Morgue (2019)

Good afternoon and happy Monday!

Mulling over my movie options this weekend, I settled for one I’ve never heard of. I have a lot to say about this one but found it difficult to rate. Rarely do I find myself in these situations but not all is black and white. Most reviews were mixed so I decided to take it upon myself to seal the casket.

Morgue was released on August 22nd, 2019 and directed, written, and produced by Hugo Cardozo. Why I was mostly pulled towards the film was that it was made and based in Encarnacion, Paraguay. Not much else is known about the film other than it was quite low budget, the small cast, was #1 in Paraguay for 2 consecutive weeks. According to Cardozo, this film is based on real events. The film stars Pablo Martinez as the main character. The film runs 81 minutes long.

The film follows Diego, a security guard, who takes up a gig at the Regional Hospital of Encarnacion after a disturbing and unexpected accident hoping to turn his luck around. His gig is quite simple: stay put and watch the cameras. A series of paranormal occurrences begin as he is left alone with a body and quickly discovers this was no coincidence.

The movie at first is naturally progressing, the cool tones surrounding the film greatly support the atmosphere, breathtaking cinematography (some, if not, the best angles/shots/transitions I’ve ever seen in a horror movie!), blunt yet natural and fantastic acting, realistic setting and story are the best points of the film. The impressive angles give you real life understanding of the character’s fear. I must admit that as a mortician I was enthralled by the death touch and some of the morgue scenes tugged at my heart strings. I can also personally relate to the feeling of being alone in a mortuary…

The use of technology is prominent but not overly done making it a comfortable experience. The score was incredibly organic. Emotion was very heavy and it was an element that was greatly focused on throughout the film. 

However, some of the pros have a flip side. The scenes the movie heavily relies on don’t pick up fast enough. Build ups are slow and can be frustrating at times. One can appreciate the sound effects and straight-to-the-point scores/soundtrack but they could be amplified. This could have been the crutch the movie needed. I was also okay to take a 5-10 minute break in the middle of the movie to answer incoming texts which is never a good sign during any movie. There were some scenes that were unnecessarily long, as well. Silence in the movie was a fantastic element but there were times you almost wish Diego spoke to himself every now and then.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad movie. In fact, I think it did a lot right that other movies should take notes on. It’s one I would certainly defend but I’d understand why others wouldn’t. The movie ties up well leaving you slightly relieved and you can appreciate the lesson at the end. It’s quite reminiscent of Devil (2010). As stellar as the visuals were, the plot is what does it for me.

My general rating is 4.5/10. Based on:

-Cinematography

-Themes

-Based on real life events

-Viewer’s experience

-Acting

-Simply being a Latino movie

I recommend this film if you’re a cinematography geek, have an interest in the supernatural, value visuals, are interested in real events, have a curiosity for death, and possess the patience of a saint to sit through the film. It’s a movie to watch on your own or with friends. I do want to caution there is a rape scene towards the end. You can’t see it very well as the room is almost entirely black but it’s certainly there and implied.

Thanks for reading! Next movie I’ll review is one I watched a very long time ago that recently gained attention (hint: found footage). Otherwise, I have some films friends suggested I watch that I will get to soon. You may still send suggestions to continue building my list. In the meantime, you can find me on Facebook or HelloPoetry.

Stay safe and make wise decisions!

-CL