Brainsbell
The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.
Kaydan Christian
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
Guillelmina
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
Minas Gr
It was better than expected!
its not bad, its not the best ..
Wonderful directing acting and all other things that are said in the reviews.Could easily be a 1hour 1.20hour movie though, not that much happens to be so long, but it keeps the tension through the whole movie, i never felt bored as in most of the movies nowadays, it manages to keep you in the atmosphere
Dont wait to be impressed by the best movie, but it certainly Deserves to be watched:)
Flow
I love different kind of horrors, I adore that blend with war, especially after seeing "Outcast" but this one, as many other Spanish, Latino productions, it fails to deliver as a horror movie. So, let's make it clear, I'm not stating it's bad, but if you get it for a late, cold night, it will seem overlong and will put you right to sleep. The comments here are positive, almost everyone is praying The Squad, but how many remember what the purpose of it really is? Enough with finding excuses for horror, "it doesn't act like one but it is so different", "such a bold approach", "new and original!", are nothing more that signs that you may want to stay away from this. After you watch it, you can barely put it in the horror section, only cause the plot offers 2 small clues, one coming very obviously at the end and one at start.Anyway, sorry to say, but I'm disappointed, cause I came for a duck, it looked like a duck, did not act like one, did not sound like one, so stop telling me this is a duck. Get a pair of glasses and problem solved!I recommend Outcast or Dog Soldiers.!Cheers!
kosmasp
Another reviewer here stated some interesting points. I do agree with most of his arguments, but I don't think the movie is as bad as he makes it to be. That doesn't mean I think it's really good, but I do think the director was going for the right thing. Fear and isolation can make people go crazy.Of course the idea is anything but new and there have been quite a few movies with similar themes. While this is well played, there is something missing to help the viewer along the ride. Something that will even the field and make even some of the clichés look good. As it is, it is just decent (maybe you won't even think as much of it, as proved by other reviews). Suspense is high enough and though you can guess most turns and events, it is still enjoyable enough.
Graeme Baxter
Having waited for this release an eternity, I was desperately clinging onto the slim chance that it may have been a worthwhile wait, especially given that in most cases, the wait is better than the end product.Not in this case however.El Paramo (The Squad) is a highly polished, very well produced, dark thriller from a country who in my experience aren't noted for successful movie exports.It puts many mega budget blockbusters to shame, filmed with such care and attention, that from the first scene until the last, I was hooked.No hammy acting or poor scripting dialogue in this - everything was way above and beyond anything I've seen for a long time, and belies the country of origin and also the relatively smallish budget. All actors delivered their lines with ease, their emotions throughout heightening the tension that the writer and director were aiming for, and the locations used were suitably spooky and dark.It's a difficult movie to classify - some will say horror, others thriller - to me this was more a psychological thriller more than anything else - a lot of unseen tension based on unseen forces.Going down that route is a very difficult skill to master as a writer and a director - keeping the audience glued to the screen whilst not showing anything of horror is a talent that abounds in the movie - to successfully manage to portray a story of the breakdown of a regimented society in a short space of time,whilst running with an underlying hint of the paranormal worked perfectly.It's a shame this won't get the release it deserves, however, I'd really like to see more from the writers and director as they've got a supreme talent that deserves more recognition.Top notch 8/10
