Veronica

There's a particular notion circling the horror depth of Veronica lately. It's safe to say that the mainstream isn't aware of filmmaking as an art, and unfortunately, Veronica is suffering as a result of viewers claiming it's downright terrifying, to downright terrible as a result of another person's hype not holding its weight on others.

The truth is, Veronica sits nicely in the middle. While it has its relatively spooky moments, it's far from terrifying, and its unique take on telling the story is boasting with creative filmmaking that keeps it afloat as an interesting, well-made horror worth the experience.

In comparison with many modern horror films, Veronica sticks to a typical narrative: the use of a Ouija board yields unexpected results in the form of hauntings and ghostly manipulation. However, once again, the way in which the story is filmed is what makes the film stand out. There's the occasional minor jumpscare, but Veronica uses some creative shots to establish eerie moments, as well as setting to allow emotion to carry the vast majority of the film.

One particular use of the camera that stood out was its use alongside mirrors; with our opening scene establishing a police detective driving up to the apartment building, opening his door, and being told the exact apartment building number by another officer, all made clear through the reflection of a car door's side-mirror.

This unique opening makes it clear that this film intends to be a more arthouse approach to the horror genre, although many will ignore that and consider it yet another film that should be riddled with jumpscares, boring characters, and a flawed plot.

Its use of mirrors and reflections work alongside its narrative of 'something being on the other side', it displays multiple perspectives from characters, but also this hint of a perspective from this otherworldly apparition. This approach to scene transitions worked well alongside the narrative, often giving us the feeling of being an intruder as we observe from strange, outcast angles.

Stepping away from the film's camerawork, being a Spanish film, Veronica takes pride in its culture and setting: a 90's family in which a single-mother is constantly working, providing income as the eldest child takes care of the younger children in a small apartment. An almost middle-class family perspective of life.

Veronica is well-crafted, with a wonderful use of colours, cinematography, and generous attention to detail. While its narrative doesn't stand out, its dedication to being unique certainly does. The experience as a result has you wanting much more from director Paco Plaza, who previously filmed the famous zombie-like horror REC (2007).

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