The Squad

How much do you know about the Colombian film industry? Probably more than I do. 'El Paramo' is a heck of an introduction; opinion seems to be rather divided here and I won't pretend that everything is perfect with this movie but I found it very watchable. Yes, it follows a well-trodden path but is none the worse for it. I thought it a shade heavy on the melodrama and it lacked a little refinement here and there, hence only 8/10 but artistic direction and photography were tight and sensitively handled throughout. I enjoyed the device of concentrating totally on the actors to the exclusion of just about everything else -there IS a lot of darkness and mist around, so may be best avoided if expensive sets and grand scenery are more to your liking. Or if somewhat grisly scenes turn you off! The basics of the story (which all unfolds quite nicely) are no more than have been revealed by other reviewers, so I've nothing to add except praise for the well-designed music soundtrack and a warm recommendation overall.

Another reviewer here stated some interesting points. I do agree with most of his arguments, but I don't think the movie is as bad as he makes it to be. That doesn't mean I think it's really good, but I do think the director was going for the right thing. Fear and isolation can make people go crazy.

Of course the idea is anything but new and there have been quite a few movies with similar themes. While this is well played, there is something missing to help the viewer along the ride. Something that will even the field and make even some of the clichés look good. As it is, it is just decent (maybe you won't even think as much of it, as proved by other reviews). Suspense is high enough and though you can guess most turns and events, it is still enjoyable enough.

As with the first two reviews, I have to agree that there were no weak acting here. Every single one of them were marvelous. The cinematography and especially the atmosphere were very effective and notable.

However, I would not classify this as a horror movie. I'm inclined to say that this is more of a suspense/drama.

Admittedly, the director was extremely talented in building up the tension, though it is quite tiring to always have that accumulate inside you without having any form of release as nothing of significance really happens. Granted, that he wasn't going for cheap thrills, which I can respect, but a movie gets anti-climactic fast, even with superb actors and atmosphere, if it's not going anywhere.

This would have been great for a short film, but made into a full length movie, it became a bit diluted. Still, I did not regret watching this for the positive points already mentioned above. Those were so good, it salvaged the entire film.

Unfortunately The Squad fails to deliver on its interesting premise and promising first ten minutes. Competent camera work and a decent cast is unable to make up for a lack of plot, structure or coherent direction. I can appreciate what the director was attempting to do with lingering close-ups of grim, suffering faces, subtle sound cues and atmospheric lighting, but one can only rely on those techniques so long before delivering some kind of pay-off. For me the film completely failed to rack up any tension or arrive at a destination. I was more concerned with wondering why the characters - supposedly trained soldiers in a war zone - were behaving more like angsty teens who've fallen out with their parents.

The message that in a civil war everyone looks like the enemy could have been portrayed far more effectively without tacking on a poorly-realized supernatural element. The film-makers tried to do both and ended up with neither. I hate using the word, but 'boring' really is the only word that comes to mind.

I caught this first time around on Netflix about a year ago and absolutely loved it. So much in fact I bought the film on DVD a couple of months ago (not sure if it has had a blu-ray release). I really can't recommend this film enough it is well written, well shot, well acted and has a brooding, claustrophobic quality about it that stands it head and shoulders above the large percentage of dross that currently boasts to be "the scariest film you will see this year, blah blah"

I must also mention the score which adds impressively to the ominous atmosphere of this film overall. Impressive!