While you may tire of my saying it I get a number of releases that are not mainstream films but movies that make their way more often than not to disc rather than theatrical distribution here in the US. Sad on one hand but on the other at least DVD and blu-ray have provided us a chance to experience movies from around the world that we might never have the opportunity to see or enjoy. MORGUE is one of those movies.
The story revolves around Diego Martinez (Pablo Martinez), a down on his luck young man working a low paying security job. Low on money and unable to visit his girlfriend before going in to work, her girlfriend gives her a hard time for being involved with such a loser. On top of that as he walks to his car in a mall parking lot while looking at a top of the line truck in the lot, he runs into an old school friend who congratulates him on being successful and able to afford the truck. He plays along but after the friend leaves he’s crushed by the turn his life has taken him.
Reporting for work he’s sent to the morgue of the Regional Hospital of Encarnacion to work that night. He goes over the job with the outgoing guard and sets in for a boring night. Unfortunately for him it won’t be anything like he expected.
What could be a boring film actually turns out to be one of the most frightening films I’ve seen in some time with some imagery that will stick with the viewer long after the closing credits. Many of these are take a subtle form like when Diego is face timing with this girlfriend as a blue tinged figure walks in the background behind him. She thinks he’s fooling around with someone but we know better. The morgue is definitely filled with those who have been there before and not all of them are friendly.
The thing that makes the film work at first though is wondering if Diego is actually experiencing things or is he just frightened by the setting of his job tonight. It is that moment his girlfriend sees the image in the background that things change and we as viewers know that the best thing he could do is quit his job then and there. But if he did so we’d never have a movie to watch or our wits be scared out of us.
The production value of this film is top of the line. Made in Paraguay by director Hugo Cardozo it is effective in all ways possible. Via special effects and makeup creations we are offered some truly chilling moments. Martinez does an amazing job as well going from unintended loser to the focus of attention from creatures he wants no attention from and portraying both effectively.
Apparently the film was a hit when released in Paraguay taking the top spot for two weeks. For myself it made me want to seek out more films by this director only to discover this was his first film! How does one make something like this as their first feature? Or is it that he’s actually a ghost and we’ll never hear from him again?
Fans of horror, among which I include myself, need to find
this movie and watch it. In the dark. Popcorn set nearby and not in your lap
for fear of it being tossed in the air. I know I will watch this one again but
I don’t know if I could do so alone now. It was just that scary.
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