A very underrated movie. This movie is good, the acting is terrific as well as the photography. The script is a descent one with a twist that works perfectly well, I don't see the so called evident predictability at all. And most of the complaints here are based also in that same old mantra: it's a slow paced movie. It seems that the Hollywood followers need one more century to realize the difference between art and fast food, not to mention the "lack of gore" and all the horror paraphernalia that they want to see all the time. Very good movie, intriguing, touching, visually beautiful. I hope the director doesn't pay too much attention to the unfair reviews here this time and move forward with contentment. Very well done.
10 Reviews
Psychological Thriller
kosmasp20 October 2009
There are quite a few good movies from Spain, covering the horror thriller. This one starts really good and has awesome cinematography and really good actors. Still in the end, it doesn't completely deliver on the premise.
One of the main problems being, that it too foreseeable, but still tries to build upon a twist, that you can see coming a long way, before it actually gets revealed in the movie. The hints are there of course and it is pretty nicely done. Maybe if this is your very first thriller, you might be a bit more excited. But all in all, you can watch this, just be patient with the movie and enjoy it's setting and the "view".
One of the main problems being, that it too foreseeable, but still tries to build upon a twist, that you can see coming a long way, before it actually gets revealed in the movie. The hints are there of course and it is pretty nicely done. Maybe if this is your very first thriller, you might be a bit more excited. But all in all, you can watch this, just be patient with the movie and enjoy it's setting and the "view".
Dark and desolate island
unbrokenmetal21 July 2016
El Hierro is (compared to Tenerife or Gran Canaria) a less known and much less populated island in the Canary Islands. This movie tells the story of a woman who loses her 5 year old son on a ferry trip to that island. The police search leads to no result. Later she finds that her son was not the only kid who is missing, and she begins her own investigation if anyone is abducting children maybe?
I got hold of this Blu-ray rather accidentally (in a 'buy two, get one free' deal), which proves that sometimes the best things are for free. This is a recommendable little thriller, deliberately keeping the story simple, so it can put the emphasis on atmosphere and pictures. Having been to the Canary Islands several times, I'm surprised one can shoot such a dark picture in these sunny places. 'Hierro' is about the fear and anxiety of its main character, so we are talking about psychological thrills here and not a maniac with an axe. The makers put El Hierro to great use insofar as you can run for miles without meeting anyone. Talking of running: Horror movie fans should go elsewhere, but anyone who likes a tasteful dark movie with style, give it a try.
I got hold of this Blu-ray rather accidentally (in a 'buy two, get one free' deal), which proves that sometimes the best things are for free. This is a recommendable little thriller, deliberately keeping the story simple, so it can put the emphasis on atmosphere and pictures. Having been to the Canary Islands several times, I'm surprised one can shoot such a dark picture in these sunny places. 'Hierro' is about the fear and anxiety of its main character, so we are talking about psychological thrills here and not a maniac with an axe. The makers put El Hierro to great use insofar as you can run for miles without meeting anyone. Talking of running: Horror movie fans should go elsewhere, but anyone who likes a tasteful dark movie with style, give it a try.
Changeling?
dbdumonteil8 December 2010
The disappearance of a child is a subject which was often filmed ;in the last decade ,"flightplan" and " changeling" come to mind .And ,as Michelangelo Antonioni showed in "L'Avventura" ,an island is the ideal place to locate such a story,although his was a desert one.People living on an island are often (if you go by what the screenwriters write,of course,so islanders ,please ,don't feel offended! ) places where the inhabitants are bizarre,hostile and do not like strangers .
"Hierro" is not like the two other American movies :it is a story of paranoia ,in which reality and nightmare collide.When the heroine is in the mortuary ,the audience sides with her and anyway who could accept such a thing:the death of your only child ?Even the police seem suspect ,even the young one who wants to lend a helping hand.This is a slow-moving story,a wandering across splendid but gloomy landscapes, a wandering in the recesses of her mind too for this is primarily a psychological drama . A bit confused, but a laudable attempt.
"Hierro" is not like the two other American movies :it is a story of paranoia ,in which reality and nightmare collide.When the heroine is in the mortuary ,the audience sides with her and anyway who could accept such a thing:the death of your only child ?Even the police seem suspect ,even the young one who wants to lend a helping hand.This is a slow-moving story,a wandering across splendid but gloomy landscapes, a wandering in the recesses of her mind too for this is primarily a psychological drama . A bit confused, but a laudable attempt.
