feel like a bad Latin American soap opera. There are even some out-of-place slo-mos, like when Palmira is drying off after bathing in the river. I think, because of this, the moments with the goblin just lose the air of creepy they are supposed to have and it isn’t exactly helped when he says “I want your body” outside Palmira’s door because that just sounds a little pervy.
A Gruta (Brazil)
I don’t want to refer to this as a slow-burner because it starts out with a rather intense opening, but it really does drop off for a while after that. There are moments that I’m sure are supposed to be scary or are meant to make you jump at least, like the guy appearing behind Sister Helena in the hospital, but it just didn’t have an effect on me. I actually found the transition between the past and present really took me out of the story, if they had stuck to one or the other they could have added a lot more into the fear factor. Especially if it was all set in the grotto because of the satanic shrine they find. Also, none of that really seemed to have any relevance on the story as none of it actually influences any of the deaths that take place!
To Kill a Dragon (Argentina)
What I love about this film is the almost fairy tale style soft lighting on the present day parts because it just adds that extra element of darkness to the rest. I’ll be honest, it’s hard to tell at first that the dark scenes are set in Hell as it just looks like a grotty hang-out for drug addicts but things gradually get darker and creepier. Especially the first time we meet ‘The Spinner’, the shaking of the camera weirdly sent a chill down my spine. Actually, just ‘The Spinner’ alone is creepy, with her stitched-up eyes and black fingertips. The only real let down for me is when Valeria is killed because just looks a little bit cheap.
Sendero (Chile)
Now, this film has the balance of slow moments alongside intensity. What we’re really dealing with here is what I would like to describe a kidnap-horror but I think in some circles they may be described as ‘humiliation horror’. The opening is intense but more of a ‘I wonder what’s happening’ sort of thing and then the pace is slowed with the introduction of our main character Ana before picking up again when she and her friends are attacked. This weirdly reminds me of Rob Zombie’s House of 1,000 Corpses, just a little less disturbing and nauseating. However, there are few bits that will be a little unnerving.
Infection (Venezuela)
Of all the zombie films I’ve seen, I think this may be the first that is started by an infected needle. A lot of the time horror films are used as a form of satire and I wonder if this is supposed to be a comment on the drugs trade that takes place in Venezuela. It’s a little bit of a slow burn but no zombie film is all out action from the outset. Yes, the horror side takes a back seat in the beginning but I think that’s because they wanted to make sure the characters were introduced but from then on it is actually a pretty good film. They even stick to the traditional transference of the virus by either bite or blood/spit getting in the mouth and eyes instead of trying to come up with some clever knew way.
