The Bar (2017) Thriller, Survival

The Bar (2017) -  Spanish Writer / Director  Álex de la Iglesia has a cult following and continues to make interesting films based in characters' interpersonal conflict and in unusual situations. Known for many more than these few titles, Day of the Beast (1995), The Oxford Murders (2008) and reviewed by this blog Witching and Bitching (2013) he is a recognized director with skill in the script and behind the camera. The Bar (2017) is a thriller set in a Madrid cafe where a group of people become trapped when an unseen gunman kills a man outside the shop. The mystery of why that happened and why the government seems to be covering up the shootings is discovered through the collection of characters trapped inside seeking a way out. What Iglesia and writing partner Jorge Guerricaechevarría do so well is wrap into the plot a discovery through the personalities and flaws of the people trapped in such extraordinary circumstances. They weave the plot into the responses by the characters deftly moving the plot forward without giving away the whole story too soon. Each character based in there own world makes decisions based on that so decisions don't seem so random.
 In the bar are some basic stereotypes, working class owner Ampalo (Terele Pávez) is the gruff ruler of her space, she sees the world through hard work and a distrustful eye. She has timid Sátur (Secun de la Rosa) working for her, for 15 years making a living cooking and cleaning for others in the shop. There is also a collection of customers, regulars Trini wonderfully and subtly played by Carmen Machi) in her 50's woman is a weekly player of the slot machine who struggles with self esteem, retired cop Andrés (Joaquín Climent) who is short tempered and misses the job, underwear salesman Sergio (Alejandro Awada) who remembers the civil war and when things gets tough wishes for the decisiveness of the dictatorship. Joining them as a regular is somewhat insane neighborhood street person Isreal (Jaime Ordóñez), Ampalo obviously has a working relationship with him even though he is a bit unstable at times. Spouting off biblical sayings and basically not buying into how society regularly acts. Ordóñez plays the part with a gusto that fills scenes with energy. Then a some not regular customers who happened in that day, lovely upper class Elena (Blanca Suárez), and hipster Nacho (Mario Casas), finishing out the roles are a street cleaner who is an early victim and a military captain and catalyst who goes to the bathroom sick. All the characters are suddenly trapped when a man is shot outside the cafe / bar.

  When the event takes place the group freezes and fears that a terrorist attack like the one in Paris in 2015. They know there is a gunman shooting from up high outside but are not sure where he is. The conflict comes from what to do about it. Do you stay hidden hoping the police arrive soon? Do you make a run for it? The street cleaner opts to try to help the shot man on the street and is promptly shot through the head. In the panic to re-hide the group in the shop do not see the bodies taken away. The realization that there are no police leave raises the paranoia level of the group wondering if the threat is both inside and outside. There is nothing being reported on the television making them think there is a government cover up but they still don't know what the story is. It makes the more paranoid of the group accuse others and sides are drawn and allegiances made very quickly. The idea that the government may kill them also mentioning the real life Russian / Chechen stand off where the military ended up killing most of the hostages in order to end a stand off in a theater.

  When they remember the man in the bathroom some of the story is pieced together. He has taken a injection before dying and now the group thought moves towards the idea that he is infected with something. Learning some of what he knows through his phone they think that he was infected and that the government is trying to stop the spread of what he has. Their bad luck to be in the shop when he came in. While figuring this out outside we see men in gas masks starting a smokey fire in the street using old tires, then the television reports the block has been cut off by police and fire because of a blaze. The group knows this to be false but can't seem to get a phone signal all of a sudden leaving them cut off and turning on each other.
  The three oldest cast members become allies while the younger ones do the same. Realizing she Ampalo, Segio and Andres never touched the body of the dead infected man they use the gun Sergio carries to force the tainted down into the cellar with the body. Interesting that the three that can easily remember living under the Franco dictatorship are so quick to choose winners and losers. It is a tough moment for Sátur who has worked with Ampalo for 15yrs and now is disregarded by the woman.  It is an easy decision for the older people, for their part they are decisive, anyone who came in contact with the body has to be separated. It is a single focused approach that fails to take in the larger picture that there is a government operation going on to clean up the situation. When everyone else is sealed away the story does not show them again although we hear a outcome for the trio.

  The story continues with the remaining five characters as they try to figure out what to do. We learn that they maybe have an antidote, if it works but the messages on the capt's phone are not perfectly clear. He is carrying four more needles of the serum, but the problem is that there are five people left. Self interest and swaying alliances as well as one really contrive development has the climax of the story playing out in the sewers below the bar. We see how a small advantage, like being the one with the gun changes how people operate and think about survival. Each person uses the presented situations to his or her advantage. Altruism is in short supply but flashes of it sometime start to leak through. When all is said and done the film really does speak to human decision making when stressed with a life or death situation. Not completely answering the question of whether the antidote works or not the story instead becomes about who will survive the strife between characters. The ambivalent ending leaves the viewer to ask more question while it does answer the interpersonal ones.

