The Horror Show
México Bárbaro
by various directors
It's so great when two interests come together, isn't it? I have a passion for anthology films as well as Spanish-speaking horror. Mexico is a wonderful area to seek out creative horror material from and I'm always keeping an eye out for what is produced from there. A while back, I reviewed a film called Barrio Tales which touted itself as a Mexican-themed anthology. At first my opinion of it was lukewarm but I must admit it has grown on me over time. It would be close-minded of me to assume that another Mexican themed anthology would be anything like another, but I was excited to learn of Mexico Barbaro as the culture itself is something I find fascinating. What I got was something entirely different, and that turned out to be a good thing.
Let me begin by saying that while Barrio Tales is an American film that dealt more with Mexican characters in the States connected by a frame story that took place in Mexico, Mexico Barbaro is the real deal. This is an actual Mexican film, Spanish language and all, that deals heavily with the intriguing lore and legends of the country. Right off the bat it felt authentic and drew me right in.
The opening sequence dealt with a man interviewing someone as part of an investigation. His interest stems from a horrible event that happened in a local club which led to the abduction and murder of several youths. This short opening taught me two things. The first was that there was no frame story to this particular project. Normally I'm partial to standard-setup anthologies, complete with the wraparound story, but what was on the screen was so good I didn't mind much. The second thing I learned was that this film wasn't messing around. The movie started off by showing how gritty and brutal it could be. Nothing shock-territory, but stark and serious, not holding back on the viciousness.
The film then moved to the next section. This one involved two men, one wounded, who wind up in cursed territory. Evil was lurking right from the start and not a moment went by when the men appeared in any way safe. This one had a more lyrical and artsy tone that I feel was a great choice for the second sequence. The music was worked in beautifully and complimented the fantastic cinematography. The second story felt less modern and added some flavor and variety to the overall project.
The next tale began with a young woman coming across a corpse while taking a walk outside. She didn't seem all that put off by it, swiping a cigarette from its cold, dead hand. I wasn't 100% sure if it was supposed to be tobacco or pot, but the following events get strange. I won't give away too much but I will say that once the woman is home she is visited by a horrid creature who had a “mission” for her. This one was more on the artsy side as well but with more of a modern flair.
The next story dealt with a young couple heading to a cabin in the woods with the intention of the young woman losing her virginity that night. However, some menacing little monsters in the woods have a penchant for stealing, and in the case of the young woman, they're not so much after superficial items. This one was wackier and I had a lot of fun with it.
From there it became clear that this wasn't a concise, tightly wound anthology, but more a collection of short films from eight different filmmakers. To go into each and every one would get tedious and ruin the element of surprise so I'll just say that they range in subject and quality. None of them were bad although with the opening I was hoping the entirety of the project would hold up to that standard and this isn't always the case.
A vast variety of work is put forth featuring quests for gold, murder, serial killers, children in peril, ritual murder, and possession. I was treated to an island of dolls, dismemberment and evisceration, fun at the morgue, beheading, and some beautiful Mexican women. The film featured some wonderful gore that was often impressively realistic. The tales moved from Mexican legend type material to full-blown creative horror in a Mexican setting. Often curses and monsters came into play, but not always. I respected each short and at no time did I feel one in particular didn't deserve to be included alongside the rest.
When all was said and done, I found myself glad that I had decided to check out Mexico Barbaro. It was a total blast from start to finish and even with my biases in regards to the styles and concepts of horror that I prefer, I liked everything the movie presented to me. There were little title sequences for each story and they added a shot of adrenaline and smoothness to the project that I really appreciated. So, if you’re a fan of anthologies, Mexican lore, or just horror flicks in general, I'd suggest checking out Mexico Barbaro.
P.J. Griffin, HMS
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