Nowhere

Nowhere is one of those movies on Netflix that you sometimes can overlook or watch and expect absolutely nothing from but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised!

A Spanish production directed by Albert pinto tells the story of pregnant Mia fleeing a totalitarian country, who must fight for her life when a violent storm knocks the container in which she has been hiding overboard. Trapped, and alone Mia gives birth and is forced to survive to save her baby.

The film is taut, visceral in places (self surgery, giving birth) and quite moving in parts. One of the fundamentals of a good survival story is caring about the protagonist, you actually do feel for Mia and what would be a nightmare scenario.

This could quite easily of turned into a political statement about migration but refrains from the common, cliched Netflix approach. Some minor implausibility aside - would she and a newborn die of hypothermia, highly likely but that doesn't detract from the film's invention and mias ingenuity to survive any less compelling and heartwarming. If you enjoy films like cast away, the grey and other "against the element/odds" Nowhere should keep you watching right till the end.

Nowhere (2023) presents an intriguing survival premise with a solitary character facing overwhelming odds, but it fails to maintain tension or deliver a compelling narrative. The film's minimalistic approach initially grabs attention, and the lead performance is commendable, carrying much of the emotional weight.

However, the plot becomes repetitive, and the pacing suffers from a lack of dynamic developments. The story's attempts at deeper emotional resonance feel underdeveloped, leaving the audience with little to connect to beyond the surface-level struggle.

While Nowhere has moments of raw intensity, it doesn't do enough to stand out among similar survival dramas.

I wasn't expecting much from this film just something to make noise while I do other things but I got pulled in by the actress Anna Castillo. I ended up being entertained and even shed a tear.

Is it totally realistic? No lol, then again I never expected it to be with such a premise but it gave me a good thrill which is probably the aim for movies like these. There's also this heartwarming element watching a mother push to survive for her baby. It may have been predictable but the ride towards it was rocky enough to not be boring.

We're outsiders so it's easier to nitpick what she should be doing so a good point for me with these type of films as well is for the main character not to be doing too many stupid things just to create some tension and they didn't do that a lot here. She had her moments for sure but her real schemes delivered well. Plus she's not being annoying and overly dramatic to sell the point. I'd believe someone in that situation will do what she did.

Overall a good survival thriller drama. Don't expect it to be realistic just watch it for what it is. A mother's love journey getting drowned in a silly premise.

7.8 stars.

The cinematography is what most stands out for me with 'Nowhere'. The seascape is frighteningly realistic and scary and at times I felt as if I was there. The storm, the desperation, the futility, the starvation... everything is spot on. The story itself and many of the details are obviously exaggerated and unbelievable, however what the movie does provide is something that feels authentic in its presentation and stimulates the senses. There is some gratuitous violence and partial you know what strewn about the film that was a bit troubling and slightly unorthodox, so I found it to be somewhat extreme. This is not a movie appropriate for a young audience, I'd say under 17 - view at your own risk.

This storyline has been done dozens of times, but 'Nowhere' measures up with the best of them. The dubbing is seamless and undetectable for us English speaking folk.

For women who are pregnant, especially who are pregnant in the last weeks, please avoid watching this movie because based on my own experience, right when the main character's amniotic fluid scene broke, my amniotic fluid broke too and I gave birth the next day. Maybe because it's too emotional and delve into what the main character experiences. Then I went to the emergency room in the middle of the night and gave birth to my first child the next morning. I'm not kidding, I'm just warning you girls.

Honestly, I didn't dare to continue watching this film, even though I was quite curious about the ending of the story.