The Similars

The Similars.jpg

Written and directed by Isaac Ezban, The Similars is a 2015 Mexican supernatural thriller, although the Spanish-speaking audience here on Steemit may know it as Los Parecidos.

Set in 1968, and filmed in colour but with a very dark tone, The Similars takes place on the night of an enormous rainstorm, causing the inhabitants of a bus station to seek shelter there until the storm dies down.

Focusing on character development, each character is obscure, seemingly hiding something, and definitely very interesting. The film's characters are excellent, and really keep you engaged, constantly searching for answers behind their weird ways. To my surprise, that feeling stayed with me throughout the entire film.

Trapped inside this bus station, the characters slowly turn on each other, slowly begin to crumble and fight, but that's not where the film really shines at all. Where it shines is in its ability to be so spectacularly weird and unexpected. The real threat is an unexplained force, slowly turning the characters' faces into the face of another character. As you'd expect, this causes a lot of panic among them. A lot of questions raised towards that one character; is he a demon? Is he the devil in disguise? Just what exactly is happening here?

Those questions stick with you. They begin to become your questions, almost as if you are yourself there in that situation. You are becoming similar. It's utterly thrilling in all the right ways, and the film's dark tone keeps that feeling of inevitable despair with you, making you think that the questions will never be answered, that slowly, one by one, each person will crumble and become the same.

The Similars feels like classic horror. It feels so fresh, so unique, and its horror is just so strange. It's a film that exceeds all expectations, especially with such a small budget. It's an intelligent film that has you longing for much more like it.

A film that starts with imagery of torrential rain falling from the sky upon an unseen scene sets the tone like nobody else’s business.

We’re going to be in for a bleak, dramatic tale. It isn’t an ordinary rain, it is almost a flood. Dark, foreboding and lingering; there’s an obsession on water in the opening sequence of the film.

The film has a grubby, retro feel about its pictures, and sets the scene well. 1968 is when our movie is set, and we’re inside a station, waiting for a bus that heads to the land of tequila, Mexico. We meet an angry, violent man who seems to have no patience at all, a frenzied woman, and they speak about their desires to travel to Mexico.

Oh, and there’s an old lady muttering incomprehensible nothings in the corner. It seems that storms bring out the baggage and troubles in everyone. The only person having a normal time is the bloke who works at the ticket stand. He likes pretty girls, and has pictures of them all around his office. Painted through the muted colours, and vintage set dressing, we get a film noir feel.

The characters seem to become more troubled than initial impressions allow, and a few swift tragedies help to build that notion. Then, there’s a prolonged seizure for the bathroom attendant. All of a sudden, there’s more to pile on top of the crazy situation; as another three people rock up, one of which is a child on a who looks like a machine, led by a tracheotomy to provide ventilation.

It’s Lord of the Flies; in a bus station, except everybody starts out pretty insane instead of slowly developing a loosening group on sanity. The film keeps you intrigued as horror and tension builds. If you don’t speak Spanish, like me, you will need to read subtitles, which immediately precludes the general film going public from truly enjoying this truly fucked situation unfold.

It is a shame, because what unfolds is true horror; and raises legitimate questions of how. The why is secondary, as it is truly wonderful watching people react to an unbelievable situation.

The Similars is dark, and doesn’t leave speculation to the audience; it is not the sort of horror you normally experience, filled with cheesy soundtracks, and shrieking strings as something suddenly springs onto screen. It is the kind of horror that will keep you awake at night.

Watch it. Alone. That is how horror is best experienced.

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