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Cast: Dulce Alexa, Emi Kamito
Eight Mexican directors have united to create a film anthology featuring the most brutally terrifying Mexican traditions and legends, brought to vividly shocking life. MÉXICO BARBARO presents haunting stories that have been woven into the fabric of a nation’s culture, some passed down through the centuries and some new, but all equally frightening. Stories of boogeymen, trolls, ghosts, monsters, Aztec sacrifices, and - of course - the Day of the Dead all come together to create a film that is as original as it is familiar... and as important as it is horrifying.
Directors represented in this anthology are Jorge Michel Grau (We Are What We Are, The ABCs of Death), Isaac Ezban (upcoming Fantastic Fest award winner The Incident), Laurette Flores, Ulises Guzmán, Edgar Nito, sound designer Lex Ortega (Here Comes the Devil, Frankenstein’s Army), Gigi Saul Guerrero (El Gigante, Choose Your Victim), and Rue Morgue Mexico coordinator Aaron Soto.
"Mexico Bararo" is a collection of Mexican horror shorts and make up the film. There is no common theme among the short films so each one is very different from the others. I was not impressed with the first film, "Tzompantli" which was directed by Laurette Flores. It tells the story of a reporter who is looking to gain some information about an incident the Mexican drug lords were involved in but when the informant tells him he has something to show him he can't believe his eyes. But it was the first film so I was hoping things got better.
The second short was "Jaral de Berrios" and it was directed by Edgar Nito. This is an old fashion western about two bank robbers who are looking for a place to hide out. One of the men is injured pretty bad but when they find an empty building to lay low in they get a lot more than they bargained for. I really enjoyed this short, it is one of my favorites in the film. I liked its style, look and setting. And it is bloody and pretty scary as well.
The third short was "Drena" and it was directed by Aaron Soto. This one was a bit strange to say the least. It tells the story of a young girl who finds a dead man with a cigarette in his hand which she takes and later on smokes only to have a demon emerge who gives her instructions that she must obey or suffer because herself. Disturbing is about all I can say about this one.
The next short was "La Cosa Más Preciada" that was directed by Isaac Ezban. It tells the story a young couple who decide to go rent a cabin in the woods, the two have decided to go there so the girl can have her first sexual encounter in a nice place but things go wrong very quick because there is something in the woods that wants to join in the fun. I liked this short and thought it was really creepy and quite disturbing.
Next was "Lo Que Importa Es Lo De Adentro" which was directed by Lex Ortega. It tells the story of a mother and her young son and daughter. They live in an apartment complex and the mom gets a homeless man to do some chores for her but the daughter is deathly afraid of him and thinks he is the boogeyman. Very bloody and cool practical effects makes this one a very good short film.
"Muñecas" was directed by Jorge Michel Grau and it tells the story of the island of the dolls. A place that draws tourists from everywhere for all its dolls that hang from just about everywhere but there is more than meets the eye on this island and those that enter will most likely never leave. This was also a good little short with a decent amount of blood.
"Siete Veces Siete" was the next short directed by Ulises Guzman. This is a revenge film that deals with a man whose family was killed and he was badly burned. It also deals with a zombie. I enjoyed this one as well though it wasn't as good as some of the others.
And last but not least there's "Día de los Muertos" which was directed by Gigi Saul Guererru. It deals with a sugar skull strip club and the not so polite customers who get what is coming to them. This is my favorite film of the bunch and a great way to close out the movie. Hot ladies and extreme violence make this revenge film a winner.
So overall "Mexico Barbaro" is an enjoyable horror anthology, like most it has its hits and misses but overall and as a collection this was very entertaining. I recommend this to horror fans that might be looking for something a bit different to watch. Available on DVD now, you can order it HERE.
Released by Dark Sky Films
*** 1/2 Out Of *****