slayrrr666 "Black Serenade" is one of the best slashers in the genre.**SPOILERS**Arriving at a new school, Alejandra Alonso, (Silke) quickly meets up with college locals Eduardo, (Jorge Sanz) Trucha, (Paxti Frevtez) Alacrán, (Sergio Pazos) Marcial, (Javier Veiga) and Insulino, (Benjamin Seva) who all belong to a special group called the Dark Minstrels. As her roommate Michelle, (Rebecca Cobos) helps her to get along with them, and they are told about the groups past origins. When the local police suddenly become aware of a group of slayings on the campus, several members of the friends are found to be involved in the proceedings, and are being targeted by a killer impersonating a member of the group's past that had committed a series of evil deeds. When the killer targets them to prove his wares, they try to put a stop to the reign of terror inflicted upon the school.The Good News: This one was an incredible surprise, with a lot to like about it. The first one is the rather nice additions made to this one to give it a different feel. The chat-room connection is pretty nice, as well as the habit of broadcasting kills over the internet. Though it's become cliché, the later revelation of the incidents being done after the fact and played up as though live is a perfect gag, making them have a great feel and really comes off as a clever plot from an intimidating force. The back-story with the group is interesting and original, with a feeling that it's something that could hide a secret the way it does while also being something of a fun inclusion that isn't seen everywhere else. The film also has one of the greatest settings for a modern-feeling slasher, as the school-setting is spectacular. There's plenty of old columnar arches, stadiums and wide-open quads for this to have a Gothic style atmosphere. The big set-piece in the quad is the best example, although the spectacular church scenes also look marvelous. Even the shot of it on fire in the end is really great and gets an impressive visual out of it. The buildings are even better, with the stone surfaces and really great detailing in the sculptures really stands out and gives it a better look. When it becomes a slasher film, it's really at it's top points. The stalking scenes are done with the highest amount of class, and the one through the crowded city streets guided by a video broadcast is incredibly thrilling, the opening dorm stalking is really great and the autopsy sequence has plenty of chills in a creepy location. The ending, where well over a dozen get knocked off within a few minutes inside a single sequence that gets plenty of entertainment in. The other ones are good, but the ending is the real good part, containing plenty of action, a surprise revelation that comes as a complete surprise, lots of gore and some fantastic scenes. The deaths in here do get pretty graphic, with a nice amount of blood on the victim and splatter on the walls, giving off a brutal air that is quite nicely appreciated. The other thing that works in here is that there's a large amount of fun scenes in here than would normally occur in these kinds of films. The bathroom murder, which is actually taped, is one of the best ones due to what it's mistaken for, the background information sequences are rather great and the film actually gets watchable during the slow periods in the middle, as the different methods of trying to uncover the killer are interspersed with the normal school activities. The killer itself has plenty to like about it, as it's creepy, imposing and rather memorable, and coupled with the rather long, erotic sex scene, make this one watchable.The Bad News: There isn't a whole lot wrong with this one at all. The fact that there's a large portion of the film that concentrates on setting up the mystery of the rationale for the killer, which leaves a lot of time where nothing much happens. Granted, they're fun and actually worthwhile viewing, but to some the complete focus on non-slashing is a little problem. Though the body count is pretty big, there's a period where it gets really light on that style and never really allows the film a lot of chances to do that. There's also the fact that the killer isn't that creative with the deaths, only really using a serrated knife to do the cutting. This is a little disappointing considering the amount that actually get killed in this one. Had it had a few more different varieties, this one could've had a little more appeal to it, but as it stands, this one is still really good.The Final Verdict: This one here is a rather pleasant surprise for a slasher, being everything that the genre requires in spades and much more. It's highly recommended for those who enjoy a rather pleasant surprise with their slashers or for those who are hardcore fans to begin with, while not many would find this one fun at worst.Rated R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, Nudity and an extended sex scene

