In cinema, Spaniards are often good at horror. The Orphanage, Les Yeux de Julia or more recently The Piglet… as many films as horror. Inevitably, when a new curiosity from the country cautiously joins the Netflix catalog, you have to be interested in it. Directed by Carlos Theron, Phenomena tells the story of the investigations of a group of people who specialize in the paranormal. It is surprising that this group really existed.
Founded by Father José María Pilón in Madrid in 1987, the organization Hepta aims to solve unsolved mysteries, from simple furniture that moves on its own to cases of possession. In short, this is the Spanish equivalent of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the heroes of The Conjuring saga.
A big joke or a very serious activity? Everyone can form their own opinion, but he seems to think the whole thing is real and rushes headlong to suggest a supposed ghost movie.
Between The Conjuring and… Ghostbusters?
The result is a far cry from The Conjuring. We’re getting closer to Ghostbusters. Carlos Theron’s feature film explores this story through the lens of a horror comedy. It’s a good idea, but one that never goes through. The film constantly floats between two warm waters, so it’s never quite funny enough or bold enough to be scary.
There are, all the same, a few noticeable touches of originality. The characters here are middle-aged women. Usually, it is they who transform into possessed creatures. The rule is changed, they become soul hunters.
In one of the main roles we find Belen Rueda, a popular actress in her country, who participated in the great hours of Spanish horror – she was in charge at the orphanage and in the eyes of Julia.
This film also brings to the screen several famous cases of Hepta, such as the antique shop in Madrid, which became the scene of terrible phenomena in the 90s. This investigation is also called El Baul del Monje. At least Fenómenas has the quality to make this strange band known to the general public.
Fenómenas is available on Netflix.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
