I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never seen Mexico Barbaro, a horror anthology from 2014. Like the recent Satanic Hispanics, different Hispanic filmmakers came together to tell horror stories based on their heritage. Until about a week ago, I had no idea there was a new collection, Mexico Barbaro II (2017) from Unearthed Films.
This anthology series is very welcome, it offers a platform for these highly talented filmmakers to introduce a wider audience to their work, as well as their urban legends. When they do it right, that same audience may just get the crap scared right out of them.
There are eight different shorts from nine different filmmakers. The first is from Abraham Sanchez and is called “Juan the Soldier.” It follows a soldier who is wrongfully executed and then, while in Hell, makes a pact with the Devil to exact his revenge. It features a killer design for the Devil and is rather gory to boot.
“Paidos Phobos” tells the story of a woman who has something locked up in a bedroom that she’s obviously afraid of. When the voice on the other side calls her Mom, we soon find out the truth. Director Diego Cohen sets a dreadful mood that builds tension throughout. The finale didn’t quite work for me, but the rest of it does.
Fernando Urdapilleta’s “Potzonalli” follows a family as they plot their revenge on their husband/father who has abused them. This one was a total surprise, and I couldn’t get over the way it ended. It has a hint of dark humor, and the ending will leave you thinking, WTF just happened?
In the segment “Fireballs,” two guys hire two female escorts to appear in an adult film. When they arrive, they’re drop-dead gorgeous, but they’re not who they seem. The women take control, and the tables quickly turn on the men. From directors Christian Cueva and Ricardo Farias, the segment relies more on humor and uses the found footage trope to tell the story. Not as strong as some of the others, but fairly fun.
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“Vitriol” follows a woman who appears to be suffering from some sort of fear or anxiety before learning there’s a far darker secret she’s harboring. It seems like she’s afraid of people or men and rarely leaves her apartment. When the truth comes out, it all becomes clear. In ten minutes, director Michelle Garza builds an overpowering sense of dread before hammering home a powerhouse of a finale.
In “Don’t Sleep,” a young boy is haunted by the words of his late grandmother, who often warned him about the dangers of not drinking enough water, etc. Through his paranoia, there may have been some truth to her words. It plays out like a cautionary tale through Hispanic folklore and is directed with flair by Sergio Tello.
“Ya Es Hora” tells the tale of two middle school girls who are sick of being bullied by the snooty girl and her friends, so they decide to use some sort of black magic to place a hex on them. Unbeknownst to the two girls, the hex actually works, and the four bullies meet their fate. A slightly humorous tale that goes over the top with gore, using many different techniques to show off the talents of the effects team. They use practical, claymation, and CGI, which, of course, looked the weakest. It’s definitely a highlight for me.
The final segment, “Exodoncia,” is from director Lex Ortega and follows a woman who is dealing with her heroin addiction and how it’s quickly destroying who she is. This one is very dark and deals with self-mutilation and other nightmarish thoughts. Another very powerful entry and almost feels a little out of place.
Mexico Barbaro II is a highly satisfying anthology that showcases the talents of some terrific filmmakers who all seem to have bright futures ahead of them. I would have ordered the shorts a little differently, though the pacing seems to work, and the shorts are all winners. The disc contains a trailer, a still gallery, and a couple of featurettes.
The film is filled with frights and stomach-churning gore, but personal preference will determine which ones work best for you.
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