Caníbal (2013) Reviews

• Drama, romance and killings including a magnificent acting by Antonio De La Torre

  ma-cortes2014-07-20

  A sumptuous love story starred by a loner called Carlos (Antonio De La Torre) , he is the most prestigious tailor in Granada, but he's also a series killer in the shadows . He feels no remorse, no guilt, until Nina (Olimpia Melinte in double role as Alexandra / Nina) appears in his life and love awakens . Carlos unexpectedly finds himself falling in love with his latest prospective victim . As their love is insatiable . Thrilling story about a strange tailor and his relationship with a Romanian girl , filled with lasting images , style and slow moving . It is an exciting film displaying suspense , intrigue , tension , a touching love story , nudism and interesting drama well written by Humberto Arenal and the same filmmaker and based on the novel by Alejandro Hernández . Manuel Martin Cuenca's dark romance centres on a tailor and secret cannibal played masterfully by Antonio de la Torre who gives an awesome portrait of a weird man , being set in Granada Holy Week . In Cannibal, we see a surprisingly thoughtful approach to an otherwise gruesome premise, one we're confident audiences will be well gripped into a peculiar romance and a twisted intrigue . This low budget film received a positive reception from its first screening at various festivals and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival . Furthermore , Cannibal won numerous prizes , being premiered at Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain , Feroz Awards , San Sebastián International Film Festival ,Santa Barbara International Film Festival , Spanish Actors Unión and especially various Goya Awards (Spanish Oscar) such as Best Cinematography : Pau Esteve Birba , Goya Best Actor : Antonio de la Torre , Best New Actress : Olimpia Melinte , Best Director : Manuel Martín Cuenca and Best Screenplay Adapted : Manuel Martín Cuenca and Alejandro Hernández . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Pau Esteve Birba filmed on location in Granada ,Güejar Sierra, Motril and Sierra Nevada, Granada, Andalucía, Spain . The film was well produced by Fernando Bovaira , one of the best Spanish producers , financing a lot of films in lavish budgets such as ¨The others¨ , ¨The sea inside¨ , ¨Agora¨ , ¨Mortadelo and Filemon¨, ¨Butterfly tongue¨ , among others . Manuel Martin Cuenca has established himself as one of Spain's most artistically astute directors , his works consistently evolving in skill and style . Manuel Martín Cuenca was born on November 30, 1964 in Almería , Almería, Andalucía , location where he usually shoots his pictures . He is a good director and writer, known for La Flaqueza Del Bolchevique (2003) , Malas Temporadas (2005) , 4 Puntos Cardinales (2002) , being his best movie this Caníbal or Cannibal (2013) . Rating : Better than average . Worthwhile watching .

• Stately, handsome, and probably not what one expects

  karmaswimswami2014-12-03

  "Cannibal" summons to mind vague storyline similarities with Patrice Leconte's moody 1990 film "Monsieur Hire" and James Hamilton- Paterson's roman a clef "Loving Monsters." Protagonist Carlos is a revered tailor in Granada, Spain, who murders and cannibalizes beautiful young women, and ostensibly does so in a way unencumbered by sadism or sexuality. His monotonic cannibalism is never explained, and left as metaphorical vehicle. Horror is not on offer here, and viewers are left free to imbue Carlos's predilection with personal meaning: in other ways, Carlos is fair, just, and honorable. Do even the very best among us have equally abhorrent gaping erroneous zones? Romanian actress Olimpia Melinte's fresh-faced, highly-abled and confident screen presence work well in two roles here. Mise en scene, vistas and pacing are lovely, and the languid takes, the confident exposition, the story's ability to achieve both enormity and enormousness with an economy of lines and set-ups, make "Cannibal" well worth immersing in.

• Disturbingly good

  capncubby2013-09-08

  The movie's title isn't ironic. It isn't a metaphor. Carlos really is a cannibal. If you can get past the (few) scenes you should expect as a result, this film will reward you with layers you didn't expect. Antonio de la Torre plays an understated Carlos. No surprise he's rather obsessive compulsive - makes for one quirky cannibal. The fact that the film doesn't lead you to how exactly he became a cannibal is fine - leaves lots of room for the imagination to work, and there are enough clues to get you started. He also does the majority of his acting without speaking - something one doesn't see a ton of in North American films, and for this I am grateful to the director and writer. Olimpia Melinte is also very good and understated in her performance, standing up just fine to Carlos as she turns his world upside down. Kudos to Manuel Martín Cuenca for playing every note perfectly and brilliant casting. And kudos too to Cameron Bailey for putting this in his must see list for TIFF 2013.

• MILES away from "The Silence of the Lambs" and other Hannibals

  paul-allaer2014-06-22

  "Cannibal" (2013 release from Spain; 117 min.) brings the story of Carlos, a well-respected tailor for the 1% in Grenada at day, but a cold-blooded murderer and cannibal at night. As the movie opens, we see a couple at a gas station and when they drive away, Carlos follows them, and causes their car to crash. He takes the woman with him, and does what he does. Carlos has a lovely new neighbor in his building, a Romanian girl named Alexandra who moved to Spain with her sister Nina to make money and support their parents financially back home. When Alexandra also "is disappeared" by Carlos, Nina comes looking for her sister. To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out. Couple of comments: first and foremost, don't be fooled by or intimidated by the movie's title. This is MILES away from "Silence of the Lambs" and its sequels, as this is NOT a horror movie or an action movie. Yes there are several harrowing scenes in it, but the focus of the movie is on a much deeper level, namely how one man can find himself in this position and just when you think you've figured him out, you are taken into a new direction. Second, kudos to director Manuel Martín Cuenca, whose previous movies (including "Malas temporadas" and "The Weakness of the Bolshevik" are now on my "want-to-see-badly" list. Third, the pacing of the moving is glacier-like, and I mean this as a complement. Check out the opening scene at the gas station, which takes several minutes and the camera doesn't change angles or zooms in, it simply lets you take it all in (this comes back a number of times in the movie). In keeping with the deliberate slow pace, there equally is no musical score for the movie (the only occasional music we hear is from the radio in Carlos' tailor shop). Last but certainly not least, the 2 main actors, Antonio de la Torre as Carlos and Olimpia Melinte in the dual role of Alexandra and Nina, give towering performances which will stay with you long after you've seen the movie. "Cannibal" is the June, 2014 release in Film Movement's DVD-of-the-Month Club, and the DVD will become generally available to the public later this yea. As is usually the case, the DVD comes with a bonus shortie, and this month we get "Ogre" (18 min., from France), about a heavy-set man who encounters an all-too-kind young lady at the beach. Equally worth checking out! Meanwhile, "Cannibal" is a fantastic addition to Film Movement's ever-growing library of foreign and indie movies. HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

• Good movie, but for the American audience looking for horror, action and sex look for something else

  bogdan-hlevca2015-02-10

  This is a good movie and it does not deserve the current low rating. I will not repeat what most before me have already said. However, I am adding my small comment just for some of the American audience who is used to the Hollywood clichés and can't comprehend that a film, yes a film not a movie, can actually venture in the realm of psychology. For those who are looking for horror, blood and cheap action thrillers look somewhere else. This film is a deliberately slow and aesthetic act of seduction that introduces the audience into the transformation of the main character, Carlos. Cuenca carefully hides the monstrousness of his main character and carefully shapes an unexpected outcome.