“It’s not just a lullaby. It’s… a prophecy… an omen.”
Plagued with a darkness of the heart, María José (Macarena Gómez) is prepared to face the end of her life when she is visited by a strange girl. As residents in her village begin to suffer horrific deaths, María José is accused of summoning an evil that has been whispered as local legend for generations and must confront her own past or risk fulfilling a prophecy that would bring about the end of the world.
With Everyone will burn (Y Todos Arderán), David Hebrero offers a film that, while not particularly original, is cool and makes way for a rather enjoyable finale.
You don’t always have to revolutionize a genre to make a cool movie
Everyone will burn is a little difficult to classify. One might say it’s a horror film. But it’s not really scary and it’s not really disgusting. You might say that a horror film that doesn’t fulfill either of these 2 roles probably isn’t worthwhile. Normally, I’d say yes. But David Hebrero’s feature is worth a look.
María José (Macarena Gómez)
The meeting between the two main characters – both women – makes for a fine moment of cinema. What better way to intrigue viewers than with a woman on the verge of suicide and a little girl with psionic powers who wants to save her?
In fact, the opening scene is one of the highlights of the film, ending with a spontaneous combustion. Well, not that spontaneous, but still.
Some myths that wouldn’t be allowed here
A certain unease remains when watching this Spanish film. I think there are some details that wouldn’t be acceptable here. For example, the plot revolves around the myth that dwarf children are creatures of the devil. Demons who would be on earth to sow chaos and pave the way for the devil. Just like mentally retarded children.
Hebrero doesn’t use one of these children, but one of each. And what’s most shocking is that the little girl is indeed an envoy of the devil. But the film remains well-crafted, and the moments of murder and violence are well done. Just think of the boy who is forced to shove his fist deep into his mouth…
A little more…
Visually, the director opts for an image that reflects the period in which the story takes place, i.e. the end of the last century. This somewhat bland image creates the impression of a somewhat remote environment. A place where religion still holds sway over the people, and where aberrant beliefs can indeed exist.
The opening scene, with the burning character standing in the middle of the road, and the final scene, are the two highlights of the film. And because the beginning and end are so solid, we’re willing to accept that the rest of the movie is less spectacular. And despite everything, the experience remains highly satisfying.
I’d put Everyone will burn in the “why not” category.
