CineCritic2517 While investigating violence for her thesis, a young female student learns of a snuff movie making ring and, I guess, tries to expose it. This is one of those movies that is completely scenario driven. Alas, the scenario makes no sense and feels like it was written by a way too ambitious but ultimately talentless writer. Super far fetched contrivances just go on and on for hours, losing the viewer as a result. This is a typical B-movie that stands out only in the filming department apparently confusing a few people into thinking this was a work of art. It shouldn't take more than half a brain to figure out why this is obviously not the case. 1/10

tom van de Bospoort Another brilliant film by the director who brought us such others as 'the sea inside, with the brilliant directing and story again from one of his films, using his own name in the film, (floppy disk) entries and other really advanced techniques like the mirror scene.Brilliant acting by all of the cast and of course by Eduardo Noriega. Well worth all of its awards especially its Goya awards, and one of the truly great films by a great director, Amenabar always excites and draws a truly suspenseful and meaningful plot to the table with carefully selected dialogue and choices of shots, one for all to see, and a clear 8/10.

Prof-Hieronymos-Grost Ángela is a university student who decides to base her thesis on the effects of violent images on society. She asks her professor Figueroa to see if he can help with getting her access to the university's film library which contains all kinds of violent images. Meanwhile Angela learns that there is a fellow student, Chema who is big into such films and so she asks him to show her his collection, suspicious at first he declines, but eventually gives in. Angela is shocked that he has shelves of porn of all description and films containing scenes of actual deaths. Figueroa meanwhile gets access to the film library, but aware there is another person there and embarrassed at being caught looking for such films, he hides there, but discovers a hidden stash of video tapes, taking one he immediately returns to a screening theatre, to watch it, where he dies of a heart attack brought on by shock. Angela finds him there, takes he tape and scared to watch it alone brings it to Chema, he immediately recognizes it as a real snuff film, but not only that he recognizes the girl, a former student missing these last two years. Together they realize there must be a killer or killers within the university making these films and try and investigate further, but soon realize they are in grave danger from unknown enemies. Riveting thriller, that reaches into some very dark areas of society, its intelligently made and handles the touchy subject with class and never feels like an exploitation film. Amenebar creates an atmosphere of tension, dread and foreboding, where the foes are completely unknown to both the characters and the viewers and where everyone becomes a suspect. Amenebar really does toy with the viewer especially in the last quarter of the film where I changed my mind on the killer numerous times, in this a very accomplished debut feature.

ma-cortes This suspenseful movie concerns about Angela(Ana Torrent), she's an university student at a journalism university in Madrid. She comes across a snuff movie that shows a girl being tortured and killed. She befriends Chema(Fele Martinez), a young completely obsessed with violent films. They find out that the girl was an university at their school and her former fiancé named Bosco(Eduardo Noriega) holds a camera similar to the snuff's shooting. They early discover the killing was actually filmed on campus.The motion picture displays genuine chills, suspense, mystery and dark atmosphere with a shocker finale . Packs excellent creation of tension, thriller, terror , emotions and brief gore. It's an exciting, bizarre film; skillfully proceeded by Alejandro Amenabar and turns out to one of the most unusual Spaniard horror movie ever made and certainly one of the most unsettling. Plenty of shocks, the eerie images deliver the exciting united a creepy score by Amenabar, also screenwriter, along with Mateo Gil, of the thrilling plot. Intelligent edition, special use of murky sets and slick utilization of shock images make this one, a magnificent terror film. Gloomy and sombre cinematography by Hans Burman which heightens the suspense. The picture is well directed by Amenabar in his first movie. After he achieved various hits, such as : 'Open your ears, The others and Mar adentro' . Rating : Better than average.