Haunted Heart

I was expecting something a lot more out of Matt Dillon. The storyline is a waste of time. It's a dragged out romance story without really developing the characters' back stories. A shallow piece of work.

It started promising though against a beautiful backdrop of the Greek islands where everything seems chilled. From one third of it out, I lost interest not just because of Alex's lines and seduction, but Matt was stoic throughout the whole movie. Not much engagement or feeling like part of the movie as an audience. Disappointing.

Greetings again from the darkness. With any discussion or article about relationships these days, there is inevitably a mention of 'red flags' ... warning signs in a potential partner that shouldn't be ignored. Thanks to writer-director Fernando Trueba (BELLE EPOQUE 1992, CHICO & RITA 2009) and co-writer Rylend Grant, there is now a movie that offers clear examples of red flags for those who can't manage to spot them without assistance.

Alex (Aida Folch) is a lovely young woman who can't swim or speak Greek. So of course, she applies for a job at a restaurant on a Greek island. It's a boutique joint, just opening, owned by Max (Matt Dillon). Alex is drawn to the mysterious Max. While she's a carefree open book, he's a tight-lipped private person. A local charmer and part of the staff, Chico (Juan Pablo Urrego) tells Alex, "Nobody knows Max." Unfortunately, this doesn't deter Alex and she continues to pursue her man.

One thing respected filmmaker Trueba gets right is the look of the film. Set in 2001, the Greek isle locale is breathtaking and the cinematography by Sergio Ivan Castano takes full advantage of the seaside setting, as well as the cute café and the cast of faces the cameras adore. Aida Folch has an initial likability that reminds me a bit of Valerie Kaprisky from BREATHLESS (1983), and Matt Dillon has been a big screen fixture for more than forty years. It's really the material that lets us down here. The romance is never quite as romantic as we'd hope, and the suspenseful aspects never generate the tension that we'd prefer. Mostly we just keep asking, "What is Alex doing? Why doesn't she bolt?" The aforementioned red flags are so obvious that the big reveal barely warrants a nod, and the finale is forced to go a bit over-the-top due to the unlikely actions of Alex. In spite of all that, the Greek isles are enticing.

In theaters and On Demand beginning September 27, 2024.

Haunted Heart, directed by Academy Award winner Fernando Trueba, is a significant letdown, especially given the director's impressive track record. The film's plot, unfortunately, offers nothing new, with a predictable narrative that fails to surprise or engage. The characters are flat and unmemorable, making it hard for the audience to feel invested in their fates. The casting choices seem off, with actors who either feel out of place or struggle to bring any depth to their roles. Perhaps most frustrating is the soundtrack, which completely undermines the tension, especially in scenes that are supposed to be pivotal. Instead of heightening suspense, the music drains any sense of urgency or danger. As if that weren't enough, the Spanish dubbing is not only poorly executed but borders on ridiculous, further pulling viewers out of the experience. It's baffling that a filmmaker of Trueba's caliber could overlook these fundamental aspects of filmmaking. Haunted Heart is, sadly, a film that fails to live up to expectations. Save yourself the disappointment and skip this one.

Okay, so I don't even know where to begin.

I will try to be neutral as this was directed by Fernando Trueba and he usually is pretty good. And although I 100% saw what he was trying to do because I'm of an age that I recall the style, but this one is not just a disappointment-it's just plain old boring, boring, boring and even hard to get through.

The story isn't anything new, maybe one small surprise. The characters are mediocre at best. The female lead totally held this together, and I'm so sorry that I have to remember Matt Dillon in this role because while he can play a good nutter, and I grew up watching him so I'm totally familiar with his range (he's often overlooked, a better actor than he's given credit for) I cringed at many of his scenes. Again, I know what the director was trying to do but it'll be a miss with younger generations and Dillon was just lifeless in this one.

The music, however, was fabulous.

Don't overthink this one. The reviews are way too harsh so far. For the first half of this movie, you really have no idea where it's going so it's definitely got a suspenseful tone that works. Aida Folch is very convincing and is a top-notch actress. She did what she could with a pretty basic script. Matt Dillon is still putting out great performances. The guy is 61 years old and still looks like he's 45 in this movie. Beautiful Greece location setting. Little bit long, but don't pass it over. It's a good watch. Just don't overthink this one too much and you will enjoy it if you like a bit of a suspenseful thriller.