Eskalofrío

This is an excellent Spanish horror thriller which follows closely in production both The Orphanage and Pans Labrynth and there is also a touch of 'Orphan' about it with the 'wild child' theme.

The fact that Santi has a suffering of his own with the skin disease and that Santi quite possibly sleeps in the bedroom that would have been Erikas when she lived at the house with her German parents suggests that she felt a sympathy for him. His suffering is apparent from the opening scene and I think paramount to the film itself; many of the key events happen at night, there is a lot fine attention to detail on this issue.

The story is acceptable enough with the Mother working as a translator and opting to take Santi with her to a northerly point in Spain (on medical advice) where Santi will have the effect of the sun least.

The 'Gecko' has its role to play in its relation with Santi and in his relation (call it that) to the wild child who saves him at the end.

the very final scene is baffling to all and myself included and I have watched it through on many occasions. The rock in the hand and the gecko have some relevance (and who comes into the room?) but it shouldn't detract fromt he entertainment value of a very fine film.

Think I would have preferred it in original Spanish language and not dubbed over with American accents, so unnecessary, I would have been content with English subtitles, as in many foreign language movies.

Nothing vampiresque about this movie despite the blood-letting by the wild child but Twilight comes slightly to mind in the flirtatiousness between Santi and the Policemans Daughter.

SHIVER is of course the English title to the movie. definiely a movie for DVD and to wonder about almost every scene. A horror film which really makes you think, it is intelligent slick worth watching without a doubt!

A teenage boy has a decease where every time he steps into the sun he burns his skin. So his mother faces a decision to move away to a mountain town, where the sun sets early. They notice that the town people are all very close knit. But almost immediately following the boys arrival to the town, the town begins to have grim murders in the woods. The town people begin to suspect the strange new comer. 'Shiver' is one of the most enjoyable suspense films I've seen. The scare value in this film isn't the 'boo' shots or the gore. It's the superb use of silence and the true horror of what it means to know you're not alone in the woods… or your house.

After Santi (Junio Valverde, 'The Devil's Backbone') is warned by his doctors of his worsening allergy to sunlight, he and his mother move to a remote town in a sunless valley. Soon after they arrive, strange events occur around the village. First, a farmer's sheep is viciously mutilated and left for dead. Then, the town bully is brutally murdered. As the horrific incidents continue, it becomes clear that the one responsible for the murders wants Santi next.

The past few years have brought many nations into the center ring of the horror genre. One of these recent powerhouses is Spain. With such instant classics as 'The Orphanage,' 'Rec,' and 'Pan's Labyrinth' (questionably horror, still, but impossible to not mention), Spain has aided in giving some much-needed relief from the seemingly unending stretch of Hollywood unoriginality. In late 2008, Spain released the rarely mention (stateside, at least) film entitled 'Eskalofrí' or 'Shiver.' Combining the direction of Isidro Ortiz ('Faust 5.0'), cinematography of Josep M. Civit ('Guerreros'), and the production design of Pilar Revuelta ('Pan's Labyrinth'), 'Shiver' is presented as a strikingly attractive film with some extremely beautiful and well captured settings. However, it's not all about the visuals here. A strong script by a relatively fresh group of writers is very substantial and fulfilling. The cast, of which I am mostly unfamiliar, easily manages to capture all their roles. On the other hand, I suppose there are a few problems. First the script could be a BIT juvenile at times playing off, as one reviewer said, like a darker episode of 'Buffy.' Also, I must note that the editing was not the best. Perhaps one more (or, in some instances, one less) run through the cutting room would've made for a better film as there were a few times where some great tension was ruined when the build-up was left with no reward in a too-quick cutaway. Regardless, even with the few flaws, 'Eskalofrío' remains as a very solid and genuinely creepy modern horror that satisfies the necessary style & substance of a true quality film.

Final Verdict: 7.5/10.

-AP3-

Santiago is cursed with photophobia, an intense allergy to light, especially sunlight. To help him adjust to life, he and his mother move to the northernmost part of the country away from the sun. Unfortunately, being the new and weird kid doesn't pay off when murders pop up around Santi and he appears a prime suspect.

I hadn't heard of "Shiver" prior to receiving my review copy, so I wasn't sure what to expect. As of late, the European films have overshadowed the American ones in quality (particularly the Swedish of all origins). And the people behind "Shiver" were quick to point out its connections to the much better known and more widely advertised Spanish films "Pan's Labyrinth" and "The Orphanage". It's a fair connection, albeit a bit of a stretch.

"Shiver" is by no means on par with "The Orphanage" and neither is in the Oscar league with "Pan's Labyrinth"... but the cinematography here is crisp, and the characters rich and alluring. This is not just some simple throwaway plot and production. If ever there was a labor of love, I think it's to be found in "Shiver".

The weakness of the film is due to its strength. The first half of the film builds up the case for Santi's involvement in mysterious murders and hints at supernatural elements -- parallels with vampires and werewolves. It is beautifully crafted, but this falls sharply once the plot turns and the real story becomes more evident. Unlike many films, the "twist" comes far too early and leaves little suspense for the second and third act. Even Santi's aversion to the sun, a unique aspect of this film, barely comes into play. Its removal would have affected the story only minimally.

Without giving anything away, I want you to see this picture. As I type, "Quarantine" and "Saw V" are rocking the theaters... but the real gem is "Shiver", available on DVD. Screw Hollywood and give Spain a chance if you haven't already. You'll be hard-pressed to find another film this year with such good sense of camera use and the proper story to tell with it.

Shiver is a story of a boy who suffers from photo phobia which forces him to move to a location with less sunlight & shorter days,unfortunately this place also hides something very terrifying and so the real story begins.The film was good with a some really terrifying sequences and an interesting story.It makes you feel like watching the Swedish masterpiece 'LET THE RIGHT ONE IN' in a different way,but the films differ very much on many grounds and i am sure that many would agree.Many of my friends who have seen it believe its the best Spanish horror flick of all time,i believe a horror fan(&otherwise also)should never miss such an interesting film which now has prompted me to search for other Spanish thriller/horror movies...definitely better than your average horror flick...