"Malingo" (2016, Media Luna New Films) directed by Paco Bardales which was screened last year at this Latin American film festival. "Maligno" was shown on the festival's opening night, marking this film as its only "horror" genre. This is remarkable considering the recent growth of Latin American fantasy/ horror filmmakers and productions due to "art house" pioneering directors like Mexico's Jorge Grau. Amongst the growth has been a churning out of original stories and breaking traditional genres, both horror and Latin American cultural motifs as seen Mexico's fantasy/ horror entries in past international film festivals.
That being said, "Maligno" is by far an original -- a lot of film has notable influences from the Asian ghost-genre like Hideo Nakata's "Ringu" and maybe also influences from recent U.S.'s horror films like the "Insidious" series. The directors was not present during the screening were not there to ask if the latter was correct but its keeps grounded with Latin American cultural sources.
The story is about a possessed hospital wing and it has been taken over by a Amazonian indigenous evil spirit, called "Maligno". In 1986, this spirit was imprisoned and after 20 years desires to come out. The protagonist, helmed by Sofia Rocha as a doctor whose teen daugther (Fiorella Pennano) dressed thought out the film in complete "Goth" black clothing becomes the human host for the spirit.
It keeps suspense going within a conventional horror format (with obvious nods to Asian ghost films) with a soundtrack of plucked violins strings and loud brassy notes. The matured horror viewer maybe a little critical of this film --- for a more general audience should be satisfied with its horrific imagery and sounds.
