Known to the general public as the director and screenwriter of [REC], Paco Plaza is back after an absence of five years with his usual mastery, for a paranormal horror film named Verónica which is released this Wednesday, January 24. Nice little horrific surprise of this beginning of the year 2018.
Inspired by a true story
The first few minutes of the film put us directly in the mood. We are immersed at night in a neighborhood of Madrid, but it could be anywhere, as it is so dark. The rain is in full swing and police sirens can be heard. An inspector goes to an apartment after being alerted to an intrusion and discovers a nightmarish place. Then the film takes us back a few days before, where we follow Veronica, a teenager who, following a session of spiritualism, finds herself assailed by supernatural creatures that threaten her family. Veronica's greatest strength is that from the beginning of the film we learn that the story is inspired by real events and that this remains the only case related to the paranormal known to the police. So every minute of viewing is a questioning. Did everything we see actually happen? Here the fear does not disappear after the end of the film, quite the contrary. A little ouija session? No thank you!
A film without respite
Just like the protagonists, the viewer does not have a single moment of tranquility. Indeed Paco Plaza has fun taking a scenario of ultra basic horror film but surprises us with an incredible realization. The work on decoration and light is remarkable and gives us the feeling that the demonic creature can appear anywhere and anytime. Everything has been done to keep us on our toes and destabilize us. The camera seems to be a spectator in its own right. It moves and does not necessarily film the exact position of the threat. The sequence shot at the end of the film is the best example, where we follow Veronica's wanderings step by step to escape the demon, which strongly recalls the atmosphere of the Rec trilogy. Finally, the sound and music, raw and gothic as possible, reinforce the curse that hangs over Veronica and her family.
Flaws saved by a large cast
Although there is a real effort in the realization, we remain a little on our hunger. Throughout the film, we focus only on a tension based on the fear of the characters. At no time is the psychological side addressed, which leaves a slight frustration, as it would have brought to the greatness of the story. Fortunately the young actors of the film, with Sandra Escacena who plays Veronica, are grandiose. Their reactions to this nightmare are sometimes realistic, sometimes completely offbeat, which has the effect of further disturbing the public. Despite their young age, they never seem weak but rather united to try to get by without the help of adults (little nod to Stranger Things?).
Reading the synopsis, one might think that Veronica is yet another ouija and demon movie. It is not. Effective and tinged with ingenuity from start to finish, it is a little gem of horror / horror, which fans of the genre would be wrong to deprive themselves.
