User reviews

Yes, it might test your patience in the beginning. It seems like a slow paced movie,where you don't even feel like doing your guess work. I also have read some reviews on acting of lead roles,but I found them good enough. It might not be a seat edge movie, but gives you that satisfaction of watching a good suspense thriller. Spanish movies has good number of thrillers, sure you won't get disappointed, Dispite being a slow paced movie, if you wait until pre climax it will surprise you enough. It gives you that required plot twist and you'll love the movie once you finish watching it. So I suggest you to go for it!

This is a mystery/drama movie which becomes a thriller movie in the second half. It's watchable and entertaining. There are no pace problems, it's not boring, it keeps your interest, there are some (not great, not bad) twists which i didn't see them coming. If you are in the mood for a movie as it was described, you will enjoy it.

However, it's flawed. I couldn't believe the things that happened, don't look for plausibility here. The ending is satisfying but it doesn't make much sense. The movie is creating a good atmosphere in the first half but, in the second half, it is losing steam. It's still watchable and kinda intense, but it could have been better.

Overall, this is not a MUST SEE movie and there are many better movies to recommend, but i didn't regret for watching this. It's slightly above mediocrity, enjoyable and not dumb.

Jaula surprises with a mysterious and engaging plot, but fails in the end because it becomes too convenient. Considering the character development, the final events feel more Ex-Machina than natural.

Paula and Simón are returning to their home via the highway. Things are not going well between them. In the middle of the highway, they find a lost girl. The scene itself is overblown just for entertainment and unnecessary tension.

The girl, whom they call Clara, is malnourished and has serious physical and mental problems. Through a plot mechanism, Paula decides that they should stay with her until the Authorities find Clara's parents, or at least find out what's going on.

The plot focuses on the relationship between Paula and Clara, evolving into adverse situations that hurt our conception of Clara. She has post-traumatic disorders that make us doubt her sanctity.

The plot is good, until we find out what's going on. Then things get a little bad. In a long and tedious scene, we have a formal explanation of every plot detail so far, showing us how each event played out from another point of view. Until then, we only had Paula's point of view; adding another point of view in the middle of the movie broke the imagination a little bit for me.

From this point on, things are just too convenient. I don't want to go into details that spoil the film, but I'll just say that everything, while plausible, is a little silly. I'll talk about this topic later, with spoilers.

In the end, the movie is good, satisfying, but these plot flaws force a 7 out of 10. With a little adjustment, I'd say the movie would be a near-perfect thriller, probably the fruit of a novel. In the end, we were left with just one good thriller film, recommendable, but flawed.

**WARNING: Additional notes with SPOILERS**

Paula resolves to confront the villain, unable to recognize the danger she finds herself in. I understand that she is carried away by maternal feelings, but she knows what the villain is capable of after evaluating a suspicious case; at the very least, she should be alert.

The villain, aware that Paula discovered him, does not kill her. I tolerate that, because his motive is plausible, but later not killing Paula is just plot convenience, a ruse so that everything ends well.

These events, added to the lengthy scene that explains the details of how the villain covered it all, lowered the film's rating for me.

If you're looking for high-action, big-explosive Hollywood - this movie is not for you. If you're looking for an interesting story, with a few twist, where you might have to use your brain a bit (it's not crazy difficult to figure out) than I think you'll enjoy this one.

Written in Spanish, with some small amounts of French mixed in, they've done a great job at translating it over for us English only speakers. It's actually dubbed over!! If I wanted to read an entire movie, I'd just read a book.. right?

RECOMMEND: Definitely give it a try. You're not going to find much else out there better than this. Not really a horror movie (a little bit of torture) mostly thriller, edge-of-your-seat kind of stuff. Enjoy!

This type of case, the route he ends up taking is not the most unthinkable or satisfactory, but the truth is that the script achieves what it wants, and it would be a mistake to underestimate its ability to maintain suspense and ambiguity. We can think that the film is about a malevolent girl, about a sinister invisible sect, an alien abduction, the paranoia of a frustrated woman who thinks she sees things... all the possibilities are open at some point .those you don't want anyone to spoil but you forget in a week, though it takes dark twists until it reaches a climax straight out of a horror.

I'll be honest, this movie is nothing special.

The only two great things I would like to point out are:

• The plot idea on which the film is based, which is remarkably original, although it is surrounded by events that are anything but original, sometimes almost cliché. Nothing astonishing, but it does his job, and that's enough.

• The direction, which manages to keep the viewer on their toes when necessary. Climax moments are well sustained.

Everything else here is mediocre. Some sequences are literally facepalm, while others flow well, and take you to the end of the movie. Some things remain unexplained, and that creates some plot holes. The ending is a bit hasty, though.

This slow Psychological thriller involving a couple fostering a little girl with selective mutism. The girl believes drawing a chalk line and not getting out of it or else the boogeyman would come after her. How the couple trying to mend their own relationship by fostering this child and will they be able to truly help this child forms rest of the story.

