Time and time again foreign films are ignored by the mainstream. Paco Plaza’s 2017 film ” Veronica” refuses to be ignored. This film screams to the heavens that foreign films can be scary too.

Concept

The scariest things in life are the unknown. In childhood it is the darkness in the closet or under the bed. In adulthood it is everyday struggles like fearing for your family or debt and in between these two stages sits adolescence. There is no certainty that teens will ever reach the highs of childhood as an adult. Teens are suddenly being given new responsibilities and worries, there are people they must care for and things they must do. Sometimes all of this pressure can be too much.

Paco Plaza uses the mysterious case of Madrid-born teenager Estefanía Gutierrez Lázaro as his vehicle to explore the pressures of growing up. Lázaro was a young teen growing up in Vallecas, Spain when strange things began to happen to her. Hallucinations and erratic behavior began to plague her and this is where Plaza begins his story.

Atmosphere

Fading Daylight by Xavier Coward

The entire atmosphere of the film is very interesting. Obviously ghost stories usually take place in haunted houses and schools, but the added aspect that the setting is Spain changes some things. Roman Catholic symbols such as crucifixes are everywhere and even the school is a Catholic school. Religion should keep you safe, but in this film it may be the cause of the horror.

The use of the environment is the most creative part of the film in my opinion. The Sun and Moon are meant to represent the two sides of Veronica (the protagonist) and the crew goes through a lot to make this clear. Every light or shadow when the protagonist is on screen feels celestial. It feels as if the audience is in the room and looking at the stars with her. The light also adds to the uncomfortable feel of the movie. Constantly lights are shifting position and changing brightness to indicate a mood and we are all painfully aware.

Reflections also play a big role in setting the tone. Characters look into mirrors, strips of film negative and even broken glass. The filmmaker is using these tools to show the duality of life and also provide some big shocks and scares.

Performance

All around the board “Veronica” is solid. The crew does fantastic work with their lighting and construction of the set. It all feels so real and is completely encapsulating. The camera movements also go hand in hand with the lighting. In every scene the focus is clear and concise. Even though the crew did do a fantastic job, some of the jump scares do fall flat because of the repetition and the audiences familiarity with them.

The actors also did a good job portraying the necessary elements of their characters. Sandra Escacena gives a convincing performance as Veronica and is very entertaining. The struggle of taking care of her siblings and also maintaining a social life is easily seen through her performance. Her screams and reactions to the ghosts are fantastic and add to the film.

Conclusion

Overall Paco Plaza’s ” Veronica” is a good choice for some late night scares. It is scary and emotional while also not feeling like a church service or lecture. Like many good horror movies the concept carries the creation to its potential. Horror is a genre that allows for entertainment and lessons to be learned in tandem. No one can escape time, you can fight it and delay its passing as long as possible but it is truly an inevitable fear.