El ciclo (2003) User Reviews

Disturbing

[movieman_kev · 8/10 · 27 October 2005]

Having some free time on my hands I decided to watch some short films on Atomfilms. "El Ciclo" (or "The Cycle") makes Victor Garcia one to watch. The movie is not much to write home about plot-wise, but it more than makes up for it with disturbing imagery and a sense of dread throughout. Jacob Torres is very suitable for this tale of a guy trapped in a deep dark dank basement with a secret to hide. The short is claustrophobic and has an air of sadness to it. I'm on a role with 3 great shorts, now having said that watch the next one I see and review likely be awful. But such is life. Anyway back to the short at hand. Kudos to you, Victor and I hope your upcoming "Smoke" movie can fulfill on this shorts major promise.

My Grade: A

Very well made

[migueltravert · 10/10 · 24 August 2005]

A very well made short that well deserved to win last year's Screamfest. This is one director to watch for as he will almost certainly become one of the cult names for the genre. Set in a claustrophobic atmosphere, it drags the viewer from beginning to end without ever letting go of tension. Great special effects and brilliant photography add up to an already very intriguing storyline. Screamfest always brings up interesting new talent, more than other festivals worldwide, and movies like this also bring hope to a genre that has been pretty stagnant. This guy's Spanish and Spain is indeed producing a whole new generation of movie directors. Jacob Torres is also an excellent choice for the main character. Certainly look forward to see what Victor Garcia has next to tell.

in basement

[Kirpianuscus · 14 November 2023]

I liked its precise simplicity, the fair use of metaphor, metalic blue atmosphere, the metamorphose and the beautiful acting of Jacob Torres.

The minimalism works more than well and the thrill - mistery- tension are admirable constructed moment by moment.

A man living in a basement. Naked cleaning a gun and himself after a presumed murder.

But the truth is darker and exactly this revelation is the basic virtue of the work of Victor Garcia.

A film about roots of loneliness, realistic in good and subtle measure, proposing nice lesson about apparences and about high price of change. So, maybe not exactly a story. But a remind.