The pace is slow throughout and the main reveal felt quite underwhelming. The whole third act was too pedestrian and ended on a dull note. Largely depending on the performances, the atmosphere and the tone set early on felt effective but the whole narrative just wasn't immersive enough.

For once...the child actress was great. She really played her part extremely well. The rest of the movie....conflicted.

If you cut off your brain(or love reality shows) then this will come across as a taut thriller mystery. And it does keep you interested for about 40 minutes....then it falls off the rails..big time. It is very obvious that the director had another ending planned then either changed course(or was forced by studio) to do a different ending as the scenes in the later half of the movie did not match the beginning. The movie tries to pretend it is an unexpected twist, but in reality they were unable to write the scene correctly.

In short, the ending does not match or even makes sense and is physically, logistically impossible with the rest of the story. To top things off, the final scene is an insult to audience intelligence. I have a very strong suspicision that this movie had a different ending in Spain and Netflix had them record something different for US audience...yes the ending is just that badly written.

While not some absolute masterpiece, the movie is entertaining enough to watch. A bit of a slow burn, and ofc no CGI, explosions and alien space ships, but there were no moments where I was bored. I was drawn in, and kept in.

A weakness is likely the sudden change of PoV that also goes back in time.

I'm somewhat confused by other reviews talking about unanswered questions. While the answers are not as in-your-face as your typical brain-dead hollywood production, they definitely are there. It had me thinking about what had happened long after the movie had ended, and I like that.

One thing I can not answer, and am curious if someone else can tell me, is the buma thing. There is no "boogey mann" in german, nothing that leads to the person Carla meant. So what did the bu mann refer to?

I'm always cautious when I see horror based around children. In my experience it is either a very safe movie, or a very annoying experience. 'The Chalk Line' had me thinking it was going to be both of those things in the early going. But thankfully by the end of the film I was having a really good time.

The film makes you think it is going to be one thing and then cleverly becomes something else entirely. There's good and bad with that. The good is the relief at what it becomes and how much you ultimately enjoy it. The bad is that when you think it's something else initially you find yourself kind of hating it, and it can be hard to come back from that sometimes.

I recently reviewed a film where I described it as starting great and then getting worse and worse the longer it went on. 'The Chalk Line' is almost the complete opposite of that. The longer it goes the better it becomes. So if you are not having a great time with it initially, push through. You might just find yourself watching a very good film half an hour later. 7/10.

Great cast and acting. That adorable little actress was great also. She did a fantastic job, drawing me into that movie. Well done with the plot of this movie. It was also well written, and directed.! Great details went into the movie I don't think I've ever seen a movie with this cast because it was foreign language for me, but there was voice over and subtitles, and it was worth it. At first, I looked at the ratings and thought that I'll just start watching part of it and see if I like it. I ended up watching the whole thing because it kept me entertained and wanting to continue watching. I like a movie when I can't figure out what's to come.

Stepping into the world of 'Jaula' is like entering a chilling fairytale where silence speaks volumes. Directed by Ignacio Tatay, this 2022 Spanish thriller takes a simple act of kindness and twists it into a disturbing exploration of the dark underbelly lurking beneath suburban tranquility. With a runtime that could have been trimmed for better pacing, the film still manages to deliver a gripping, if not entirely original, narrative.

The story begins on a chilling note, as Paula and Simón, a seemingly ordinary couple, stumble upon a young mute girl, Clara, lost and alone on a deserted road. What follows is a descent into a psychological maze where the couple's altruistic gesture becomes a catalyst for uncovering their own hidden truths. As the layers of the mystery surrounding Clara are peeled back, the film adeptly portrays the uneasiness and tension that permeate the couple's seemingly perfect life.

Tatay's direction is commendable, creating an atmosphere that is both eerie and captivating. The cinematography captures the stark contrast between the bright, affluent surroundings and the dark secrets that lie within. The use of silence and the young girl's muteness as narrative devices adds a layer of intrigue, making the audience lean in closer to decipher the unspoken. The performances, especially from the lead actors, are commendable, conveying the growing unease and desperation as the story unfolds.

However, 'Jaula' is not without its flaws. The pacing, particularly in the second act, falters, with certain scenes feeling repetitive and unnecessarily drawn out. The script, while effective in building suspense, relies on a few genre tropes, making some of the twists predictable for seasoned thriller enthusiasts. The film also dances around some heavy themes, such as child abandonment and the dark side of suburbia, but doesn't delve deep enough to offer a truly profound commentary.

Despite these shortcomings, the film excels in its portrayal of the psychological dynamics between the characters. The relationship between Paula and Simón, initially portrayed as a loving partnership, is gradually revealed to be a complex web of secrets and unspoken desires. The introduction of Clara acts as a catalyst, forcing them to confront their own truths and the cracks in their seemingly idyllic life. The final act, while not entirely satisfying, provides a fitting conclusion to the story, leaving viewers with a lingering sense of unease.

