ASouthernHorrorFan "The Nameless" is a Spanish film that blends elements of psychological horror with Italian polizieschi (Italo-crime) while keeping with a traditional, modernistic iconoclasm of sorts. The film focuses on a fringe cult networked throughout the hidden realms of polite society, lurking in the shadows in order to manipulate and nurture the darker elements of fate by heralding in a sort of abysmal chaos that feeds on the sorrows of humanity. This film is directed by Jaume Balagueró and follows Claudia, a mother whom after the death of her daughter, tries desperately to put the pieces of her life back together. On the anniversary of the tragic abduction, and inevitable demise of the daughter, the mother struggles to hold things together as new sinister evidence comes to light that suggest a less fatal fate for the child. Events are brought to light that create an even darker nightmare for Claudia to endure in order gain the answers, and daughter that she desperately seeks. "The Nameless" begins with a very haunting, somber atmospheric surrealism that creates a hollow since of desperation, which carries strongly throughout the whole film. There is coldness and loss emanating in this film that pulls at the viewer emotionally. Unfortunately it is also meet with almost dull, humdrum-ness as the somber becomes numbness, which pulses into an almost boredom for the viewer as we long for some more thrilling material to give rise, and shed a darkened excitement to the movie. So basically for the first third of this film you are required to have patients because this is a story that marinates before it climaxes. And this movie does have some minor climaxes that begin in the middle of the film. It is an intense plot that opens up a whole new realm of social perversion and lack of awareness of the people we share our social spaces with. Much like Italian giallos tend to do, "The Nameless" builds with a mournful nature, almost mesmerizing the as the mother's story unfolds. The twisted enlightenment that she gains, in searching for her daughter, opens up a whole new sense of heartfelt dread when the true circumstances of her daughter's situation come to light. Soon we are given gory, and thrilling elements that make the long wait worthwhile. The suspense is a steady, low pulse almost until the end of the film, with only those minor climaxes that fluctuate within the story. The gruesome actions displayed during this psychological ebb 'n' flow are gory and rewarding. The subtext, and the subject matter both create an unnerving quality, that makes the anticipation of what will come next truly exciting. Plus the blunt, quick finality of it all is super climactic. "The Nameless" is not for all, however. If you are a fan of slow-moving, emotional melodramas that play with elements of horror, giallo, and thriller, with a steady heartbeat, then this film is worth checking out. There is a lot of character driven drama with minimal scenes of actual gory horror in this movie so be warned, if your are seeking the over- the-top giallo, filled with all things gruesome. This film is more of a rated –R story, more typical to TV movies than theatrical release, save the fact that it puts the subject matter, and intent in your face with bluntness. Also the scenes of death and fatal ending that some of the cast meet would never make it on television.-well not American television and never with such point blank actuality. I enjoyed this movie but it took the entire length of the film to appreciate the depth and character that this movie holds.

fuelrod ... because it's a perfect recipe on how to make an awful movie: First you screen the last 40 years of horror movies and pick out the worst and most repeated clichés. Then you mix and put them together randomly, and if this mix makes just the hint of a meaningful plot... you remix. When you have a script with no meaning or logic at all you progress to the next step.The actors. If you can't find amateur theatrical actors, you will probably have to pay professionals to over-act like it was a junior high school parents play: They cry, they shout, they make funny (scary ??) faces and strange looks with their eyes, they break down, they pretend with all means from their body language, they cry again, pretend again... and on... and on again.Then you will need a sound design and a sound track. Because you have decided that this is a horror movie, you off cause need violins playing and strange, SCAAAAAAARY sounds. And a lot of it! Actually, you need so much of it that there isn't no room for it in the movie. But don't worry - you just toss it in. Don't care whether or not the sound fits what happens on the screen - you just turn up the master volume so loud that it shocks the audience when effects or music starts. It's a horror movie... so it's OK.Now you are so deep into the production process that you have reached the point of no return. Despite the fact that you have realized that the ingredients have no taste, and the dish will end up with no flavor at all, you try to save it by using some spices.You hire an artist to make an impressive set design: Strange, abandon houses with mysterious interior, decorations and symbols. But the artist can't help you with a new problem: How to connect this design with the story? Then you try a last way out: The picture. You find a skilled cinematographer who shoots the film beautiful, and one of your tech guys turns out to be a true magician when it comes to color grading.You screen your final cut and realize that using the spices was in vain: The fine visual style of the movie turns pretentious when it's made to cover up a bad movie... like to much make up on bad skin.To give yourself an artistic excuse for making and releasing the movie, you decide to make a new end, and a new title to the movie. The common factor of the movie, the title and the final scene is now the total lack of meaning...--- This movie is a serious contender to the title of the worst movie ever made. It's a must see - must have: You can't conclude that you have seen a bad movie before you a seen this one. It has set a new standard for movies released for cinemas.

