Los renglones torcidos de Dios

Oriol Paulo appears in two of my Top Ten lists, so I expect nothing but the best from him. When it doesn't happen, like in this case, I tend to get frustrated, affecting my evaluation just like the domino effect. Paulo usually amuses me with a cleverly intricate story, in which I am not sure at the end if I am watching a movie or if the movie is watching me and I am just playing the role of the viewer. The director and screenwriter in one often uses the script to trick his audience, just like an experienced football player uses body feints. These intricacies were lacking this time, which was a problem for me. The topic of psychiatric institutions has already been explored in such great depth that I can't imagine how the filmmakers could possibly surprise me. Holding my full attention for such a long time (the running time was quite lengthy) was practically impossible. However, even though I didn't enjoy it thoroughly this time, it wasn't a complete disaster. / Lesson learned: Everyone is sane until they talk to a psychiatrist. (2023.01.29)

A tangled mess between the characters, the creators and the audience, so basically a classic Oriol Paulo. Fans will definitely get what they expect, but for me, the screenplay structure is so overwrought and, paradoxically, predictable in its unpredictability, that my viewing pleasure disappears. It's crammed with twists and turns, but the layering of one on top of the other could go on forever in this style, as long as the runtime would allow. Moreover, I found it somehow tedious, safely delivered, so that no viewer will get lost in it. (2022.12.13)

Oriol Paulo is GOD and he is back in championship form! It was looking like the Spaniards were fading, but then Spain's David Fincher comes in and makes one of the best films of the year for Netflix. The Invisible Guest meets American Horror Story - Asylum! A private investigator hatches a clever plan to infiltrate an insane asylum without anyone knowing her true identity in order to solve a murder that's been ruled a suicide. Of course, it doesn't go quite according to her plan, and you can look forward to a pretty nerve-wracking experience that will twist your correct theories several times over. Paulo benefits a lot from the attractive setting of the asylum – one of the best insane asylums ever filmed, by the way. Some of the people are properly creepy and some of them may be slightly uncomfortable. Even with a running time of 155 minutes, there are no dead spots, my attention was immediately captured by the director, who manipulated me and led me around with real precision. Bárbara Lennie is excellent, displaying admirable acting skills, entertaining with her intellect and manipulation, and reminding me of Raquel from Money Heist in appearance and expression, but the rest of the cast do a fine job as well. Paulo strictly follows his signature style with twist upon twist, perfect manipulation of the viewer where you doesn't know what to believe until the last minute, a wonderful mystery atmosphere where even a book lying on a table is mysterious, and multiple plot lines unfolding at once that fit together nicely like a puzzle. Watching it I had several heart attacks, sweaty ass, chills, goosebumps, anxiety and my mouth wide open (and Paulo didn't even need gore to satisfy me and that's what I call true art). I really have no complaints, the master is in perfect form and the brilliant script set in an uncomfortable environment with an attractive plot and good music is a hit. Perfection itself. 10/10, (2022.12.10)