Director: Rafa Martínez
Writers: Ángel Agudo, Rafa Martínez
Stars: Ingrid García Jonsson, Bruno Sevilla, Oriol Tarrida Homedes
Plot: A young real estate broker is planning a romantic meeting with her boyfriend in an old apartment building. But the couple is forced to fight for their lives, when a group of murderers is trying to kill them.
Running Time: 80 minutes
IMDB Score: 5.2
Why I watched it: It’s one of those Netflix reasons, it’s horror it’s on Netflix I wanted to watch something and it all came together.
Thoughts: This is a Spanish film and yes it has subtitles some of the time, both leads speak English, as Sevilla is British and in the film can’t speak Spanish very well, and the bad guys don’t speak much. Also some trivia the lead actress was born in Sweden but raised in Spain.
What I liked: This is a super streamlined movie, it ticks off all it’s boxes and keeps the tension going pretty well. I’ve said it before I’ll say it again most genre films are better if they fall under 90 minutes, stretching out a horror film is always a bad idea. The film also doesn’t seem rushed it tell it’s story and does give us some back ground. Sweet Home is exactly what you think it is a fast movie horror/thriller.
I really liked Ingrid Garcia Johnsson, she acted the part well but also pulled off the physical part of the role, she basically plays a final girl and she’s tough and she’s also very likable. The film is very violent and that helps the tension, these guys are hired killers and they’re there to do a job, no reasoning with them and then when the final “Cleaner” comes then the stakes go through the roof, it then becomes a slasher film for the most part. On that not the main bad guy is scary, I don’t think he says anything but he’s imposing as hell.
What I didn’t like: The reason why they’re in this run down apartment building is because Garcia Johnsson wants to do something for her boyfriend but since he’s not working he doesn’t want her to spend money, it makes him feel bad. To be honest he comes off very whiny and a bit of a dick and as we see how cool and feisty Garcia Johnsson is he comes off very bad and also we don’t care for him. Now I won’t blame this all on Bruno Sevilla’s performance but there’s one point early on when they’re trying to get away from the bad guys and he literally says “ hurry up, hurry up, what are you doing, they’re behind us, hurry up, open the door open the door” my goodness that was grating, meanwhile he’s right behind her and can see she’s trying.
Here’s something that bothered me, the end is a little silly and it kind of left a sour note for me, I won’t go into full spoilers here but basically she’s knocked out and when she comes to she’s in her bra and panties, and yes she has to do the final scene almost naked, not needed and the film didn’t need it and that’s something to they shot her in a way that we could see down her top a lot, and really this isn’t a teen slasher film they could have been a tad more classy.
Final Thoughts: A pleasant surprise for me, an effective quick paced film that I enjoyed for the most part, a bit of a sleeper. If you’re a thriller/horror fan seek this one out.
Rating: 7/10
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