Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)

Written and Directed by Werner Herzog

Starring Klaus Kinski, Del Negro, Ruy Guerra and Peter Berling

In the 16th century, the ruthless and insane Don Lope de Aguirre leads a Spanish expedition in search of El Dorado.

A story of man's greed, both materialistic and spiritual, "Aguirre, the Wrath of God" is about more than just one man's selfishness. Through his acts of barbarianism and intimidation, the films protagonist also serves as a suitable antagonist, destroying anything and anyone that stands his way and crossing the line from the films opening.

In his first of a handful of collaborations with the infamous Klaus Kinski, Werner Herzog runs a production that is just as crazy and dangerous as the story of the films characters. Throughout the film, there is a sense of unease, hopelessness and aimlessness due to the way it was filmed. Whether it was intentional or unintentional, it certainly added to the suspense of a somewhat vacant plot.

As is the case with most, if not all of Werner Herzog's films, this is most certainly not for everyone. To the average movie goer, it could be seen as a long (despite an hour and a half running time) and boring story in which very little happens. But if you look at it with a slightly more studious eye, it is a brilliant allegory for the destruction Europeans brought on to the natives of the New World.

So if you do watch it, be sure to examine it and take it in for what it is. A Werner Herzog film.

My Rating: 8/10

The Devil's Backbone (2001)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Written by Guillermo del Toro, Antonio Trashorras and Mavid Muñoz
Starring Fernando Tielve, Íñigo Garcés, Federico Luppi and Eduardo Noriega

After Carlos, a 12-year-old whose father has died in the Spanish Civil War, arrives at an ominous boy's orphanage, he discovers the school is haunted and has many dark secrets that he must uncover. Mainly the mystery of "the one who sighs", the ghost of a little boy who wanders the orphanage.

There are truly no horror films like those of Guillermo del Toro. He has such a way with storytelling, that he does not need jump scares and gore to keep you terrified. He does so with a subtlety and grace of the building tension, until the pot boils over.

Rather than having a monster or ghost the source of fear in his films, he uses them as the victims to the much more real villain of human cruelty. It is certainly a privilege to watch his stories unfold and this is no exception.

Being one of his earlier pictures, "The Devil's Backbone" fells as though it set the course for his career. It also becomes apparent that his style has not changed, not that it needs to. The themes of the innocence of children and their first experience with death has been prevalent throughout his career, and this is no different. It is one of the thing that makes him unique. 

He does not present death as something you should be afraid of. He presents it as the sad, inevitable finale of life that we must all accept. He finds a way to find the beauty and humanity of pain and present it with a sense of calm and solace. He continues to show why he is one of the more unique directors out there.

My Rating: 7/10