Directed by:
Jaume BalagueróScreenplay:
Alberto MariniCinematography:
Pablo RossoComposer:
Lucas VidalCast:
Luis Tosar, Marta Etura, Alberto San Juan, Iris Almeida, Pep Tosar, Petra Martínez, Margarita Roset, Oriol Genís, Carlos Lasarte, Manel Dueso, Xavier Pujolràs (more)Plots(1)
Spanish psychological horror from director Jaume Balagueró. The film follows César (Luis Tosar), the concierge to the residents at a wealthy apartment building. César seems extraordinarily helpful and polite and is consequently adored by the residents, but little do they know that he is in fact a man so incapable of happiness and human feeling that he makes it his goal in life to make others as miserable as he is. He focuses much of his attention on Clara (Marta Etura), a beautiful young woman whose vivacity and spontaneous sense of happiness make her his opposite in almost every way. With his usual blend of underhand tricks, which include sneaking into her apartment to rig unpleasant surprises and even hiding beneath her bed, César begins to unnerve Clara. When her boyfriend Marcos (Alberto San Juan) unexpectedly returns the situation quickly escalates towards a point of no return. (Metrodome Distribution)
(more)Reviews (8)
Luis Tosar is a Spanish Norman Bates. This paranoid and voyeuristic, psychologically tense and cynical film roots for the
deviant villain rather than for his victim. Praise goes to its uncompromising creator, who does not spare the audience
and instead of seeking their favor, throws them in icy water.
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Well, that was quite perverted! Of course, I can't say I was not excited to see how it would all turn out... I was quite a fan of the somewhat peculiar janitor, but as the end approached, my sympathy for him dwindled somewhat. However, I definitely didn't get bored while watching the film, so the 4 stars I’m giving it are well deserved.
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Do you believe that love is the most powerful emotion? Caesar would disagree. The driving force behind his actions is something radically different. Opposite emotions give him the strength to navigate through life, and he is willing to go further and take more risks to invoke them. It's not really a horror and it's not even a "serious" psychological drama about a pathological individual, and it's more of a mischievous thriller, which also includes elements of cynical humor, about a man who has decided to play with his surroundings and not burden himself with limiting morals. It's narrated from the manipulator's perspective, so the viewer is tempted to align with him for a certain period of time. I can't shake the feeling that the film would benefit from more restraint and wouldn't lose any of its impact if the results of Caesar's cruel games included scenes like settling scores with a pet caretaker, where it's understood that words can be deadly. Even in this form, the film doesn't lose its malicious allure, mainly thanks to the presence of Luis Tosar, who confirms that negative roles are more rewarding for actors. However, it is worth noting that there are flaws in the screenplay, and the film would have benefited if the screenwriter had played with it a bit more. Overall impression: 70%.
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"'As You Sleep' is an example of how it was still possible to make a truly terrifying horror film even in recent years, without using any fantastical elements, but rather relying on a deranged individual who sends chills down your spine. The film is excellently executed both in terms of acting and directing, and definitely ranks among the very best in the horror genre to have ever been made. You won't easily forget such an experience."
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I absolutely didn’t get what the receptionist was doing in that apartment building. It looked like the Spanish were coming up with useless jobs just to reduce their brutal unemployment rate. So the main character seemed completely useless to me and I would have done without him. But on the other hand, there would be no exciting thriller without this character. It is not a horror movie but it is very intense. I liked the fact that the film kept me interested and tense and Marta Etura made it even better with her beauty. The only thing I don’t understand is how the receptionist could get away with all of it. He seemed like a perfectionist but in the end he showed sore real amateurism. A crumbling house of cards is nothing compared to what was happening here.
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