User Reviews

A couple(Arturo de Cordoba, Emma Penella)and their son arrive a hotel at city of Gijon. But the son suffers an accident on the edge of sea and he's drowned .The tragedy causes an immense pain and despair in the protagonists. Then the screenplay describes a flashbacks retelling a happenings plenty of twists plot and suspense.

Good acting by a very young Emma Penella and remaining cast.Highlights movie are the cinematography by Francisco Sempere and production design by Gil Parrondo(Oscar winner for Patton).This is a splendid film by Jose Antonio Nieves Conde, a director of great quality. He's a dramas expert(Surcos, El Inquilino), religious cinema(Balarrasa, Cotolay) and even terror(Sounds of horror). The movie was remade with the title ¨Hotel Danubio¨(2002) by Antonio Gimenez Rico and produced by Jose Luis Garci; starred by Santiago Ramos(Arturo De Cordoba's role) and the Rocio Durcal's daughter, Carmen Morales(Emma Penella's role).

In the remake released under the title "Hotel Danubio", the mask arrangement in Carlos' room ends with a picture of red fish, most probably as an allusion to the original film. The line when Hugo speaks about the red fish turning around in a fishing bowl was completely omitted, so the picture in Carlos' room is the only reference to the original production. The end is also different in both films, as "Los Peces Rojos" closes with detectives waiting for Hugo at the Police car, while "Hotel Danubio" goes on with a dialog between the two policemen, followed by camera moving to the beach where some men (apparently morning joggers) are seen running along the beach. Then we find out that they were running towards a man who has drowned, and whose corpse lies on the beach. A puzzling ending, for sure.