Stunning and gripping mystery movie that contains over-the-top performance by Elena Anaya , engrossing drama and puzzled intrigue
ma-cortes18 August 2016
Mystery|Thriller with plenty of tension , suspense , nightmares , and strange happenings . It packs a very good cast giving perfect interpretation and being elegantly directed by Gabe Ibáñez at his best . It deals with a mother called María (Elena Anaya) and her child Diego aboard a ferry to visit island El Hierro , located in Canary Islands . The bereaved woman sleeps and when awakens to find that Diego is gone . After she lost track of her son on the ferry she looks in the water . The woman reports that her young son is missing and police carries out a real search . She is certain that someone on board has taken him and that someone with the ship is also involved in his disappearance . After her son goes missing , the broken mother returns months later to the island of El Hierro to identify a body . The unsettling mother finds out her son is not the only one missing , but there seems to be no evidence . The very concerned mother has a lot of territory to cover in order to find her son . But as Maria suffers an overwhelming as well as upsetting feeling , she fights to discern the truth , that's why she takes matters into her own hands . Will Maria find her child or will she start to accept the truth? . No one admitted while the clock is ticking! .
Suspenseful film that will have you on the edge of your seat until an amazing finale . Intriguing film is packed with thrills , suspense , plot twists , and results to be quite entertaining . Stirring as well as exciting yarn displays intense drama , emotion , suspense , puzzled events , twists and turns . This is a suspenseful flick that really thrills . The moving atmosphere and perverse intrigue enhance as well as the protagonist investigates the rare events . From start to finish the intrigue and thrilling scenes are continuous till a striking ending . The picture develops a desolate atmosphere and a colorful but threatening ambient in the background , including overwhelming high cliffs and steep mountains . The film follows the wake from classic films , such as ¨Bunny Lake is missing¨ (1965) by Otto Preminger with Carol Linley and , recently , ¨Flightplan¨ (2005) by Robert Schwentke with Jodie Foster in a similar role to Elena Anaya . Javier Gullón 's script -along with uncredited Jesús De la Vega , whose story is based on- is plenty of enjoyable incidentals and interesting events one time the child vanishes . Screenplay does something strange by the weird end : it actually removes the stakes of everything that came before with its surprising revelation that had been built up by that point about the strange missing .
Evocative and adequate photography in brilliant color by professional cinematographer Alejandro Martinez . Shot on location in Hierro , the Atlantic island of Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Africa under the jurisdiction of Spain . However , some scenes the producers chose instead to film the images in Agaete seaport , Gran Canaria . Atmospheric and appropriate musical score by composer Zacarias De La Riva , full of intriguing sounds and thrilling environment . This engrossing , riveting picture was effective and compellingly directed by Gabe Ibáñez who was an animator by trade before moving into film direction . Gabe considers to be one of the greatest achievements of his career and being his first film ; formerly making various shorts . In 1992 , he joined the field of digital post production , where he worked as 3D artist and visual effects supervisor in film and advertising for 8 years . Gabe is an expert on the study and development of computer generated image , this is very well showed in his last film : ¨Automat¨ with Antonio Banderas . Since 2000, he has worked as commercial director , and in 2001, he founded User T38, a company dedicated to digital preproduction and post production . In 2006 , he directed his first short film ¨Máquina¨ or ¨machine¨ that was awarded Clermont Ferrand's Special Jury Award in 2007 . In 2008 he directed this his first feature film, ¨Hierro¨ , released in the International Critic's Week at the Cannes Film Festival 2009 . And , subsequently , ¨Automat¨ , a superior science-fiction movie that will appeal to cinema buffs and interested in to watch an example of the kind of work filmmaker Gabe Ibañez . ¨Hierro¨ results to be one good film . Rating : Better than average . Worthwhile watching .
