- Release year: 2023
- Director: Carlos Therón.
- Producer: Kiko Martínez.
- Screenplay by: Marta Buchaca and Fernando Navarro.
- Cinematography by: Ángel Amorós.
Synopsis: A group of paranormal investigators get together to study a possible poltergeist after their leader is fatally injured when he attempts to investigate on his own.
Shotgun Commentary: Paranormal prowess at its best.
Review
Phenomena is a Spanish feature that completely flew under my radar when it came out in 2023. That is, until my deep-dive into what Netflix has to offer in terms of horror. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed.
The film follows three middle-aged women as they investigate the latest in a long list of supernatural mysteries. The three of them, along with a man who barely shows up and their leader, a priest who is attacked at the beginning of the movie and put out of commission, have dedicated their lives to the search and understanding of the paranormal. Gloria (Toni Acosta) is the medium of the group, Paz (Gracia Olayo) takes care of the audiovisual aspect of their adventures, and Sagrario (Belén Rueda) takes care of the PR while complaining about Gloria’s reticence to contact her late husband.
A proper script
The main location of the story is an antique shop where strange occurrences are taking place. These seem to point out a haunting, maybe even a poltergeist, but the more they investigate, the more complicated the case becomes. The development of the narrative is absolutely superb. The storyline plays with the blurred lines between fact and fiction, paranormal and ordinary. Clues and testimonies point in all sorts of directions, making the mystery enthralling to watch.
In addition to a wonderfully crafted mystery, there is the matter of the humour. The tale is tinted with notes of comedy that not only make the story lighter and easier to consume but also way more realistic and relatable. People do get scared, bored, tired, prideful, etc. The trio of women tease each other like old friends do, and there are no big dramatic speeches or heroic demonstrations. There is a primal instinct of survival and quiet actions that prove a lot more than muscles and disquisitions.
Jackpot
Speaking of which, more aged female protagonists in horror, please and thanks. They do not need to hero their way through a story Laurie Strode style (Halloween Ends, 2022). They can just be realistic women. Few people are fiercer than women over 40, when they reach an age in which society tells them to just sit down in a dark corner and wait for death. When you live in a society that does not care about your wellbeing and actively tells you to disappear, you have to sink or swim. As a result, lots of women stop giving a f*ck at an exponential rate the older they get. So, honestly, they are the most charismatic and fun demographic you can use to fight evil.
Granted, this formula works flawlessly in Phenomena also due to the cast itself. Acosta, Olayo, and Rueda are true forces of nature, and their professional careers are undeniable proof of that. Their talent shines through throughout the films, hitting all the right notes every single time no matter how much the story twists and turns or how much their characters face.
All in all, Phenomena is a delightful horror comedy you will not regret watching. It provides a fantastic experience for horror lovers, especially for the scaredycats that need some humour to soften the blows of horror.
Advice to take from this movie:
- Always go in twos when entering a creepy, potentially haunted location.
- Never underestimate a middle-aged woman.
- Sometimes it is okay to leave your terrified husband out of the creepy location.
What’s your take? Have you watched Phenomena? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