User:BChinookCH47/sandbox/The Wasteland

The Wasteland (Spanish: El páramo), also known during the production stage as The Beast, is a 2022 Spanish horror drama film directed by David Casademunt from a screenplay by Casademunt, Fran Menchón, and Martí Lucas. The film stars Inma Cuesta, Asier Flores, and Roberto Álamo. It was released on Netflix on 6 January 2022.

Plot
Diego is a boy who lives with his parents in a shack in the middle of nowhere. His mother, Lucía, is kind, while his father, Salvador, is stern and solemn. One evening, Diego's father tells him about a beast that follows a person around and feeds on their fear.

One day, the family finds a badly injured man in a boat. Salvador attempts to heal the man. The man wanders into the shack and picks up a rifle, pointing it at Diego and Lucía. A gunshot is heard, and the man is seen, shot in the head. While going through his belongings, they find a family portrait. That night, Diego's father tells him about his sister, who saw the beast at their home. Salvador, who cannot see the beast, tells Diego that if anyone spots it, their life becomes hopeless. Salvador decides to go find the man's family on his own.

Over the following days, Lucía sees a presence approaching the shack each night; Diego doesn't see it. His mother begins to act erratically and cuts off her hair. She tells Diego that the presence is outside and pushes him out, telling him the beast desires her. Diego forces his way back into the shack and finds his mother badly injured on the floor. He then sees the beast walking towards them. Diego eventually finds enough courage to face the beast; he picks up a gun and shoots at it. He then sets the shack on fire and drags his mother outside. He puts her in a wheelbarrow and wheels towards the river, only to find out that she has died. He floats her body down the river and walks purposefully away.

Why It Sucks

 * 1) Despite its working title, the beast itself does not appear until later in the film.
 * 2) The film ends with Diego walking away from the house after Lucía dies and Salvador doesn’t return, which may be considered a cliffhanger.
 * 3) The one scene where Lucía slaughters the rabbit is very violent and scary to watch, even when you only see a shadow of it.
 * 4) The plot may appear confusing and does not appear scary or entertaining.

Redeeming Qualities

 * 1) Diego is shown to be brave, as he confronts the beast by shooting it one time before burning it and the house.
 * 2) The film has great cinematography, despite the poor plot.

Reception
The film received mixed to negative reviews from audiences and currently holds a 1.9 rating.

Reviewing for Cinemanía, Miguel Ángel Romero gave the film 3 out of 5 stars and considered that Inma Cuesta and Asier Flores reflect the delicacy of the human mind. He also pointed out that the film helps in the visibility of mental illnesses at a time when mental health advocacy is paramount.

Raquel Hernández Luján of HobbyConsolas gave it 68 out of 100 points, considering the atmosphere, the performances, and the musical score to be the best about the film, while negatively assessing that the film features repetitive parts and moments in which the internal logic is compromised.

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