Year of Release: 2023
Director: Carlos Theron
Starring: Belén Rueda, Gracia Olayo, Toni Acosta, Emilio Gutierrez Caba, Miren Ibarguren, Ivan Massague, Oscar Ortuno, Antonio Pagudo, Lorena Lopez, Fran Cantos
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4
Watch it on Netflix
Synopsis and Review
Yet another Spanish horror film released by Netflix, and one that features the well known Belén Rueda, who audiences may be familiar with from the film "The Orphanage" from J.A. Bayona. "Fenómenas/Phenomena", which is based on the real-life Spanish Paranormal investigation group "Grupo Hepta", follows the story of three women including Sagrario, Paz and Gloria, who alongside Father Pilon have been investigating paranormal occurrences for quite some time. The film, which takes place in 1998 in Madrid, starts with the group trying to solve whatever attacked Father Pilon and rendered him at the hospital. The more they investigate the more they all realize that not everything is what it seems. A woman and her daughter who live next to the locale where all the strange events are taking place, are actually involved in the situation, with the mother being seemingly possessed by a spirit. Gloria, who wants to move on from the group and find some comfort in her life beyond the paranormal and is actually the group's medium, senses something more nefarious in the locale. Whatever is in motion seizes her, forcing Sagrario and Paz to come to her aid, and solve the entire darkness that is seizing the place.
Carlos Therón who has started his career not that long ago, has managed to diversify his output across both TV and feature films (with a few shorts in between). "Fenómenas/Phenomena" follows "Operación Camarón" and tries to mix the horror genre with some lighthearted banter/comedy, which is mostly derived from the close relationship the three women have shared throughout the years. While this banter and this rapport between the central characters is nicely conveyed, not much is actually disclosed or substantiated about who these characters actually are, aside from some facts that are peppered in to provide some context. Sangrario for instance, the psychic, is still trying to come to terms with the passing of her husband, while Paz the videographer, has a family she at times feels she neglects a bit. While these small details humanize the characters a bit further, it doesn't necessarily make them that much more interesting. The film almost comes across as a TV pilot where these characters are introduced with the hopes that subsequent episodes (or sequels) will expand on the narrative of these characters (or for that matter, of the supporting ones). There are dashes of color in certain details that are provided to the supporting characters, but even then they're portrayed very much in a singular minded fashion, without much dimension to them. The paranormal aspect of the narrative is also never entirely convincingly illustrated, with the director failing to stylistically create an ominous environment for these characters to exist in. In the end the film is saved by the performances of the three leads, with Belén Rueda, Gracia Olayo and Toni Acosta bringing these ghostbusters to life with enough gusto, humor and drama which makes the film watchable (though not entirely memorable). The production values are not necessarily the best, which also doesn't make this feature that much more enticing. Ultimately it's a watchable, but not memorable feature.
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