La Dernière Séance

It's a soaking wet day with rain pouring down and one of the best hings to do is to go seek refuge in a great old cinema. There's only a problem: A scary murderer is on the loose and he also has taken refuge there.

That's the plot of the Uruguayan horror movie Red Screening (Al morir la Matrinee) which is a throwback to old 80'ies horror movies, where colour and style is more important than the believeability of the plot. It's a beautiful, dark and very moody film, which is a treat to see.

Thoughts go to both Scream, Cinema Paradiso, Stage Fright and even the rains of Blade Runner, and I'm quite sure the film makers have seen them all. A real treat, and well played.

'Bloody Matinee' or 'The Last Matinee' depending on which region you're from is a fun Spanish horror flick with Giallo and Slasher elements combined with a stylish 90's throwback setting. The movie's plot is simple yet effective and well paced with enough tension and gory kills to keep you entertained throughout.

The plot = The movie takes place on a rainy Sunday evening at the Opera Theatre where are old horror movie is being screened and a handful of people show up unaware that there's a murderer amongst and he starts to pick them off one by one.

The movie's direction by Maximiliano Conti is excellent with solid set pieces and a creative use of colours and lighting which makes everything look polished and fantastic, the cinema itself has that classic grand look to it and builds a decent amount of mood and atmosphere. The only negatives I could give is that the acting isn't up to much here and the characters themselves are rather forgettable, but there's enough going on to keep you distracted and thrilled.

Overall the movie is a fun ride with a clear love for the classic Giallo and slasher flicks. Sure it may not be the most original horror flick out there, but its still a good effort.

Yes if you like slasher movies (Giallos too sure), you will have more fun with this, than other people have. And while there is no nudity to speak of, some may think that it still has enough "sexuality" (or too much?) in it. Especially the one thing that is the cinema equivalent of the Mile High dream/fantasy ... not saying all have that, but generally speaking.

But this is a horror movie, so the focus is on the kills ... and they are quite creative - especially the first one. Not just smoke and mirrors - pun very much intended. And then the killer is also sticking it to people ... anyway, there really isn't much story or plot. The movie that is playing in the theatre might have more to tell than the actual movie ... I don't know. If you watch it, watch it for the kills and thrills as they say - of course the afficionados do not need this reminder, but for everyone else: it is just a movie! No one wants that happening in real life.

The Last Matinee is a stylish and well shot homage to the giallo films of Dario Argento and maybe a few nods to the Spanish thriller Anguish. On the technical side of things, there are few complaints. Lighting is beautiful and the gore effects are really well done, but the script goes off the path a few too many times during its first hour and the pacing can get a little sluggish. The final act is at least a bit more entertaining as the surviving moviegoers band together to stop this killer who collects eyeballs.

This a a film set in the early '90s and the ambience, clothing and set design really took me back to those care free days of my youth. All together, this was a good slasher with above average special fx.