Brazil is one of those countries that don't have a solid history or big tradition when it comes to producing horror movies, but when the occasional horror title does does pop up from there; it's almost always worth checking out! Until now, this country's horror identity was pretty much solely revolving on the notorious cult icon José Mojica Marins – better known perhaps under his alter ego Coffin Joe – but now two brand new horror prodigies emerged seemingly out of nowhere! Directors' duo Rodrigo Gasparini and Dante Vescio previously just made one little short movie that was meant to be included in "The ABC's of Death" but didn't for some reason, but their long-feature debut "The Fostering" immediately proves that they are two visionary young film makers with a talented eye for morbidity and sheer suspense! "The Fostering" is truly one of the most unsettling, atmospheric and nail-bitingly tense fright tales I've seen in the festival circuit in many years! I watched the film at the Brussels' Fantastic Film Festival and, even though it was well after midnight already and I had seen 3 other films before this one, "The Fostering" kept me wide awake and concentrated even long after it was finished! This is a throwback to true & genuine horror; a combination of grim local folklore tales together with a non-stop ominous atmosphere and shocking imagery/decors. Admittedly the screenplay, courtesy of producer M.M. Izidoro, is a little too convoluted for its own good and I can't state that I fully understand all the twists and themes after just one viewing, but it's definitely a lot more impressive and memorable than the massive oversupply of lame zombie comedies and uninspired torture-porn flicks nowadays. Horror lovers that know their classics will probably agree that "The Fostering" is often very reminiscent to "Candyman" (there surely are worse movies to get compared with, aren't there?) what with its concept of vengeful spirits from the slavery era, voodoo and eerie bee hives. Two centuries ago in rural Brazil, a vicious plantation owner known as the Honey Baron terrorized his black slaves physically as well as mentally and fathered illegitimate children with their wives and mothers. Luciano, a slave fed up with the fear, killed the Baron while his mother killed the newborn bastard child she just gave birth to. In the present day, Luciano's descendants still strongly believe that they have to prevent the child's rebirth once every nine months by hammering a giant nail into the ground where the baby was buried. If not, the child's resurrection will also generate the resurrection of the Honey Baron's much stronger and maleficent spirit. However, the descendants' ritual gets disturbed by four big city kids who intend to release the baby's spirit because they feels sorry for it. To them it's all just a laughably urban legend, but they don't have a clue what type of evil they're about to unleash upon the world
The plot is the most praiseworthy aspect of "The Fostering", but there are many more things that contribute to the unique overall atmosphere of morbidity, like the remote farmhouse setting, the set pieces and costumes (for example the grisly beekeeper outfit), excellent casting choices (Ivo Müller is truly nightmarish as the Honey Baron) and a handful of truly gasping moments of hardcore violence. I reckon this little Brazilian gem won't ever grow out to become a worldwide cult favorite, which is a crying shame, but if you have the opportunity to check it out, please do so!
Review of The Devil Lives Here
