One evening at mile 31 of the "Lion Desert" road near the Mexuac River, Agata is the victim of a terrible accident, as a result of which she falls into a coma and suffers the amputation of both legs. Her twin sister Catalina, at the time of the misfortune, has a vision that shows her the dynamics of the accident and its cause (Agata had run over a child who had come out of nowhere). Because of this premonition Catalina decides to investigate, aided by her partner Nuno and her sister's boyfriend Homer. The three will thus discover the terrible mystery concealed at Km 31; a mystery that has its roots in a dark fact that happened in the distant past.
Rigoberto Castaneda directs, with undeniable professionalism, a spectre film that, unfortunately, ends up being unoriginal and incisive, as well as overly indebted to the oriental filmography of the genre (see, specifically, the Ju-on series). This is really a pity because, in truth, some happy cues (that would deserve more development and more attention) would also be there (for example, the communication on a psychic and oneiric level between the two sisters could have been far more in-depth and exploited).
The spectres of the film, visually, look tremendously similar to the "rancorous and vengeful" spectres of Eastern film production, and even the history behind them (motivating their tremendous revenge against poor unfortunates) now seems to be the same. We can talk about "the usual" dark-haired, pale, rotting-skinned children and women seeking revenge because of the sad fate that has befallen them. Surely it would have been better to try a new path, rather than to go down a path that is now really too beaten, to such an extent, that it is tiring. One could have tried to play "I see not I see"; not to show, in great detail, the spectres from the very beginning.
Despite the lack of originality, the film gets off to a decent start; the first twenty minutes are well constructed (fairly cruel and visually well-crafted incident that opens the story), essential, and would bode well for the continuation. The aforementioned expectations are all dashed. As the minutes go by, the film becomes convoluted, at times untied; some gaps in the screenplay become apparent (the story loses linearity and the explanations that are given, while all too clear, do not completely solve the aforementioned problem); too much meat was put on the fire with the only result of creating a botched picture (see the chaotic ending, which although, in the sewer part, would not be to be despised).
The cast is of little substance: only the actress playing the two sisters is acceptable. The pace of the film is not very high; there are perhaps a few too many pauses, but in the end it does not bore and one gets to the end comfortably.
Instead, very apt and evocative is the setting; the lions' road is quite distressing (a road that seems to meander in utter desolation) and the same goes for the forest that surrounds it: it conveys a certain sense of dread; it gives the idea that something is lurking or, better said, "waiting" in the trees; which is curious since the aforementioned is not very dense or intricate Even the part in the sewers, although short-lived and a bit bungled, has a good effect on the viewer.
Bloody scenes are completely lacking in the film, although there was no shortage of possibilities in this regard (just remember again the incident that opens the story: although it is quite gory we see only a few drops of blood).
All in all, not a bad film, however, well directed that has its major flaw in its lack of originality and in taking too many elements from the now truly overblown Oriental production.
Review by decker