lost-in-limbo Alex is a new student to the University of Salamanca, but upon her arrival she and her friends get caught up in a web of mystery surrounding some deaths on campus and that of the legend of the Black Minstrel. They learn that the Black Minstrel is knocking off slack students who aren't taking their learning very seriously. When the Black Minstrel contacts Alex through an internet chat site, she and her friends realise that it's up to them to figure out who's behind the costume and discover the secret of the Black Minstrel.Again another carbon copy of a teen slasher film that was started by the craze they call "Scream". "Black Serenade" is a Spanish slasher going for that winning mainstream formula of American slashers and you can easily see the influences. The opening death scene has some very recognizable touches of "Scream" about it and the story is similar to "Urban Legend". The killer and their motive might be different, but simply we've been down this path oh so many times before. Hold on, you might think from what I've mentioned so far that I'm going to tear it apart, well actually that's not the case. I thought it was average. Not below. Not above. Just average. I don't know why, but I was slightly amused by it. Maybe it caught me in the right frame of mind. It has its bad moments, but occasionally it offers a surprise or two and the odd inventive kill. The production was more than decent, but sadly it's predictable story telling. The urban legend of the Black Minstrel going around universities and knocking off the bad seeds isn't a bad device. There's even a nice edge of black humour about it. The back-story in the plot is far more engrossing than that of the horny and drug addicted guys and gals dialogues and sleazy interplay. Well, it did deliver on some tawdry action and there's some decent blood letting. One death scene is an almighty mind trip. The paper thin characters are rather lacklustre ( I thought bad students would be at least interesting) and some look way too old for their parts, but since the material was rather underdeveloped. The performances from the cast were satisfactory I guess. While, the ignorant students are the usual stereotypes, you also got thrown into the mix a pair of hard boiled cops and a priest with a secret. The red herrings amongst these characters are lousily staged, because it's not hard to pick up on who's behind the mask and when it's revealed it's just too contrived. Now the killer's costume looked decent enough and their choose of weapon was one fancy looking knife, in which they loved to film their killings. The director at times slackens off with the pacing and gives us cheap false scares and bluffs, but within these moments he also manages to orchestrate some genuinely, tense set pieces. Such as the chase scene in the town square and the thrilling climax (before that trite ending), but I didn't get the point of the montage, accompanied by a rock song in the mid section. Huh??? It was just laughable! What else was funny, was the very mediocre computer effects (that goes for the flames and explosions!). The superbly, laced Gothic cathedral and campus setting was well used and the cinematography did a swift enough job. Soundtrack goes for an fair rock/metal approach and the robust score drums in the usual chants to fit into the mood and surroundings. It might be far from inspiring for its field, but we learn that being a bad student doesn't pay off in the long run. But I don't think this (if you can call it a) social commentary and moral will hit it off and change someone's perception on the privilege of education and knowledge.It might blatantly rip-off other slashers and have many implausible scenarios, but I still found it mildly diverting.

BITELCHUS When you take seat, at the cinema... you expect to spent a well time. But when the movie in is "Tuno Negro", you are going to see an "Scream"-bad-copy that will make you remove in that seat I said. All the movie is an Scream new version. But with terrible spanish actors (Maribel Verdú is risible, and Jorge Sanz is too old for the role, and university student... the worst are Fele Martinez... too serious for not a serious movie, and Silke: too bad in general, like if she couldn´t speak naturally). Oh! The Soundtrack, if you like the bad heavy metal, well that´s your music. A terrible movie for a terrible summer in cinemas. That´s a 1. That´s completely awful.

diztorted Well, supposedly spanish filmmakers are trying to avoid the "american" way of making films, well I guess they missed the point here. Because this film follows exactly all the elements that make american horror films what they are, one minute thrills with some exceptions. The film is rather predictable, the dialogue is awfully ridiculous,but the sex scene was somewhat interesting. The acting on the other hand was not that bad, Fele Martinez once again shows that he is one of the best young actors working in Spain these days, and even though he looks too old for being in college Jorge Sanz does a good job also. The soundtrack of the film is one of the few good elements the film has, and well...the last 15 minutes of the film are flooded by certain touch of dark humor that brings up all that was lost by the first one hour and a half. At the end, what I have to say about Tuno Negro is that, is totally forgettable, but you might as well have a not so bad time if you go see it. It´s up to you.