nycritic Somehow, because of the success of movies like SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and SEVEN, some directors have jumped into the bandwagon and have come up with bad imitations of what psychological horror should be. Then again, maybe we should also blame H. P. Lovecraft for this as well, because a man who had a knack for creating pessimistic tales where unspeakable evils were unleashed in the name of Some Freaky God would eventually garner followers. And why not? People gravitate to what they relate to best. Lovecraft himself imitated Poe on several of his own stories, and Stephen King has reworked many horror classics without batting an eye.The thing is, not everyone can be as successful, and if you're going to create something our of a Lovecraftian universe (to mention a clichéd expression), it had better be truly horrific or it will be lost in translation. THE NAMELESS tells a story that visually starts out well but soon looses steam and ends up a complete mess. A girl is kidnapped and her body is found in a deep well, horribly burned beyond recognition. Only a physical deformity remains the identifying link -- one leg was four inches shorter. The mother grieves, her marriage soon disintegrates... and then, some time later, she receives a call. It's her daughter. She's alive.An interesting premise, but from here on the story becomes less and less horrific and more and more a by-the-numbers investigation which somehow never seems to involve the police (because of course, we need to place the heroine and the morally wounded cop back in the land of Fear). The fact that these two characters wind up where they do, and that the story unveils its bland denouement after so much build-up (with talks of "synthesizing" evil into some fantastic entity and a cataclysmic event, which winds up being a lot of mumbo-jumbo) is what makes THE NAMELESS fail: everyone moves according to plot requirement. If you're going to do a story that is supposedly that twisted, it had better drip conscious malice and make people squeamish. ROSEMARY'S BABY did just that in 1968 and nary a drop of blood to be seen. Hell (no pun intended), even THE OMEN, a rather mediocre movie about another Satanic plot, fares better. None of the "nameless" look particularly that dangerous, either -- little more than druggies who get their kicks smelling glue and cutting themselves to ease the pain. Would it that any of them could strike the menace that Mrs Baylock or those dotty Castevets did. Maybe Ramsey Campbell will like it. Assuming he understands Spanish.

HumanoidOfFlesh Claudia Gifford is traumatized after police find the brutally murdered body of her daughter Angela.But five years later she receives a phone call from Angela,saying she is alive and that 'they' only wanted Claudia to believe that she was dead.Joined by retired detective Bruno Massera,Claudia follows a trail of clues that Angela urges her to take.But in so doing they realize that Angela is an innocent that has been chosen for sacrifice by a cult that practice ecstatic salvation through ultimate perversion."The Nameless" by Jaume Balaguero is based on Ramsey Cambell's novel "The Pact of the Fathers".The film actually won various awards at Sitges, Fantasporto and Brussels fantastic/horror film festivals.Balaguero easily creates extremely dark atmosphere and the use of light and shadows is certainly impressive.The acting is great and the climax is shockingly effective.Overall,I'd highly recommend this film for anyone interested in horror genre.9 out of 10.