In the realm of psychological thrillers, 'Jaula' may not break new ground, but it offers a solid and suspenseful journey. The film's strength lies in its ability to create an unsettling atmosphere and explore the power of silence in storytelling. While a tighter edit could have elevated the overall experience, the performances and the film's unsettling vibe make it a worthwhile watch for fans of the genre.

A stranded, wandering kid is taken in by total strangers at the prompting of a hospital official-they're Not Fostering, though... ? And somehow "We Don't Have Time" (to treat or counsel her-it's so hard) makes it sensible or reasonable, since no one knows her name, or family, nor are there any missing girls she matches, etc. Seriously?

Are these random strangers some kind of family counselors?, experts in child psychology?, known to the hospital as prior fosters?, private investigators?, journalists? Nope, none of that. They're nobodies that it isn't demonstrated have made any type of quick, deep connection with the kid. They've only shown their concern towards her in non-verbal ways, and then it's like, fill out the paperwork, 'She's Doing Well Because Of You, So You Must Take Her.' How bizarre and irresponsible?!

It includes some extended scenes of female abuse and violence fetishism, which is super-disturbing, and there wasn't a strong enough warning about that in the streaming service description. The whole production is peppered with inexplicably nasty attitudes toward women and girls.

Sinister music at inappropriate times. Bad acting, directing, editing, etc., all around. The dubbing also went off the rails at times, like having a child who was both an abuse victim and was an abuser say, "You look great!" to an adult, when the young actress actually only said, "You, too."

When it gets only 12 mins in and they're showing someone getting pressured and whined at while they're in the bathroom, just for pointless tension and drama, you know it's L. A. M. E. Big house, but here's hubby, scratching at door like a dog with separation anxiety.

So, wouldn't you know, halfway through this takes a turn into showing us a really awful couple with horrific trust issues and emotionally abusive arguing for waaay too long to be tolerable. Ugh, that's not storytelling.

Well -it's not a totally awful screenplay; but if you're anything like either my wife or myself (and have watched any kind of cinema based on formula fiction) you probably will only be slightly drawn into these characters and their situations.

What is it with European directors and their seeming infatuation with closeups of people eating? Complete with close-miking the actors so that the audience can hear the food being chewed and swallowed?

Good acting for the most part. Good directing, also for the most part.

Writing is lack-luster with a few glaring plot holes and a few not so noticeable.

I thought this movie would have something to do with the supernatural and that is why I watched it.

It starts off slowly and stays this way for some time. The main character of the movie tries to solve the mysteries of a 6 year old girl she and hubby find one night standing in the middle of the road. Who is this girl? Where does she come from? And why won't she talk? And why won't she cross over the chalk lines?

Elena Anaya Gutiérrez is an excellent actress and in my opinion if it wasn't for her I would not have finished this movie. She plays Paula who is 42 years old and childless. She wants desperately to have a child; we are made aware of this via fertility treatments which we see her take via needle too many times to count. The entire movie is watching her solve the mysteries of this little girl without much support from those around her.

The Chalk Line tries too hard for its own good to be a thrilling mystery. It reminds me of a wannabe Harlan Coben thriller squished into 90 + minutes with a couple of extreme twists that actually go over the top.

Well this was a pleasant surprise. Was flicking through Netflix and this movie came up. Went in not knowing anything about it. Kept me riveted and the storyline was pretty good & decently acted.

A couple driving home happen upon a young child stranded in the road. She's taken to hospital with kidney problems. No parents are located, the child isn't responsive and doesn't talk much. The couple foster her short term to aid her recovery and then little by little light is thrown upon her past & the mystery is uncovered largely by the foster mum.

It's rated horror but it's definitely thriller/suspense.

The chalk man, or in its native name jaula is a pretty well made spanish thriller. It captivated me the whole way through and i wanted to keep watching to find out what was going on. The whole plot revolves around this young girl called clara. Played in a great performance by eva tennear. She is found in the middle of the road one day by paula. Played by elena anaya who does a good performance. Her husband simon suspects shes up to something, he is pablo molinero and it has to be watched to really understand whats happening because really it has some great parts as well as the acting and its just overall a well made movie that is pretty thrilling.

SKIP IT! While Ignacio Tatay makes a promising feature debut with The Chalk Line, the film never quite coheres as it should. He'll likely make a great thriller one day, but this can never quite fulfill all its ambitions or breakthrough beyond its (admittedly impressively crafted) atmosphere. But today is not that day. Horror thrillers need to be able to not just build suspense but to deliver on each build-up. Most of the time this means twisting its narrative in surprising ways or pushing your audience into situations that reward their mystery-solving skills. Netflix's The Chalk Link (Jaula) manages to fail all of this all perfectly.

The film is beautiful, but without many details. The author did not bother to mention the details. The film is suspenseful, but there are spaces in the story. We did not know the killer why he kills and kidnaps and since when? And did his wife know? What happened to the killer after he and his wife were arrested? And why does the girl use chalk? Why don't you speak? How did she live and was all this time in the basement? How did you escape!! Unfortunately, some writers do not think and write anything. A film that could have been more beautiful, but some film writers shorten necessary things in the plot of the film.