Blind Alley (2013)

I do believe this one could have provided a lot more and also, faster. Sure it doesn't even hit the 90 min mark, so I get it, they had to fill that little time, but come on, either go a more complex plot, or make a great short horror.Reasons to like it? The story is not the worse out there, a lot of similarities with "ATM" even a little "Penny Dreadful", provides some interesting things but those never ending flashes just got me out of my mind! You can't show a flash of something that happened 5-10 minutes ago, it is just wrong! Let us think a little too, we're not all brain dead here. Scares? Can't really call them that, still, a little bit of tension does exist, but it is ruined by the "grand" finale, where everything is just too easy to anticipate.So, all in all, for a lazy late night, it could work. But if you want something fun to watch, or share with some friends, don't let it hit your screen. Takes forever to get to its destination and then makes itself too obvious.Cheers!

This little known film came as a bit of a surprise for me. Not knowing what to expect, I had the expectations of the usual Spanish horror fare, but what I got was something a little bit different. Its a very simple film, done in a very stylish way. The soundtrack and camera work was reminiscent of Italian giallo, so fans of this will be pleasantly surprised by what you get. The build up was very good and relies on solid tension and suspense, over character development. It all unfolds in a very satisfactory way that will please most horror fans. Don't go into it expecting something brilliant. Just be prepared to leave your brain at the door and go along on the ride of terror as our main character tries to find a way out of her dilemma.

Blind Alley (El Callejón) is a work of art. Such well made movies don't come by very often.The plot is straightforward yet works perfectly well. Actually it's a lesson in screen writing. Ana de Armas shines as an actress, since the whole movie is on her shoulders. She makes you care for the fate of her character. And, of course, she's absolutely gorgeous. The two qualities (great acting and great looks) make her a very rare actress.The photography is amazing, perfect. Furthermore, it's packed up with very interesting tricks such as multiple perspectives in split screen. These tricks actually help the narrative.The director and writer, Antonio Trashorras, is someone to keep an eye on, for he surely will do other great stuff.The music is really good, way above average. Plenty of cool songs.Some trivia: there are a couple of scenes in which people change their accents, from Spanish accent to Cuban, from Argentinian accent to Chilean, etc. The movie is full of such original resources.Do yourself a favor and go watch this movie. Even if you're not a horror fan, you'll be delighted.

Blind Alley is an apt title for this silly thriller that is not scary or even well thought out. It begins with a beautiful girl, Rosa(Ana de Armas) dancing in booty shorts and mini skirts at a photo shoot audition for some unknown reason. Next up, she is in a house cleaner's uniform talking with a coworker as they clean hotel rooms. On her way home she stops at a 24 hour laundromat with flickering lights, in the middle of the night, with no one around. A young man walks in and they seem to connect until he behaves strangely and she barricades herself inside the place as he taunts her. The storyline is not worth the paper it was written on. The one positive is Ana de Armas, a gorgeous young actress. The negative aspect is that Ana keeps her clothes on, which is a shame, because at least I would have one reason to recommend this film. Do not waste your time on Blind Alley.