Suspenseful film that will have you on the edge of your seat until an amazing finale . Intriguing film is packed with thrills , suspense , plot twists , and results to be quite entertaining . Stirring as well as exciting yarn displays intense drama , emotion , suspense , puzzled events , twists and turns . This is a suspenseful flick that really thrills . The moving atmosphere and perverse intrigue enhance as well as the protagonist investigates the rare events . From start to finish the intrigue and thrilling scenes are continuous till a striking ending . The picture develops a desolate atmosphere and a colorful but threatening ambient in the background , including overwhelming high cliffs and steep mountains . The film follows the wake from classic films , such as ¨Bunny Lake is missing¨ (1965) by Otto Preminger with Carol Linley and , recently , ¨Flightplan¨ (2005) by Robert Schwentke with Jodie Foster in a similar role to Elena Anaya . Javier Gullón 's script -along with uncredited Jesús De la Vega , whose story is based on- is plenty of enjoyable incidentals and interesting events one time the child vanishes . Screenplay does something strange by the weird end : it actually removes the stakes of everything that came before with its surprising revelation that had been built up by that point about the strange missing .
Evocative and adequate photography in brilliant color by professional cinematographer Alejandro Martinez . Shot on location in Hierro , the Atlantic island of Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Africa under the jurisdiction of Spain . However , some scenes the producers chose instead to film the images in Agaete seaport , Gran Canaria . Atmospheric and appropriate musical score by composer Zacarias De La Riva , full of intriguing sounds and thrilling environment . This engrossing , riveting picture was effective and compellingly directed by Gabe Ibáñez who was an animator by trade before moving into film direction . Gabe considers to be one of the greatest achievements of his career and being his first film ; formerly making various shorts . In 1992 , he joined the field of digital post production , where he worked as 3D artist and visual effects supervisor in film and advertising for 8 years . Gabe is an expert on the study and development of computer generated image , this is very well showed in his last film : ¨Automat¨ with Antonio Banderas . Since 2000, he has worked as commercial director , and in 2001, he founded User T38, a company dedicated to digital preproduction and post production . In 2006 , he directed his first short film ¨Máquina¨ or ¨machine¨ that was awarded Clermont Ferrand's Special Jury Award in 2007 . In 2008 he directed this his first feature film, ¨Hierro¨ , released in the International Critic's Week at the Cannes Film Festival 2009 . And , subsequently , ¨Automat¨ , a superior science-fiction movie that will appeal to cinema buffs and interested in to watch an example of the kind of work filmmaker Gabe Ibañez . ¨Hierro¨ results to be one good film . Rating : Better than average . Worthwhile watching .
A film worth watching
KobusAdAstra5 August 2016
'Hierro' is a suspenseful film about a woman whose young son disappears while on a ferry underway to an island off the coast of Spain. She starts a desperate search on the rather desolate island with bare rock and sparse vegetation, with a few reclusive and unhelpful people staying in caravans.
This story cleverly links with the drama of another child's disappearance after a car crash, a few years earlier.
This is a well-crafted film with excellent acting, and cinematography. At times it seems a bit too sentimental, but given the subject matter, it is hard not to get emotionally involved. A film worth watching. 7/10.
This story cleverly links with the drama of another child's disappearance after a car crash, a few years earlier.
This is a well-crafted film with excellent acting, and cinematography. At times it seems a bit too sentimental, but given the subject matter, it is hard not to get emotionally involved. A film worth watching. 7/10.
Where's Wally?
Ali_John_Catterall3 April 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Certain phrases work upon film critics in the same way vuvuzelas will in the ears of unsuspecting Chelsea Pensioners. Among the most radioactive ("Directed by George Lucas"; "A Platinum Dunes Production") is the seemingly innocuous: "From the Producers Of
" Trust me, 99 per cent of the time this tagline denotes the exact opposite of a seal of quality. It gives me little pleasure, then, to report that Hierro hails "from the producers of Pan's Labyrinth and The Orphanage" – both standard-bearers for the new wave of Spanish-language chillers. The presence of subtitles isn't always indicative of a Horribilis Superior.
Like The Orphanage, this is another addition to the increasingly popular 'Where's Wally' sub-genre: Maria (Elena Anaya) is travelling with young son Diego to the eponymous real-life island, Europe's southernmost point, when he mysteriously vanishes on board the ferry. Six grief-stricken months later she's recalled to the island, where a boy's body has washed up. Nightmares, visions and fleeting glimpses of Diego soon follow. Are the islanders harbouring a secret? Is Maria going crazy? Or what?
