Ausentes

A psychological mystery thriller, embedded in beautiful imagery and a hit soundtrack . Decent Spanish horror/thriller deals with an unemployed executive called Julia (Ariadna Gil) and her new husband Samuel who move with the children (Nacho Pérez , Omar Muñoz) to a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. He has two sons from a previous marriage to María (Mar Sodupe) and all of them go to live at a solitary house. Looks like a great place, but contains something else. As Julia discovers that the urbanization is empty. But then things go wrong and gruesome happenings take place , leading to an unavoidable conclusion .

Daniel Calparsoro's successor to his compelling films as Asfalto , Pasajes , Salto al vacío , A ciegas and Guerreros and being competently directed by this Spanish director . This is an interesting and disturbing thriller with intrigue, suspense, twists, turns and the build-up tension is developed step by step . ¨The Absent¨ is a successful suspense thriller, beautifully photographed and set to a successful soundtrack . However, the main character Julia is so unsympathetic that the viewer's ability to sympathize is put to the test. It is an intriguing movie developing its premises little by little until the inevitable denouement. Unfortunately, this already says everything positive, specially with films that want to surprise the viewer with their punchline, naturally it weighs particularly negatively if you already suspect the resolution at the end of the first act at the latest . The final part is at least a little more exciting, but due to the weak resolution, which had already been hinted at for an hour, as well as the stolen elements of "The Shining" . "The Absent" (or "Ausentes", as it is called in the Spanish original) is an acceptable film , though boring at times , and , almost worse, too predictable . Interpretations are uniformly good, Jordi Mollá is first-class as a disturbing and threatening husband, while Ariadna Gil is fine as the deranged and unfortunate wife on the verge of going crazy, and the two children are pretty well, too . Being well accompanied by an enjoyable support cast, including familiar faces providing appropriate acting in brief performances , such as : Mar Sodupe , Alex Brendemühl and cameos and archive footage from Francesc Orella , Mar Regueras , Luis Tosar , Tristán Ulloa , Victor Clavijo, Raul Freire, Maru Valdivielso.

It displays a thrilling and suspenseful musical score by Carlos Jean , though composed by means of a repetitive synthesizer . As well as atmospheric and evocative cinematography by Josep M Civit . The motion picture was well directed by veteran director Daniel Calparsoro, though It has a few flaws , certain confusion , and gaps . Daniel has a long career as filmmaker from his beginning with Basque films as ¨Pasajes¨, ¨Salto al vacio¨, ¨A ciegas¨ , ¨Ausentes¨ ; subsequently making thrillers as ¨Asfalto¨ , ¨Guerreros¨ , ¨Invasor¨ , and the successful ¨Combustion¨ , ¨La advertencia¨ , and ¨Cien años de perdon¨ . He also directed TV series as ¨Inocentes¨, ¨La ira¨, ¨El castigo¨ , ¨Apaches¨. Rating : 6/10 . Decent and passable yarn as well as acceptable horror thriller.