Veronica (II) (2017) User Reviews

Veronica screening at Guadalajara international film festival

[JairHCastillo · 5/10 · 17 March 2017]

During Guadalajara international film festival 2017, I had the opportunity to attend the screening of this movie.

In the film, we follow a reclusive psychologist living in a lonely cabin in the middle of the woods, that decides to take as a patient a seeming disturbed young woman, as the therapeutically sessions move forward a mystery of childhood traumas unravels

Now, that is a premise is not very often heard in Mexican cinema, this psychological thriller revives true hope in new stories and new themes for the Mexican film industry and most important to its audience.

Finally, I must mention that from a technical standpoint the movie is very good, shot in beautiful black & white and with excellent camera work.

Kudos to all the staff involved in the making of this film, for taking chances to bring something else to Mexican cinema.

Similarities and differences with the other Veronica

[bahamut20 · 5/10 · 30 March 2018]

There is no way to talk about these movies, the two Veronicas, without spoilers. Interestingly enough, they share a common twist at the end. Plus, they are both weak before that point. I think this one in particular is weak due to the characters lacking depth and development. Given the minimal amount of characters in the film, the sin is dire. The plot has some holes on top of that. But the end, I think, is strong and interesting. The fact that the original screenplay had male characters and then they just switched their genders shows. The story is harder to believe as it was shot, perhaps because it is a very rare occurrence that needs a deeper explanation in the case of women, on account of how rare it is, in my opinion.

Low budget Mexican thriller of the different kind...

[DukeEman · 6/10 · 3 October 2017]

Technically this is a brilliant film. Only downfall is its analytic approach to the subject matter of duel personalities, which is a little dubious with unconvincing results.

What I did admire about the film is the use of black and white cinematography and the strong visuals it conveyed in minimal locations. There are moments of visual brilliance and the use of sound. The directors show great communications skills in the technical department, but as a whole lack a strong convincing story structure (which at times puzzled the hell out of me, which I kind of like due to the fact that it almost reminded me of David Lynch).

I found myself questioning a lot of aspects during the movie which was distracting. Most of those questions were somewhat answered by the end. By that stage I wasn't totally convinced and the characters had no empathy for the movie as a whole to succeed in gaining my attention.

Filled with plot twists

[psychorpio · 29 August 2021]

At the very beginning, I absolutely hated the way the storyline was being told. The plot itself seemed redundant and done quite a lot of times, the explicitly sometimes being taken to certain uncomfortable limits, but on the second half of the film the pace changes noticeably.

The twists, the turns and (some) of the explanations are interesting and understandable to a wide range of people - some might think of it as shallow whilst others appreciate the thought. While the outcome is nothing out of this world and has been done before, to review an artistic work merely by comparing it to others is simple and senseless and it should be, instead, thought of it as it is and analyzed, praised or criticized based on what it's trying to convey.

In my own humble and deprived of history film opinion, the movie was really good. The unexpected revelations kept me interested and intrigued to see the next move or discover why was a certain thing relevant.

A lot of elements, a lot of metaphors and allegories, so if you enjoy being an active part of the development of the story and making your own theories as the plot goes, I highly recommend it. If, on the other hand, you are more "classical" and your favorite film is one made twenty years ago therefore you will constantly compare everything with it in a rather pretentious manner, abstain from watching it.

6.4/10. Recommended

[athanasiosze · 6/10 · 1 May 2023]

It was better than i expected. A solid drama/mystery movie that keeps you guessing until the end. It's flawed but if you lower your expectations you will enjoy it, just don't expect prime Shyamalan/mindblowing twists. It's not easy to create a good mystery movie with a twist. Every theme, every twist have been explored, every story has been almost told. I have watched many mystery movies which fall apart by the ending. This didn't.

Not impressed by the acting. Still kinda above mediocrity. Actress were sufficient enough to make me care about their characters.

So, if you want to watch a good drama mystery movie, you will enjoy it. I liked it because it makes sense. It's not totally convincing but there are no plot holes and this is rare for a mystery movie nowadays. No ambiguity also. A one location movie which will keep your attention up until the ending.

