"Who's There" Review
"Who's There", is a short horror film from filmmaker Pau Maso. The Spanish production follows two teenage girls Irene Gonzalez & Ewelina Lukasewska), visiting Spain for the weekend. While there, and trekking through the woods, they encounter a stranger played by the films director Pau Maso. A stranger who may be friend or foe. "Who's There" doesn't exactly shy away from being in the vein of American horror. Actually, the early slasher films of the 80's. Which were a dime a dozen, but almost always dealt with a group of unsuspecting teens running afoul of some kook living in the woods. This movie though tries to boaster it's villain by giving him an odd backstory which might suggest some sort of supernatural ties are involved. Which should this movie ever become a feature film, could always go in a "Hatchet" direction with the villain.
"Who's There" doesn't do as much visually in it's 28 minute span, as it does potential-wise. The film shows flashes of having the potential of becoming something interesting and intriguing later on down the line. Again...if it should become a feature at any point. But the short itself just lays the groundwork for the not-so-bright two teenage females, and the very-opportunistic villain. The film also exploits the hell out of the big horror movie no-no's/rules. Like for example, taking drinks mixed by a stranger in the woods. I mean, this rule just speaks for itself no?
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Coming from someone who lives in New York, taking drinks from anyone on the crowded streets is a big no-no, so surely you wouldn't take anything mixed by some stranger who you just met like 5 minutes ago, in the woods? But these two teen characters aren't exactly written to be geniuses. Which I guess is part of the films charm? To make the characters as idiotic as possible. Thus making the villain seem more fiendish? Speaking of the films villain. The guy certainly has that perv-who-is-up-to-no-good look. The movies bad guy isn't fleshed out that much, but is fleshed out enough to let the viewer know that he's one twisted, sick individual. But in a film like this, how can the villain not be a weirdo who prowls the woods looking for naive fresh meat to take back to his cottage, and cut to shreds? Should "Who's There" ever become a feature, I see it being in the vein of "Hostel" more than anything. |
As in it being one of those movies where some American's venture to Spain, and get ensnared by this guy. Similar to "Hostel" where the trio of guys were to naive for their own good. It would make a good cautionary tale, but the reality is the film has definitely got to add some meat, and a few nice and clever twists if it hopes to ever become a full-blown feature slasher/horror film. The base is decent. Strong, but not super sturdy. But "Who's There" certainly could be the next vile, shocking, and disturbing slasher pic to come out of the European-horror mold. It has all the tools. Now...we wait to see if it can properly utilize them. All the while adding in a few new ingredients into the mix to spice things up a bit.
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