Demián Rugna’s ‘Terrified’ — Like a Terrifying ‘Ghostbusters’ – Movie Review

Demián Rugna’s (Death Knows Your Name 2007) Terrified is a freaky ghost story that delivers. Let’s look at what makes it a good, potentially terrifying film!

In order to appreciate this movie, you’ll want to analyze it. In the process, you’ll perhaps see layers of complexity that are hard to describe. Perhaps they aren’t even there. This film takes advantage of your ability to play along with the bizarre, and tricks you in a wide variety of ways. In a way, this is something any decent supernatural film must do. A movie that looks at the supernatural, the inexplicable and weird, will have a few innate strikes against it. It’s basically demanding some faith, some suspension of disbelief, and you will need to meet it halfway. However, a film like Terrified makes it much easier through solid performances, great special effects and horror/drama elements that don’t just seem tacked on.

Pretty Much Perfect

I hate to build up a movie too much, but this movie is pretty much perfect. Everything in Terrified is skillfully blended together, flowing quite naturally. Even though nothing is ever really explained, you likely won’t hold that against it. The ghosts you see are every bit as scary as those you don’t, and this film will have your imagination working overtime, filling in some narrow gaps.

The most we can understand about the plot is that, somehow, a gateway to a freakish place has been opened, and some terrifying things are escaping into our world. If you were there, you too would hear voices in the kitchen, see people being attacked (like Clara, played by Natalia Señoriales), and struggle to keep your sanity intact.

Also known as Aterrados, Terrified is like a much darker, bloodier version of Ghostbusters. The main character, Walter (Demián Salomón: Cursed Bastards 2011), calls paranormal specialists about his awful situation. The specialists include Dr. Albreck (Elvira Onetto: Jennifer’s Shadow 2004), Jano (Norberto Gonzalo: Romeo y Julieta 2007) and Comisario Funes (Maximiliano Ghione: Montecristo 2006). The haunting figures include a naked, freaky man-thing wandering the house and a dead kid at the table. You have some colorful topics like “cadaverous matter,” grave digging, postmortem spasms, hiding a body in a freezer and blood-sucking furniture (yes, you read that right!).

These aren’t the kind of ghosts who say, “Boo!” and fly away. No, these things will give chase. Then, upon catching you, they will probably snap your neck and drink the blood. If you’re looking for Casper, you’ve come to the wrong movie. Yes, Terrified delivers monsters that would eat your eyes as soon as look at you.

At the same time, like many movie monsters, they seem to require an initial charge of fear first (hence the title). Frankly, if you’re a horror fan and you don’t like this movie, you’re just failing to watch it right. If you don’t speak Spanish (like me), don’t get bummed out by the subtitles. Let this freak-fest wash over you and you’ll start reading the words just fine.

What are your thoughts on Terrified? Let us know in the comments!