Synopsis
“Verónica” is a supernatural horror movie from Spain released in 2017, directed by Paco Plaza, who is known for his work on the [REC] series. It is based on a controversial case in Spain known as the Vallecas case which took place in 1991, where a teenage girl was suspected to be involved in a death after a séance. Despite the fact that Verónica is a fictional film, it has surely captured the essence of the dark suspense that surrounds the real-life case, making it one of the most iconic pieces of Spanish horror cinema in recent years.
The movie is set in Madrid in the early 1990s. It tells the story of Verónica, a high school student who is 15 years old and lives with her mother who is widowed and works tirelessly to put food on the table for her three younger siblings named Lucía, Irene, and Antoñito. As a single parent, Ana is overworked and spends most of the day away at a bar, which gives Verónica the upperhand in taking care of the household. This leads to a severe emotional burden on her, as she tries to juggle the turbulence of teenage years, coming to terms with her father’s death, and life lacking any real meaning.
The narrative commences from a solar eclipse where Verónica and her friends Rosa and Diana conduct a séance using a Ouija board. Their aim is to communicate with Verónica’s late father. Unfortunately, things do not unfold as planned. During the séance, the glass on the Ouija board shatters and Verónica passes out, seemingly heralding the onset of some supernatural force.
Orchestrating chaos into her once orderly life, shocking visions, shadowy figures begin to haunt her apartment, and she observes paranormal phenomena like objects levitating. More perplexing is the fact that a sinister force seems particularly interested in her younger sibling Antoñito. To save her siblings and sanity, Verónica attempts to understand this entity that has been unleashed and seeks methods to contain it. During her pursuit, she learns from a blind nun ‘Sister Death,’ a former resident of the school who thinks that she has in fact released an evil spirit.
As Her friends begin to pull away and her mother remains ignorant to the otherworldly peril, Verónica becomes more and more isolated, causing the tension to grow. Additionally, the spirits become increasingly violent. Determined to undo the damage, Verónica tries to finish off what is essentially a séance reversal. However, this only appears to further infuriate the spirit.
The film’s climactic scene showcases a terrifying final battle between Verónica and the spirit who is possessing her. Out of desperation to save her siblings, Verónica performs a final ritual utilizing a Ouija board, locking herself into a room as the haunting reaches its zenith. The police find her in a deeply unconscious state, and she eventual dies in a hospital under unclear circumstances. The movie wraps up with actual police documents and recordings that bolster its relation to the Vallecas case, which gives an unsettling, documentary-style quality that captivates the audience and sticks with them long after.
Cast & Crew
The strong performances alongside the capable production team makes Verónica a successful film. The primary cast and crew are as follows:
Sandra Escacena as Verónica: Escacena’s performance in the film captures the emotional complexity of a teenager grappling with a force she does not fully comprehend; Escacena wonderfully balances courage and vulnerability, both of which are essential for the character’s believability.
Bruna González as Lucía: Verónica’s younger sister. González captures the essence of the role, which helps to enhance the dread of the supernatural events toward her.
Claudia Placer as Irene: Another of Verónica’s siblings. Her interactions with Verónica bring warmth to the film, which makes the subsequently wrought horrors all the more harrowing.
Iván Chavero as Antoñito: Verónica’s youngest sibling. He is also the most defenseless to the onslaught of the entity’s rage. His naive child perspective Deepens the emotional investment to the plot.
Ana Torrent as Ana: Verónica’s mother. Her performance, albeit brief, is profound, notably in light of her legacy in Spanish cinema, including The Spirit of the Beehive.
Consuelo Trujillo as Sister Death: Sister Death provides insight to Verónica about the spiritual ailments that impact her life. Sister Death relies on symbols when guiding Verónica, enhancing the story’s gothic elements through her ominous presence.
Director: Paco Plaza – Plaza directed the REC series alongside Jaume Balagueró. He is known for intertwining psychological horror with gritty realism, a style which he brought to Verónica.
Writers: Paco Plaza, Fernando Navarro – The script centers around the development of a single, intricate plot and details the trials of adolescence and grief, as well as domestic horror.
Cinematographer: Pablo Rosso – The use of light and shadow, as well as careful framing, builds tension throughout the narrative, enhancing the suspenseful atmosphere of the claustrophobic apartment.
Music: Chucky Namanera – While simple, the score elevates the film’s quieter, contemplative sections—introspection that is frequently overwhelmed by music.
IMDb Ratings
The film’s reception is mirrored in the approximately 6.2/10 score on IMDb. Though not without its detractors, the film is praised by fans of atmospheric horror, who appreciate subtlety and depth over overt jump-scares.
As some film reviewers have remarked, the emotional qualities of the film are seamlessly interwoven with horror components. Unlike most horror films that emphasize gore or visual spectacle, Verónica is more psychological in nature. Its scares stem from the tension, atmosphere, and the prospect of relinquishing control—emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Moreover, many reviewers noted the praise that her performance received, especially given that it was her debut film role.
That being said, some critiques revolve around the overused portions of the film, such as the use of an Ouija board, and the ambiguous conclusion that does not resolve all questions posed in the narrative. Furthermore, audiences eager to watch horror at a frantic pace might be frustrated by the film’s sluggish moments.
Nevertheless, these critques do not overshadow the film’s accolades. Viewers have lauded Paco Plaza’s direction, describing it as a return to form and a fresh perspective on the haunted-house subgenre. With an engaging atmosphere and sense of dread alongside a powerful emotional core, Verónica earns its reputation as a haunting and memorable film.
Conclusion
Unlike many films in the horror genre, which rely on excessive amounts of gore or jump scares, Verónica uses a well-cultivated atmosphere and an emotionally grounded narrative to draw the viewers in. The film incorporates the real-life context of the Vallecas case to provide a chilling plausibility to its narrative, and Sandra Escacena’s performance makes the film more than just another horror movie.
Combining elements of character study with those of a supernatural thriller, Verónica delves into how trauma, grief, and emotional neglect can give way to dark forces, whether real or imagined. While the film’s moderately low IMDb rating indicates that it may not have been well received by all segments of the audience, its cult status has steadily increased over the years, securing its recognition as a noteworthy masterpiece within contemporary Spanish horror cinema.
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