Sadly, this simplistic psychological thriller is desperately underwhelming stuff – no mean feat in a movie containing full-frontal nudity and flaming morgue corpses (gosh, these 12A films are a bit racy!) – with a mandatory twist and some half-hearted jump-scares. Meanwhile, the ridiculously over-the-top musical cues and strident celestial choruses made this reviewer want to leap from his seat and tear out the cinema speakers with his bare hands.
On the upside, there's some very pretty, elemental cinematography (that strange, strange island, with its blackened beaches and volcanic turrets, is the movie's real star). Perhaps an almost inevitable Hollywood remake might help flesh out the plot. Or not. Probably not. In any case, I won't be holding out for a Hierro.
Like The Orphanage, this is another addition to the increasingly popular 'Where's Wally' sub-genre: Maria (Elena Anaya) is travelling with young son Diego to the eponymous real-life island, Europe's southernmost point, when he mysteriously vanishes on board the ferry. Six grief-stricken months later she's recalled to the island, where a boy's body has washed up. Nightmares, visions and fleeting glimpses of Diego soon follow. Are the islanders harbouring a secret? Is Maria going crazy? Or what?
Sadly, this simplistic psychological thriller is desperately underwhelming stuff – no mean feat in a movie containing full-frontal nudity and flaming morgue corpses (gosh, these 12A films are a bit racy!) – with a mandatory twist and some half-hearted jump-scares. Meanwhile, the ridiculously over-the-top musical cues and strident celestial choruses made this reviewer want to leap from his seat and tear out the cinema speakers with his bare hands.
On the upside, there's some very pretty, elemental cinematography (that strange, strange island, with its blackened beaches and volcanic turrets, is the movie's real star). Perhaps an almost inevitable Hollywood remake might help flesh out the plot. Or not. Probably not. In any case, I won't be holding out for a Hierro.
Wasted by the writer
room10210 October 2015
Fantastic score, beautiful cinematography and good acting by Elena Anaya - all ruined by a bad script.
The score carries some similarities to "The Machinist" (the composer here was the orchestrator on the latter), including what sounded to me like a Theramin - and was simply too good for this film. At one point it sounds very similar to Mozart's Requiem. Together with the cinematography, it reminded me of the atmosphere of "The Machinist".
The only thing I didn't like about the cinematography is the use of digital camera, which was very obvious in numerous points throughout the movie.
The score carries some similarities to "The Machinist" (the composer here was the orchestrator on the latter), including what sounded to me like a Theramin - and was simply too good for this film. At one point it sounds very similar to Mozart's Requiem. Together with the cinematography, it reminded me of the atmosphere of "The Machinist".
The only thing I didn't like about the cinematography is the use of digital camera, which was very obvious in numerous points throughout the movie.
Underrated, stylish chiller
bobhartshorn29 June 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Gabe Ibanez's stylish directorial debut is a stunning mystery-chiller concerning every parent's worst nightmare.
6 months after the disappearance of her son aboard a ferry to the island of El Hierro, young mother Maria (the excellent Elena Anaya) is summoned back to the volcanic environment after the body of a child is recovered from a watery grave...
To reveal any more of the plot would be performing a shameful disservice as this nifty genre piece has many twists and visual delights lying in wait for unsuspecting viewers. Cinematographer Alejandro Martinez's impressive widescreen compositions and washed out colours perfectly capture the atmosphere and feel of the protagonist's surroundings, turning the island into a character that appears to be manipulating the distraught Maria's emotions and sense of reality. A lengthy sequence on a deserted sun-drenched beach is executed to eerie, haunting effect creating a disturbing dream-into-nightmare set-piece.
Ibanez's measured pace and sure direction (with knowing nods to Lynch and Argento) bring proceedings swiftly and surely to a moving conclusion.
I feel the negative response from the Brit film-reviewing contingent re the 'signposted' twist-ending are somewhat missing the point, as the movie works perfectly well on it's own as a study of a traumatised individual going into meltdown. This isn't the tacky 'Gotcha-with-that-ending-didnt I?!!' M Night Charlatan wannabe that we've been lead to believe. No sir.
If I have any criticisms, i'd have to direct them at M de la Riva's Hermanesque score which, whilst being perfectly serviceable in it's own right, is often over-used to the point of obtrusiveness, particularly in scenes where the visuals and superb sound mixing are working perfectly well by themselves.
But that's a tiny discrepancy in an otherwise intelligent, first rate thriller. Ibanez is a name to watch.
