Decidedly unscary, and only moderately bloody, the film is something to behold in its attention to detail and deadpan humor. One could easily argue that if Wes Anderson were to make a horror film, something along the lines of El Conde would very likely be the result.
The set designs, the costuming, the repetition of certain acts and rituals; they all have a whimsical air much like Anderson's movies do, including the rather large yet useless family that shows up in Act 3. It's all in the service of satire though, which certainly works, especially with the introduction of a zealous yet naive nun sent to uncover the "truth" of the old vampiric Pinochet.
If there is a weakness in the presentation it is that too much effort is made to keep it all so light (despite all the dark scenery). Yes, there are glib mentions of torture and learning to love murder in the name of the State, but it felt like at a certain point the movie needed to have a more honest confrontation with the actual horror of history. I think about how Pan's Labrinth effectively balanced fantasy with the very real brutality of facist interrogation and executions.
Still, overall a very well made film with real magic and wonder all in gorgeous B&W.
The set designs, the costuming, the repetition of certain acts and rituals; they all have a whimsical air much like Anderson's movies do, including the rather large yet useless family that shows up in Act 3. It's all in the service of satire though, which certainly works, especially with the introduction of a zealous yet naive nun sent to uncover the "truth" of the old vampiric Pinochet.
If there is a weakness in the presentation it is that too much effort is made to keep it all so light (despite all the dark scenery). Yes, there are glib mentions of torture and learning to love murder in the name of the State, but it felt like at a certain point the movie needed to have a more honest confrontation with the actual horror of history. I think about how Pan's Labrinth effectively balanced fantasy with the very real brutality of facist interrogation and executions.
Still, overall a very well made film with real magic and wonder all in gorgeous B&W.
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