The Circuit

by Mateo Perez & Nicolas Tamargo/Variety Team, Oporto


Of first-weekend standouts, Spanish hand-held camera chiller 'Rec' drew a one-minute ovation. "Rec" and Takashi Miike's samurai-cowboy "Sukiyaki Western Django" weren't maybe the most anticipated films in the fest's early going but undoubtedly they were among the most celebrated first-weekend screenings.


"Rec"'s director Jaume Balagueró underscored the importance of its half-improvised script. Cool as a cucumber in the carpa,  character actress Manuela Velasco hardly seemed as scared as she declared she was while shooting.


Cult vidgames "Resident Evil" (http://www.res-evil.com/re4/) and "Call of Cthulhu" (http://www.callofcthulhu.com/)  meet in a truly horrific fully-immersive cinema screen experience in the oppressive corridors and frenetic survival action of "Rec". "Rec"'s Lovecraft-like ending just rocks.


Thomas Dunn's disturbing "The Ungodly" and Kim Ki-duk's introspective "Breath" also played well, enjoying well-deserved moments of glory. The gore overkill and general nonsense of Dario Argento's "Mother of Tears" caused more embarrasment than anything else.



Variety Team, Oporto
Mateo Perez & Nicolas Tamargo