Sometimes you watch a film that reawakens your love of
cinema. Other times you’ll watch a movie you know nothing about, with zero
hype, limited expectations and no knowledge of what to expect. The Hidden Face,
A Spanish thriller starring Quim Gutierrez, Martina Garcia and Maria Soledad
Rodriguez, is the type of film that punches you in the face repeatedly with
cinematic joy. So do yourself a favour. Dodge the trailers and avoid the
spoilers. Just sit back and enjoy one of the most riveting thrillers of the
year, and I’ll do my best not to give too much away.
After the sudden disappearance of his girlfriend, a young
composer (Gutierrez) is left in a new home with his life in pieces and the
suspicions of the local police force at his door. He gets over the heartbreak a
little too quickly for their liking, and it’s not long before his new
girlfriend becomes a permanent fixture in the house. She also dated one of the
investigating officers who still has a soft spot for her, so convincing them
he’s innocent is going to take some time. It’s not long before new squeeze
Fabiana (Garcia) starts to notice strange occurrences in the house, but before
you can say What Lies Beneath, director Andres Baiz pulls the rug from under
your feet.
That’s all you’re going to get from me about the plot,
because the less you know about The Hidden Face the better. The opening act –
with it’s leisurely pace and supernatural air – suggests that a chilling ghost
story is on the cards, but writers Baiz and Infante aren’t interesting in going
over old ground. A neat twist puts a fresh spin on the first act, casting new
light on the lead characters while toying with your preconceptions of them. Loyalties
change in an instant, and not for the last time either, with each of our
protagonists getting the chance to play hero and villain, perpetrator and
victim.
The contorted plot wouldn’t bare fruit if the lead
performances didn’t match the quality of the script, but Baiz couldn’t be
blessed with a better cast to pull off the coup. Gutierrez is an ideal choice
for murder suspect Adrian, playing the role with subtlety, restrain and
simmering intensity. Adrian is never truly likeable in the traditional sense of
the word, but where there’s suspicion and doubt, there’s also sympathy for a
character that just might be wrongly accused. Bewitching and ballsy, vulnerable
and tragic, the two girls match each other like for like. The three leads are
thoroughly captivating throughout, and it’s hard to imagine the film working
half as well without them.
I’d be very surprised if The Hidden Face didn’t get a
Hollywood makeover, which I why I recommend you watch the original version
first, because it’s only a matter of time before Tom Cruise casts himself as
the male lead. Baiz weaves a compelling tale, one that really finds its feet in
the second act, where the pieces fall into place and the film takes a devilish
turn, changing the shape of the movie entirely. It’s also worth noting – for
connoisseurs of the female form – that there’s plenty of nudity on display.
Thankfully it never feels exploitative, with the two girls shedding their
clothes in the most natural of circumstances, adding to the overall realism of
the piece. That’s what I kept telling myself anyway. It certainly didn’t hurt
the movie that’s for sure.
With a thumping orchestral score, three great leads and
a twisty narrative that toys with your affection, The Hidden Face is one of the
most captivating thrillers of the year. The fact that it arrived with no
fanfare only adds to the satisfaction, and the less you know about the movie
the better. Some secrets should stay buried, but this delightful Spanish
thriller isn’t one of them. AW
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