Pájaros Negros

Everybody is quoted in this movie; Alfred Hitchcock (the iconic black birds of the title, the shower scene), Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch, the Argentine director Fabián Bielinsky and the ending brings to mind (again) David Lynch. Unfortunately, except for the identify-the- quote game this film doesn't offer much.

Acting is mainly in charge of Luciano Cazaux and his real life wife and daughter. Casaux is a veteran actor but his wife and daughter are not and the combination leads to some amateurish moments. Other professionals in the cast like Tomás Fonzi are not used to advantage; Fonzi's scene is unessential and derivative.

Direction by Ferks Castellani based on his own script is satisfactory except at the end, which omits far too much. On the positive side, cinematographers José Moreira and Pepe Peralta create a wintry, slightly ominous atmosphere that suits the action. Regrettably the negatives outweigh the positives; this film's objectives (obviously ambitious) have not been achieved.