POGO (PogoNeo) This is a survival zombie picture, a quite slow one, with some action only later on. Of course those who liked this picture will probably say to that, that it is a character driven movie, with emphasis on both known and unknown threats, simply showing day to day survival after a big war somewhere in the future. But if it is suppose not to be an action flick, then why did they put in it that one typical zombie extermination scene? Also: why do they talk so much about means of survival and take care in maintaining order in the group to the degree of keeping reports from scavenger expeditions, and yet they have such holes in their defenses that it just beyond logical comprehension? And how did that lonely survivor was able not only to live outside that group for so long, but also at the same time in such vicinity to them, while staying under their radar? Things like that just show in clear sight, how (unfortunately) bad this movie really isAnd the big plot twist at the end that reveals "the truth", could be the attempt of trying to save the movie by giving also a sense to the whole situation (and specially that other threat that is not named in this short review). But that twist does exactly the opposite, adding more faulty ideas. Because in the end that other (aside zombies) physical threat just does not make any sense. Was that suppose to be a thriller or horror? Sci-fi or fantasy? Or just a waste of film resources and the time of viewers?This is surely not a science fiction movie. Unfortunately that is the problem with IMDb genres system: it does not have a "dystopia" or "apocalyptic" category, and as such often shows as a s-f something that has very little or nothing to do with that genreThis is a European low budget picture that makes the mistakes of a Hollywood big budget B-class movies. It slowly but inevitably degrades to a boring disappointment

Nigel P It's a risk featuring a child actor in a dominant role in a film; the child's acting maybe be adequate but not convince, or worse, he can produce a precocious, obnoxious performance which can lose the character sympathy. Luckily, Omar Muñoz is both convincing and appealing, which is refreshing, especially as his character Jesus is written as a mischievous scamp.The Dark Hour is a Spanish film which explores an unknown dystopian society.Jesus could be seen as the eyes of the viewer. He lives with a group of what appear to be survivors of a holocaust which may or may not have wiped out the rest of mankind. Their world is a sealed bunker of sorts. It seems to be infiltrated by ghost-like mutants, necessitating regular curfew. The relationships between the others is nicely outlined by Jesus, who seems intent to record a video-diary – however, this is not a found footage film, for reasons that become clear at the story's end.The bleak setting is beautifully conveyed, however the lack of apparent answers until the very end leads to the story dragging a little occasionally. The carefully built-up atmosphere is stiflingly grim, and there is a genuine sense of hope when the remaining characters manage to escape the bunker … or do they? I won't give away the final twist, which is tremendous and haunting. There are elements of zombie films here, although I would cautiously suggest this is better than most. It branches out into sci-fi territory, but is assuredly a claustrophobic horror film.

Siamois This lackluster Spanish sci-fi film tells the post-apocalyptic tale of a small group of people trying to survive in an underground complex. There's no doubt that there is a quirky Euro feel at work here but it isn't enough to save a very weak script and poor direction. Elio Quiroga probably did not have much budget to work with but his use of the environment is unbearably bland compared to filmmakers that preceded him. And there is no doubt that had this movie been produced and shot in the US with American actors, the rating would be much lower.Some reviews have praised the actors on display when they are in fact terrible. Not that they are entirely to blame because the script itself is ladden with clichés and has a raw, immature feel to it. All the characters are essentially cardboard stereotypes defined by their function or simply (and dumbly) by their demographic. "Here's the scientist, the soldier, the kid, the old loner and oh, the homosexual". Talk about poor writing there. The film starts abruptly and then unfolds slowly and as an audience, you expect you will gradually understand the stakes here, what these survivors are hiding from. There are various threats to their survival but none make any sense and eventually, you figure out that what you thought would be explained is really just poor writing. Where the film shines however is with its quirky style of aesthetics. There's definitely a strong Euro flavor to the way this movie was shot, and there's also a lovely vibe of the old cold war sci-fi going. In this sense, director Quiroga is like a poor man's Terry Gilliam.While La Hora Fria touches upon several genres (drama, sci-fi, horror, action) it unfortunately fails to excel at even one of those and ends up being a major disappointment. The big "reveal" at the end just can't save this movie. Very disappointed at the rating. I guess IMDb viewers are traditionally more lenient when rating b-movies that are foreign.

socrates17 The Cold Hour takes several cliché' horror film tropes, combines them in entirely unexpected ways, adds brilliant acting and great cinematography and ends with a purely science fictional image that will live in my mind for a really long time. This is a well put-together ensemble piece. I'd tracked it down, having been encouraged by the largely positive IMDb reviews, but mainly because of the Silke (Hornillos Klein) Rule: "Buy Anything She is In" that dates back to Julio Medem's wonderful, Philip K. Dickian, Tierra. Purely from the perspective of The Silke Rule, this film could almost have been seen as a disappointment since, although her character Maria is top billed, all of the characters are extremely well balanced and no one is really the lead. Every part is so well written and so well acted, however, that the viewer comes out ahead. In fact, the primary PoV is 8 year old Jesús, played by Omar Muñoz, and he is wonderful, despite my normal antipathy towards child actors. I can't, alas, say much more without revealing too much.If you've read the other reviews, you already know that the primary situation appears to be similar to 28 days, et al. (This MAY actually be correct - if you prefer clear, pat explanations from a film, rather than have it ask as may questions as it answers, leaving you with a delicious sense of cognitive dissonance, then go watch something else). However, I've never seen that ultra-standard plot trope handled THIS way, or combined with THAT. Run, don't walk, to get La Hora Fría if you admire and enjoy originality, a continual sense of surprise, and a refusal on the part of the creators to spell everything out; if, like me, you prefer leaving the experience of a film with a deep sense of unease and the feeling that you have a lot of thinking to do especially about what that final shot meant. Your mind will have something to mull over for a long, long time.