Terrified is a Spanish language Argentinian horror film where some messed up paranormal stuff is happening in a Buenos Aires neighborhood, and when things start going off the rails, a deputy and a bunch of ghost hunters step in to figure out what the hell is going on, and while it all sounds quite simple, Terrified really does deliver.
Right from the start, it throws you into creepy noises, weird whispers, and moments that make you want to turn the lights on, and Rugna doesn’t mess around, and is a film where nobody is safe, and it never lets up.
What makes Terrified brilliant is how Demián Rugna builds the tension, as he doesn’t just throw stuff at you in a forced manner, he takes his time, and the scare attempts in the film are carefully planned, and while these are nothing new and you've probably seen before, Rugna lets the horror really creep up on you, using slow camera work, long silences, and just when you think you’ve got a handle on it, he speeds things up and all hell breaks loose.
The film doesn't really offer anything new with regards to these type of films, nor does it try to, as you can see the influences at play during the film, but Rugna clearly knows his way around horror and has a knack for putting a fresh twist on classic tricks.
While you’ll see some scares coming from a mile away, they still deliver, and that’s all thanks to some brilliant sound design and solid effects that really help sell the tension.
These homages aren't a weakness nor a criticism either, and even though Rugna follows some familiar horror elements, he presents them in a way that avoids feeling cliché, thanks to his skill in building tension, and a lot of the fear and primal dread simply comes from wondering what’s coming next?
One standout moment features the corpse of a recently buried child sitting at the dining table, and the sight of his decaying body, with mud dripping from it, creates an unsettling atmosphere with every drop as the camera holds on his rotting face and fragile fingers, as if searching for the slightest movement.
This isn’t a film that spends much time explaining itself or over-explaining the supernatural forces at play, instead, it leans heavily into mood and atmosphere, drawing you in with its unsettling visuals, strange silences, and creepy sound design, and logic takes a backseat, but the sense of dread is so strong that it hardly matters. what’s important is that something is there..
The film has good pacing for the most part too, and the tension is kept high throughout. even though there are a few moments that slow things down around the middle, and at less than 90 minutes long, I had no real major issues in that department.
If I had a minor criticism though it would probably be the narrative structure the film follows, and the film feels a bit split between two ideas, which made it feel a little disjointed, plus the second half focuses a lot on the character dynamics between the different groups, but these relationships aren’t always clearly explained, and the film can be a bit ambiguous , but really, I also don't think it's much of a deal breaker, either.
Overall I am a big fan of the film, Terrified is subtly creepy, and a film more focused on mood rather than logic, with a heavy emphasis on creating tension with some brilliant creepy atmosphere and imagery, and the film nails it in that department.
It hooks you in and never lets go. [Terrified on IMDB] [Where to watch Terrified]