We Are What We Are (Somos Lo Que Hay 2010)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1620604/

A deeply moving cannibal film? Gotta be honest with you - I never thought Id hear those sentiments together never mind actually consider that they would be accurate but seeing the trailer for Jorge Michel Grau's We Are What We Are (Somos Lo Que Hay), Im thinking that it may not only be possible but very likely.

Graus film focuses on a family struggling to survive after the patriarch is killed on the street. But this isnt a matter of simple survival for you see, the family consumes human flesh, meat that the now dead father used to provide. Without it, theyre bound to die. So you have a tender tale of a familys struggle for survival mixed in with the horror of cannibalism. Its such a simple twist to turn drama into horror that Im surprised its never been done before.

I only have one note on this trailer: the sound designits bloody excellent.

We begin with tragedy, with a man comfortably past middle age spitting up blood and collapsing dead in the middle of a busy public walkway. Though he is a nondescript man - such a nobody that he is simply dragged away by local cleaners and the police never bother any serious attempt at identifying him - he is quite important in the lives of the three teenaged children he leaves behind and the spouse he leaves a widow.

That the family is left bereaved is nothing surprising, this is a normal consequence of a death but it cuts a little deeper here. You see, this family has a difference, they follow strict, cannibalistic religious rites and with Father gone they are thrown into complete disarray. Who will perform the rites? What - i.e. who - will they eat? And who is going to do the hunting?

And so, much like Let The Right One In, what we have here is a film built on a horror premise - and this does, indeed, become quite horrific - but which is as much, if not more, a family drama and teen coming of age story. For the mantle of leadership, it seems, must fall on Alfredo, an introverted teen who wants nothing to do with the responsibility but must take on the mantle if his family is to survive despite the objections of his mother and moderately sociopathic brother.

Beautifully shot and constructed, Grau builds a truly unique animal here, a film that is entirely its own. Though I've heard comments from some Spanish-speakers here that the performances are uneven I personally found the four principal actors - the three teenaged children and their mother - excellent, in particular the young man who played Alfredo. There's a natural stillness to him that serves him - and the film - well throughout the entire picture, a natural demeanor that hints at all sorts of depths to be plumbed.

First Review
http://twitchfilm.net/reviews/2010/05/guadalajara-2010-somos-lo-que-hay-we-ar...

A horror film by Jorge Michel Grau, 2010.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1664036/

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Jorge Michel Grau
• horro film
• trailer
• dirctor
• Mexico
• cinema

[MsScotland82]

Got off to a slow start but really worth it. Creepy as and very twisted. Well worth a watch, let's just hope we don't get another unintelligent glossy american remake!!

[niall29]

@loukatmi Well thankfully the critics disagree with you, it got 84% on rotten tomatoes and a 94% approval rating by audiences who saw it. So whilst you are entitled to your opinion, in this case it doesnt count as you are just plain wrong. Go watch Van Damme or whatever shit you are into.

[reyfuego360]

I watched this movie just now and it was very dark and somewhat disturbing but overall it was a decent horror movie idk wtf type of satanic ritual da family was into but 4 a Mexican horror film it was good u don't see 2 many Mexican horror films well not as good as Guillermo Del Toro's films ne way. But interesting movie well acted and well shot I kinda do believe there are sick ass cannibals out there walking among us

[evelynrose75]

Anyone know where I can find the woman singing on the subway? Can't seem to locate the soundtrack or the singer anywhere...