L'enfant des Ténèbres

Santiago is cursed with photophobia, an intense allergy to light, especially sunlight. To help him adjust to life, he and his mother move to the northernmost part of the country away from the sun. Unfortunately, being the new and weird kid doesn't pay off when murders pop up around Santi and he appears a prime suspect.

I hadn't heard of "Shiver" prior to receiving my review copy, so I wasn't sure what to expect. As of late, the European films have overshadowed the American ones in quality (particularly the Swedish of all origins). And the people behind "Shiver" were quick to point out its connections to the much better known and more widely advertised Spanish films "Pan's Labyrinth" and "The Orphanage". It's a fair connection, albeit a bit of a stretch.

"Shiver" is by no means on par with "The Orphanage" and neither is in the Oscar league with "Pan's Labyrinth"... but the cinematography here is crisp, and the characters rich and alluring. This is not just some simple throwaway plot and production. If ever there was a labor of love, I think it's to be found in "Shiver".

The weakness of the film is due to its strength. The first half of the film builds up the case for Santi's involvement in mysterious murders and hints at supernatural elements -- parallels with vampires and werewolves. It is beautifully crafted, but this falls sharply once the plot turns and the real story becomes more evident. Unlike many films, the "twist" comes far too early and leaves little suspense for the second and third act. Even Santi's aversion to the sun, a unique aspect of this film, barely comes into play. Its removal would have affected the story only minimally.

Without giving anything away, I want you to see this picture. As I type, "Quarantine" and "Saw V" are rocking the theaters... but the real gem is "Shiver", available on DVD. Screw Hollywood and give Spain a chance if you haven't already. You'll be hard-pressed to find another film this year with such good sense of camera use and the proper story to tell with it.