Review of Fausto 5.0

Fausto 5.0 (2001)
8/10
Dr. Faust's wishes
28 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Dr. Fausto, a Spanish famous oncologist, is seen at a hospital's cancer area when the story opens. This man, who has probably dealt with death during most of his life, appears to be oblivious to pain. When he leaves for the medical congress we see him at the edge of the track where he is waiting for the train, and one gets the impression he is about to jump, but no, he actually is horrified when he sees a young man playing on the opposite track as a train enters the station.

As he arrives at his destination, he meets the oily Santos Valle, a man that comes out of nowhere to remind the doctor he operated him and removed his stomach. Fausto tries to elude this man at all costs, but as it happens, his taxi breaks down in a slum area and guess who is conveniently passing by? You know, it's Santos Valle.

Santos Valle is a spooky man who plays with the doctor's emotions and tricks him into committing acts the physician would not dared to do on his own. Dr. Faust is aroused by the prostitute that comes to his hotel room, obviously sent by Valle. Later on, he attends a party in a strange house where he discovers a horrific place where all kinds of gore is stored.

Since he doesn't remember who Santos Valle is, he contacts his assistant, Julia, a woman that has been with him for quite some time. She is asked to get the old hospital records for Santos Valle, who tricks her into bringing them to the medical congress. It's there where the secret is revealed. Valle, who has played with the doctor's mind, is indirectly responsible for Fausto looking at the young woman with different eyes.

This is a collaborative project between the theatrical company La Furla's directors Alex Olle and Carlos Padrisa and newcomer Isidro Ortiz. La Furla has staged plays in London that were erotically charged. The film has a menacing aspect as Fausto, who hasn't been able to find a cure for cancer, asks Valle to save a young man, whose mother has been seen praying at his bedside at the beginning. In asking that, Valle-Mephistophles, thinks he owns Fauto's soul because of their bargain, which is also the idea behind the story which is a variation of the classic Goethe's book.

Miguel Angel Sola and Eduard Fernandez do wonderful jobs as Fausto and Santos Valle, respectively. Mr. Sola, one of the best actors from Argentina, now settled in Spain, makes an impression as the title character. Eduard Fernandez is also up to the challenge in his diabolical take of the devil. Najwa Nimri is seen as Julia, but she has nothing to do in the film.

For horror film fans "Fausto 5.0" is a must see.
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