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Mexico Barbaro (2014)
Dark Sky Films
Directors: Jorge Michel Grau, Isaac Ezban, Laurette Flores, Ulises Guzmán, Edgar Nito, Lex Ortega, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Aaron Soto
Eight Mexican directors unite to create tales of the most brutally terrifying Mexican traditions and legends to vividly shocking life. Mexico Barbaro presents haunting stories that have been woven into the fabric of a nation’s culture, some passed down through the centuries and some new, but all equally frightening. Stories of boogeymen, trolls, ghosts, monsters, Aztec sacrifices and of course the Day of the Dead all come together in urban and rural settings to create an anthology that is as original as it is familiar and as important as it is horrifying.
With all of the horror anthologies that have come and gone, this is the first time that an entire culture has been the driving force for the film, at least to my knowledge. Not only does the premise alone make this stick out from the crowd, but the look and design of each of the segments does as well. Easily one of the highest quality productions I’ve seen in an anthology in quite some time, this film, and each segment, looks gorgeous and expertly captures the environment and atmosphere of its story.
“ Lo que me importa es lo de adentro ” ( It’s the Inside What Matters )
A girl who look out the window all day becomes witness to savagery. Her pleas go ignored by her mother, but soon her mother will found out that what the girl sees will impact her home. This segment really pushes the boundaries by showing and implying some vile acts. Easily one of the best entries as it hard to shake from your memory.
“Drena” (Drain)
A young teenage girl must drain the blood from her mother’s vagina in order to appease her new friend. Yup. Just let that soak in your brain for a second. And yes, that is exactly what this story is. Batshit and terrifying.
“Siete veces Siete” (Seven times Seven)
Having stolen a corpse from the cemetery, Rabbit tries to use a magical ritual in order to bring it back to life only to have to kill it and start all over again. There is some great set design and usage of sound to build suspense. A little hard to follow, but interesting nonetheless.
“Dia De Los Muertos” (Day of the Dead)
In Northern Mexico lays a strip club that is housed and ran by women that have been battered and abused by men. On the night in title, the vile men are invited to a showing of dance and celebration. Unbeknownst to them, this is no place of desire, only revenge.
“La Cosa Mas Preciada” (The Most Precious Thing)
Two teenagers set out for a cabin in the woods in order to lose their virginity. When nightfall comes, the Alushes, trolls, come to take trinkets and things that are left outside. When they happen to notice the young girl, trinkets will no longer suffice as they too wish to take her virginity. Second only to It’s the Inside What Matters , this story too is filled with implied child rape, although very little is left to the imagination with this one. What starts out a very strange, comedic tale quickly spirals into a series of what the fuck moments.
“Jaral de Berrios” (Jaral de Berrios)
Two criminals on the run seek refuge in an abandoned shack. Soon the two will realize that some punishments are worse than prison.
“Tzompantli” (Tzompantli)
A tale told from the perspective of being from the future, the journalist looks back on what was the largest year of occulto crime, 2014. Topical and terrifying, this tale is grounded in a brutal reality of border violence and old Mexican tradition.
“Munecas” (Dolls)
In the waters of Xochimilco lies a particular swamp that attracts many tourists around the world every year. Mysterious dolls ancient dolls hang here, some torn apart, others slowly decomposing, and a few tortured. Nobody knows the secret behind them, but if you look closely in the eyes of the dolls, they will be the ones to tell you.
Mexico Barbaro is one of the most intense releases from Dark Sky to date. The candid violence and brutal subject matter make for one hell of an anthology film. There are times when you will shout and scream and others that you will laugh. This is a great blend of Mexican themed traditions and mythologies that is presented in a way that anyone can enjoy. The film releases on VOD and DVD on November 3rd. This is one to watch out for.
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