  All and all I liked the film as I have liked other Iglesia and Guerricaechevarría films, they are not perfectly constructed always but like many of the character the flaws of them are interesting. There is mixed in through their dialog cultural references about class and politics that I find refreshing. Often the ending is the hardest thing to find and in this film it seemed really good closure was elusive, or I did not quite get it.  Still with that I recommend checking out "The Bar" on Netflix it is a solid crisis drama, thriller worth the watch.

Revenge (2017) Horror Rape Revenge

Revenge (2017) - The rape revenge genre is a tricky business to get into for a film maker. If the moral presentation is blurred just a little the results are exploitative in such a negative way that it will turn off the critics and audiences. There is a fine line between a dramatic incident to further the plot and cruel voyeurism of a characters plight. There has been a lot written in recent time defending "I Spit on Your Grave"  as a feminist example in the sub genre of rape revenge films. Although there are fine arguments made about it, I still feel the way that the camera lingers on the rape scenes is extremely exploitative. Stark and brutal, pulling no punches, it make the viewer experience the event in a sickening way before the revenge half of the film takes over. I don't feel it is 100% successful in its desire to be feminist in its approach even though it may be trying.
 Writer / Director Carolie Fargeat with cinematographer Robrecht Heyvaert and music by Robin Coudert seem to have created a far better narrative in this film. Playing with the roles that the audience is expecting Fargeat teases the audience and then pulls the rug out from them. She works hard to create an impression about who these characters are and then allowing the growth of something new and interesting. Heyvaert makes the desert landscape look beautiful, tight close up for intimacy and wonderful tracking shots that bring the action alive,  add to it the pulsing music by Coudert that enhances the viewing experience and you have a great looking and sounding film. The direction is spot on and the script surprising and well better than most films in this genre.
  Early on we are introduced to two of the four actors that will play this story out. Richard (Kevin Janssens) is a super wealthy married man who has brought his mistress Jen (Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz) to his desert hunting getaway. Starting his trip a couple day early he will be joined by his hunting pals and Jen will be gone leaving the men to hunt. The introduction of these two is done to show that Jen is a girl happy to be sleeping with this rich guy, the shots of her are Lolita-escque with closeups of her curves and her sucking a lollipop the whole time. He sees her as an object to be desired and she does not deter this, instead she embraces it. She is seductive and flirtatious and in control. It is an interesting game director Fargeat is playing here, presenting something that may lead the viewer to think that Jen is vacuous and not aware of her situation. When Richards hunting friends appear at the house a day early things get more interesting. Stan (Vincent Colombe) and Dimitri (Guillaume Bouchède) join the party and Jen is presenting as flirtatious and willing to turn the guys on. It is a leading scene, the viewer is given an impression of the woman almost daring them to think, "she is leading men on",  Stan in particular misreads her flirtation to be something more. The next day Richard is out getting the hunting permits and the toxic masculinity contained in Stan come to the forefront. He decides that he has a claim to Jen since she was seductive the night before and in a really awkward conversation he defines her actions and motive. Disregarding her pleas he rapes her.

  Richard for his part as alpha male can only think to pay her off. Not console her or confront his friend or call the police. Jen is not an equal to him, his approach is to make her go away. She is a toy for him to fuck and discard when he wants. No consequences for Stan, or Dimitri who when he walked in just before the rape walked away knowing what was about to happen because she is not their equal. She is a disposable pretty doll. So when she threatens to tall his wife his action is to hit her and put her in her place, she runs an is cornered by the three on a cliff edge you can guess what happens next.
  When the men go to deal with the body and find it gone, they still in their confidence think a simple hunt and the problem will be solved. This is where things get turned upside down. There is more to Jen than anyone has seen thus far. She is a survivor and manages to save herself from impalement and turns the table on the hunters. It is a rape / revenge movie after all so the sinners must be punished. The film is surprising in its incredible visceral gore effects, each injuries is a bloody mess and each bloody mess effects the character injured. The film oozes with blood in an almost fantastical way. This combine with a soundscape dripping, oozing, and gushing with fluid sounds and the film really is something to experience.
  The middle of the film in particular where Jen in a peyote induced trip is removing and cauterizing her the branch she was impaled on is remarkable. She eventually passes out and wakes transformed, a phoenix rising from the ashes ready to do battle with the men who mistreated her. As the hunting for the men goes wrong we are witness to a really great game of cat and mouse but this mouse has sharp teeth. Each man demise is to be reveled in with long takes and smart editing the pacing is just right. The climax is worth every minute of viewing time and as this genre will do gives us the revenge of the title. Not going too into the details is important as each and every one of you should take the time to watch this film.