PopHorror Let's Get Scared
When it comes to overt body horror and pushing the limits of cinema and the psyche, Domiziano Cristopharo is without a doubt the go-to guy for all such things. Coming into La perdición, I had no idea what to expect, and boy was I surprised. Let me just say up top that this film is definitely not for the faint of heart, viewer discretion is highly advised.
La perdición Synopsis
A young man heads out on an erotic excursion with a new acquaintance, only to find himself the captive victim of a depraved, deranged serial killer.
Domiziano Cristopharo (Phantasmagoria 2014, Nightmare Symphony 2019) wrote and directed the film. It Stars Nicholas Sartori (Eldorado 2022, 4 halloween 2023), Lorenzo’s Vivian (La perdición 2021), and Davide Iaconis (Symbolicus Vol. 3 2023, La perdición 2021).
First off, this film is loosely based on American serial killer Robert Hansen, better known in the media as the “Butcher Baker”. Between 1971 and 1983 he abducted, raped, and murdered at least 17 women in Anchorage Alaska. He was arrested and convicted in 1983 and sentenced to serve 461 years behind bars. He died of natural causes in 2014 from lingering health issues at the age of 75.
To begin with, this has a lot of full-frontal male nudity. While it is used in a somewhat crude and salacious manner, it’s also a very effective plot device helping to progress the film and story forward. It’s excellently crafted and very well placed, artfully adding to the horror of it all.
The story is almost nonexistent and the pacing is a bit slow at times. There’s a section toward the end that feels a little like filler, although it’s easy to see what the director’s true intentions were, to show self-introspection and the primal need for survival. However, it pulls you out of the experience a tad, lumbering where it should be cruising to a blood-curdling finish.
The camera work and angles are absolutely fantastic and the editing is spot on. The gore, although very minimal, is very efficacious and perfectly placed. Also, the acting and dialogue are terrific and extremely believable. Nicholas Sartori is authentic and unsettling in the lead role, and Lorenzo Vivian is great as Robert, the twisted demented serial killer, giving one nightmare-filled performance.
What stuck out the most was the music and sound effects. The music was eerie and grim, creating a very tense and emotionally laden mood, and the sound effects were gritty and malignant. They brought a real feeling of dread and isolation to the film, making for one seriously hair-raising watch.
The cinematography in this is phenomenal. The landscape shots are infectious and awe-inspiring, not to mention the incredible shots of the boat on the water. They are akin to paintings or portraits of natural scenery you’d find on display in some prestigious art show or upscale museum somewhere. They’re beautiful and breathtaking, not something normally prevalent in indie films.
It is a bit experimental though, being the film was shot utilizing the Dogme 95 rules of filmmaking, made popular in 1995 by legendary Danish directors, Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg. These rules were created based on the traditional values of acting, storytelling, and theme, excluding the use of elaborate special effects and technology. It was intended to bring balance to the dynamics of filmmaking and give power back to the directors as artists.
Overall, La perdición (2021) is bleak, insidious, and deeply disturbing. It’s hypnotic, engaging, and shocking as hell. If you like inventive, out-of-the-box, original underground indie horror films with gusto, look no further. Give this one a spin, if you can stomach it. You have been forewarned.
You can view the official trailer below.
