International Horror News: La Casa Muda Represents Uruguay at the Oscars; Spain Sticks It Up Almodovar’s Ass Again
Steve Barton
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Two pieces of interesting international horror news recently came to our attention, and as always, we’re passing the info along to you. Think of what a water-cooler stud you’ll be when you say…“Hey, I heard that Uruguay is submitting La Casa Muda for Oscar consideration” or “Can you believe Spain snubbed Pedro Almodovar again!?” The ladies will be tearing their panties off for you. Literally ripping undergarments from their bodies because they are so impressed with your knowledge of international cinema. You’re welcome.
Uruguay selects La Casa Muda for Oscar consideration
Gustavo Hernandez made magic on a small budget with his film La Casa Muda (The Silent House). Now his efforts are paying off as Uruguay has selected his horror film to be submitted for Foreign-Language Film consideration at the 2012 Oscars.
La Casa Muda (review here) stars Florencia Colucci, Abel Tripaldi, Gustavo Alonso and Maria Salazar in a chilling tale of a mysterious house and the horrors hidden inside it. Shot in one continuous 78-minute take, the film is effective in building suspense and delivering frights to the viewer. This recognition by his home country is a real honor for Hernandez and a victory for the horror genre.
From the Press Release
The horror film La Casa Muda (The Silent House) directed by Gustavo Hernández has been selected to represent Uruguay in the next edition of Oscar Awards 2012.
It’s clearly a great achievement for the emerging Latin-American horror community, which during the past two years has managed to transcend borders, either with the Mexican We Are What We Are, the Argentineans Stage 7, Cold Sweat and Penumbra, the Colombian El Paramo, the Chilean Baby Shower, and the Cuban Juan of the Dead.
It will be some time before we’ll know the final candidates, but there’s no doubt that the fact that a country choosing a horror movie, over other more traditional stories, is a new achievement, not only for La Casa Muda and its team but for all Latin-American horror films.
La Casa Muda Synopsis:
Laura (Florencia Colucci) and her father (Gustavo Alonso) settle down in a cottage which seems to be off the beaten track in order to update it since its owner (Abel Tripaldi) will soon put the house on sale. They will spend the night there in order to start the repairs the following morning. Everything seems to go on smoothly until Laura hears a sound that comes from outside and gets louder and louder in the upper floor of the house. Wilson goes up to see what is going on while she remains downstairs on her own waiting for her father to come down. The plot is based on a true story that happened some time ago in a small village in Uruguay. La Casa Muda focuses on the last 78-minutes, second by second, when Laura intends to leave the house which hides an obscure secret and she hopes to leave unharmed.
Real Fear in real time, this is the most remarkable underlying feature of the film which will not go unnoticed by all those who may be willing to experience this different and disturbing filming experience.
Spain Selects Pa Negre (Black Bread) Over La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I Live In)
In something of a surprise move, Deadline reports that Spain did not go with director Pedro Almodovar’s horror film La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I Live In), starring Antonio Banderas, for Foreign-Language Film Oscar consideration. Instead the drama Pa Negre (Black Bread) is the country’s selection.
The two-time Oscar-winner Almodovar has already had issues with the Spanish Film Academy over being snubbed for selection. The issue went far enough that he resigned from the Academy before eventually returning in April of this year. And how did they welcome him back? By bypassing his film once again. “Welcome back, Pedro. Now bend over.”
In case you’re curious as to just what Almodovar’s film is all about, Sony Pictures Classics picked up The Skin I Live In and will release it Stateside on October 21st.
The Skin I Live In Synopsis
Ever since his wife was burned in a car crash, Dr. Robert Ledgard, an eminent plastic surgeon, has been interested in creating a new skin with which he could have saved her. After twelve years, he manages to cultivate a skin that is a real shield against every assault. In addition to years of study and experimentation, Robert needed a further three things: no scruples, an accomplice and a human guinea pig. Scruples were never a problem. Marilia, the woman who looked after him from the day he was born, is his most faithful accomplice. And as for the human guinea pig …
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