6 months after the disappearance of her son aboard a ferry to the island of El Hierro, young mother Maria (the excellent Elena Anaya) is summoned back to the volcanic environment after the body of a child is recovered from a watery grave...
To reveal any more of the plot would be performing a shameful disservice as this nifty genre piece has many twists and visual delights lying in wait for unsuspecting viewers. Cinematographer Alejandro Martinez's impressive widescreen compositions and washed out colours perfectly capture the atmosphere and feel of the protagonist's surroundings, turning the island into a character that appears to be manipulating the distraught Maria's emotions and sense of reality. A lengthy sequence on a deserted sun-drenched beach is executed to eerie, haunting effect creating a disturbing dream-into-nightmare set-piece.
Ibanez's measured pace and sure direction (with knowing nods to Lynch and Argento) bring proceedings swiftly and surely to a moving conclusion.
I feel the negative response from the Brit film-reviewing contingent re the 'signposted' twist-ending are somewhat missing the point, as the movie works perfectly well on it's own as a study of a traumatised individual going into meltdown. This isn't the tacky 'Gotcha-with-that-ending-didnt I?!!' M Night Charlatan wannabe that we've been lead to believe. No sir.
If I have any criticisms, i'd have to direct them at M de la Riva's Hermanesque score which, whilst being perfectly serviceable in it's own right, is often over-used to the point of obtrusiveness, particularly in scenes where the visuals and superb sound mixing are working perfectly well by themselves.
But that's a tiny discrepancy in an otherwise intelligent, first rate thriller. Ibanez is a name to watch.
Elena Anaya will break your heart
Agnelin18 August 2011
"Hierro" is definitely worth a watch. It is by no means perfect -it is slow-paced, too slow-paced at times; it has random scenes and seemingly random characters that could have been further exploited; the nightmarish, surreal atmosphere that is hinted at in the first scenes never quite comes to fruition-, but it is a captivating experience for a viewer. Ultimately, what makes this movie a little sea pearl is the depth and the realism of the emotions that it conveys, mostly thanks to a stellar and very inspired Elena Anaya, who deserves every praise as the actress that carries the weight of this drama on her shoulders, and pulls it off masterfully.
In "Hierro", Elena Anaya stars as María, a young mother to 5-year-old Diego. On a ferry journey to the small Canary island of Hierro, Diego vanishes and no trace of him can be found. The first part of the movie is probably the best -we see the young mother whose life is centered around her only son, and then we witness her despair at her loss, and her fruitless attempts at recovering some kind of normalcy. These sequences in particular, with María bordering madness, are especially well-done. One day, María gets a call from the police in Hierro, asking her to return in order to check the identity of a body that could be that of Diego's. Back in Hierro, María will continue her quest for the lost son, in the middle of a desolate -but extremely beautiful- natural setting, and colorful but hostile locals...
While the story doesn't flow as naturally as desired, I never found it hard to follow, nor boring -I was mesmerized by the powerful emotional journey of this mother and for the mysteries that she finds along her way. The ending is very fitting and well-done. The final answer to the young mother's plight and whether it can be predicted or not doesn't matter as much as how she gets there and all the difficulties that she has to surmount, which made this a perdurable story in my mind.
My rating is 8/10.
In "Hierro", Elena Anaya stars as María, a young mother to 5-year-old Diego. On a ferry journey to the small Canary island of Hierro, Diego vanishes and no trace of him can be found. The first part of the movie is probably the best -we see the young mother whose life is centered around her only son, and then we witness her despair at her loss, and her fruitless attempts at recovering some kind of normalcy. These sequences in particular, with María bordering madness, are especially well-done. One day, María gets a call from the police in Hierro, asking her to return in order to check the identity of a body that could be that of Diego's. Back in Hierro, María will continue her quest for the lost son, in the middle of a desolate -but extremely beautiful- natural setting, and colorful but hostile locals...
While the story doesn't flow as naturally as desired, I never found it hard to follow, nor boring -I was mesmerized by the powerful emotional journey of this mother and for the mysteries that she finds along her way. The ending is very fitting and well-done. The final answer to the young mother's plight and whether it can be predicted or not doesn't matter as much as how she gets there and all the difficulties that she has to surmount, which made this a perdurable story in my mind.
My rating is 8/10.
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