fordraff The plot of this film is ultimately undecipherable. You'll have more luck figuring out "Finnegan's Wake." Were I to see this film several more times, I still would not be able to determine what is reality, what is fantasy, what is taking place in real time, what is taking place in imaginative time. There are flashbacks within flashbacks until chaos reigns. Entire plot lines, such as that of Jareño, are unrelated to others. The opening sequence will certainly draw you into the film, but it has virtually nothing to do with the main characters in the film. Both Javier and Felix could be described as the film's protagonist; whose story is this? I can't imagine that many people would stay with the film more than twenty minutes, thirty minutes at the most. I stayed with the film, naively thinking that in the denouement all of the pieces of plot would come clear. Unfortunately, this is not the case.The revelation made in the climax about the character Jacinto is something most viewers will probably be able to predict from the moment Jacinto first comes unto the screen. (I agree with another commentator here; watch the Adam's apple.) This character transformation (shall I say?) has been used in a number of films. And the plot device of having someone get away with murder has become ordinary. Just as in Woody Allen's new film, "Match Point," a coincidence here allows the real killer to go uncharged with the crime.The credits are a direct steal from Saul Bass's credits from "Vertigo," and the music is imitative of Bernard Herrmann's score for the same film, which led me to expect something far more than this film delivers.Save yourself a rental fee and a headache as well.

hidalgo-4 Following in dialogue with the comments of the previous reviewer I will start saying that most films convey the prejudices of the society where they come from. As Bishonen has already mentioned, this film is quite homo-phobic, but you don't notice this until the end. Actually, it is difficult to put all the strings together until the end, and still, they don't all fit nicely. The tension of the drama is broken several times because the film appears to have been heavily edited thus missing a few important components.Yet, probably because of the editing too the film presents just the best acted scenes. They are indeed very well done, with a play of characters that is a pleasure to watch. The movie is sexy without taking too much time showing physical bodies engaged in sex (the first scene is the longest one). The essence of the movie's sexuality is captured in the powerful sexual urges that the protagonists have trapped within themselves, making them their slaves, and the main appeal of the movie.The thriller side of the movie was only good when it was linked with the issue of sexuality. Otherwise it was ordinary, probably because the scrip tried too hard to always hide the true identity of the killer, thus, giving little space for the observer to get deeply caught in the web of tensions.An interesting thing about the movie's narrative is that a story-maker (I say maker because in addition to a story-writer, he also "made" stories) resulted smarter and more cunning than businessmen, sharp detectives and even the "evil" people who were trying to hurt him. He even appears as too "innocent" throughout the film. In most other films when someone is having too much fun and trying to get away with it, at the end such person pays with interests. In this film, however, the conclusion plays out differently.I also felt betrayed at the end when I noticed the strong homophobic sentiment of the movie. It just shows how the Spanish society continues being so conservative. Like the prejudices behind this movie, the first negative reactions in Spain to the movie "Bad Education," where the main actors behave homosexually and bisexually, just serves to prove that a large number of people in Spain are still trapped by the sexual mores of the Catholic Church.But besides the issue of homosexuality, the smoking like chimneys, and the fact that the thriller could have been made better, the movie is one of the best in its genre. I specially liked Victoria Abril's performance. In Abril, the movie took a thirty-something women and made her the sexual object and the central sexual figure of the narrative. This contrasts with Hollywood's productions in which most females playing such roles are teenagers, twenty-something, or extremely glamorous. I think this movie illustrates by contrast how the U.S. society is so obsessed with youth, to the detriment of older women in particular.

DakKi Oh yes. She has proved us once again that she is a godess. Not only can she act, but she (or/and her people) have the amazing ability to choose the films she acts in. This erotic thriller is one of a kind, a good smelling poutporri (or however you spell it) of the most popular spanish directors of the 90´s: Almodobar (All About My Mother, Live Flesh), Amenabar (Thesis, Open Your Eyes), etc.. etc.. etc... Go see it, if you like strong movies with great plot twists and good acting. Definately a winner. If I were a jury in a festival, it would´ve taken ALL the prizes.

490318 This film is very interesting for those who likes sexi-thrillers, Miss Abril reinforces herself as a super spanish star, and as usual, she fills the screen with a strong personality that communicates with the audience not only with a superb performance but with her eyes, voice, and as the film title calls, with her legs.It could be the best use for 4 bucks! (Standard ticket price in México)