THESIS (aka TESIS)
PLOT-While writing a college thesis on film violence, Angela stumbles upon a snuff film involving the death of a fellow student.
VIOLENCE-There are several scenes where Angela and her friend watch violent videotapes. There are scenes of executions, torture, and even a gutting by power saw (in which the intestines are shown in close-up). In addition, there's a few shootings and stabbings.
SEX/NUDITY-None that I can remember.
WHY I LIKED IT-The mere subject of "snuff" films arouses curiosity in many of us, and this movie explores that fascination with death inside us all. Like Paul Schrader's HARDCORE, and the more recent8mm, we're again dealing with a character whose obsession with uncovering a mystery leads them into dangerous territory. However, THESIS is the most realistic and un-Hollywood of the three. Filmed in Spanish by director Alejandro Amenabar (who went on to make the mind-boggling thriller ABRE LOS OJOS), the movie uses darkness and sounds to generate its scares. It's intense and creepy, and it touched a nerve with me several times.
DOWNSIDE-There are a couple holes in the plot, but nothing serious.
MEMORABLE SCENES-Unable to gather the nerve to view the snuff film, Angela records the audio and listens to it on her walkman. Having just the screams to go by, the audience is thus left to imagine what must be happening on the video.
NOTES-When Angela is looking at the list of camcorder purchases on the computer, director Amenabar's name appears amongst the others.