Historia de lo Oculto

Preparing for a special broadcast, the crew of a local news show is getting ready for a potentially explosive story to break regarding a connection between the government and a massive conspiracy, but as time goes on they realize there's more to the encounter than they initially expected.

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable and chilling effort. One of the more enjoyable elements here is the wholly unique and intriguing storyline that serves as a perfect launching point for its burgeoning plot points. Operating as the behind-the-scenes exploits of the crew attempting to use the broadcast and the specifics are known about how important it is to get the facts out involving their relevance and duration, the dialog-heavy plot-points mentioned here about each of the guests keep this one intriguing. The interview-based setup where the film talks with each of the specific guests about their connection to the fabled notebook brought out as the centerpiece of the show serve as a fine counterpoint to the discussions brought about through the show. That brings about the other impressive aspect of the film in the secretive nature of the revelations that come about. With the conversations involving the supposed warlock and the doubting skeptic that tries to bring about a dubious conspiracy theory hiding behind the scenes. The way the conversations go where it spends more time on the secretive nature of their individual history with each other and how that spills into the plot points involving the warlocks' background with the occult and how the tell-all book was written generates a lot of fun moments as the tension builds throughout the night. Once it gets to the final half where the group is trying to bring the issue to a head under a time deadline and the group starts to feel the effects of the potential witchcraft being conducted against them which brings about some enjoyable flashes with the witchcraft affecting them. Overall, these elements give this one a lot to like while there are a few minor issues to be had with the film. The main problem is a simplistic approach by being heavily based on conversations between the crew working in the background on exposing the conspiracy rather than actually generating any action. The low-key style that serves to slowly enhance the escalating dread and suspense about the conspiracy doesn't produce as much action as one might expect since it's either showing the sit-down roundtable interviews or the crew in the backstage area talking about specific points that have to be mentioned. This can be quite dull for those that want more activity in their films, which is all the more pronounced to those who aren't invested in the political intrigue featured. This isn't all that well-explained and can bring the film down somewhat.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.

History of the Occult is not a documentary or a mockumentary. This is a movie. It's not filled with possessed little girls climbing on the ceiling or evil ghosts. It's not supernatural, paranormal, or even scary... And I'm thankful. This movie is all about building suspense through a simple premise- a news station is going to expose a satanic conspiracy among the political powers of Argentina.

The movie is cryptic and deliberately vague. If you need movies spelled out for you than this isn't a movie you'll enjoy. The ending is not neatly wrapped up, you'll have to think about it afterwards to make sense of it, and that's what makes it good.

Saw this at the Imagine filmfestival 2021, usually in Amsterdam but now 100% online. Could not make heads or tails of it. I sat it out but had to force myself while attempting to follow what happened. For us Europeans there is not enough material to make a connection. An introduction of the parties involved, and especially the role of the journalists trying to phone-in with extra material, would be in order. I soon got lost what exactly the issues were. I kept watching in eager anticipation of a finale, hopefully revealing all secrets and intrigues, but it did not happen.

During the Q&A after the screening I thought I heard that the complete history around the TV-show was made up, and not related to reality. Freely translated: a vehicle to keep the story in motion. That was the moment I stopped the Q&A, lost my leniency to follow it, and switched to writing this commentary. I may have missed something important when the protagonists were introduced, however.

The black&white is another annoyance. It may intended only to suggest we are back in the 80-ies (color-TV existed more than 15 years before that time). It did not work for me and it is redundant anyway (whoever wants The Ten Commandments and/or Ben Hur shot in black&white to remind the viewer that this happened in the past??).

Watched at BeAfraidHorrorFestival and BAM!!!! it blowed my mind! One of the best movie of the year. if they had a bigger budget they would have done a masterpiece as The lighthouse. MUST TO WATCH if you love good cinema. <3

Blending television broadcast, government conspiracy & powerful witchcraft into an unnerving chiller, History of the Occult is a politically charged & patiently manifesting horror that steadily escalates into a full-fledged nightmare as it progresses, and also benefits from the foreboding atmosphere, surreal imagery, sustained tension & convincing performances.

Written & directed by Cristian Ponce, the story follows the final episode of a famous journalism show that's hosting its last guest who may expose a conspiracy that connects the government with an obscure secret society. Ponce draws the context from Argentine history for his film and it's also the key to deciphering its layers which makes it more suited to the local demographic.

While the unfolding series of events are difficult to follow at times and don't make sense without context to an outsider, the execution of the eerie elements interacting with ongoing investigation does invoke a creepy aura that crawls under the skin. Adding more to the film's sense of unease is the uncanny camerawork, hypnotic visuals & increasing restlessness as the TV show nears its end.

Overall, History of the Occult isn't an easy film to decode in a single sitting if you don't have the means to unlock its mysteries yet the uncomfortable experience it provides from minimal resources is worth noting. There is plenty to unpack here, lots of puzzle pieces to put together but the way it plays with our perception of reality and exudes a dark, mysterious & haunting power makes it worth viewing anyway.