This is just boring

[nightroses · 1/10 · 5 October 2020]

Its the worst film I've seen and a shame there isn't a Zero rating. Its awful. People that give it so much stars and words of praise lied about watching all of it or they haven't seen it but think it's a different film called Veronica by Netflix. The film only has two people and most of it was in black and white. The ending made no sense and is not clever. Its just like watching paint dry.

Bad mexican movie

[DogeGamer2015 · 4/10 · 26 July 2020]

It has an interesting plot idea, but the end result ends up being boring and pointless.

This is just bad.

[debanjalee-ghosh · 1/10 · 16 October 2020]

They stumbled upon an idea that has been done to death in so many movies that it has subgenres for itself and they took themselves way too seriously. The psychoanalysis were shallow and boring, you'd see the twists from the other end of the planet and the pace just kills you with boredom. Then they "unravel" the mystery by painstakingly showing everything at 0.001x. Frankly, just rather watch the grass grow in your backyard.

Excellent Mexican psychological thriller!!

[balbinama · 10/10 · 17 May 2017]

Saw the movie in the Guadalajara Film Festival. I was awed by the twists and turns the plot offers.

A stubborn patient trying to outsmart the psychologist at every chance she gets. The seemingly steady plot takes brusque change of directions at every chance, until you find yourself deep in thought of the profound meaning of everything that is happening on screen.

When credits appeared, I was still deep in thought trying to get a grip of what was shown on the screen and how it wakes sensible feelings and emotions inside myself.

Very interesting, complex and revealing movie!!

Not often is Mexican cinema immersed in this type of thrillers. Excellent direction, script, and acting. Congratulations to all involved!

More of the same...

[homer43 · 1/10 · 7 December 2020]

The twist has already been done several times before, go see Fight club instead.

A great psycho thriller that keeps on in suspense

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 9 February 2018]

The movie is done in a beautiful way. The simple setting and it being black and white keeps one in the uncomfortable feeling which is perfect for this genre.

While the feeling of suspense remains for the whole movie one still has the feeling that one knows exactly how it ends. Yet at the end one still ends up getting a surprise and is satisfied that the movie ended up being not as simple as one expected.

Great acting as well. The two main actresses are fully in their characters and keep us watching by contributing to the psycho thriller with their acting.

Living in the woods.

[ridi-arahan · 8/10 · 18 May 2020]

Personally, the movie is pleasantly surprising and enjoyable.

What worked:

• tight runtime and screenplay
• the setting, climate and cinematography
• surprise element

What didn't work; -As a mental health professional, I can see some ethical errors in the script regarding therapy.

Final verdict: Since it's runtime is short, you should give it a try. It's recommended.

WOW

[eliagirl · 8/10 · 27 September 2018]

Yeah, this was a great film. The storyline was... amazing & unexpected & twisted. It's brilliant! Watch it...

Therapy

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 23 March 2018]

Movies who play mostly in one location are not everyones cup of tea. In this case you have two female actors who have to figure stuff out. Of course there is more to it and the question is how much you are willing to give in to enjoy this movie. The pacing is not the best and there are some sexual themes in there (and some nudity as well).

But everything makes sense and it is tension filled. Performances are great too, even if and when you find some things annoying. Of course some behaviour may also seem questionable, but bear with it. Characters can be difficult and not everyone reacts the same. Also be aware there was another movie called Veronica that was more Horror specific than this one (I almost didn't watch this because I thought it was the other one - also spanish language), but more cliches and way more predictable too

"I haven't decided yet between being an astronaut or being a juggler."

[morrison-dylan-fan · 10/10 · 4 October 2021]

Recently catching the tantalizingly strange Shadow of the Cat (2021-also reviewed) at FrightFest,I decided to look round for more Horror movies from Latin America. Having found Veronica (2017-also reviewed) to be creepy, I was happily surprised to find on Netflix another Latin American film from the same year,with the same title,leading to me meeting Veronica.

View on the film:

Meeting Veronica in one location for the entire film, (with even childhood flashbacks taking place in the setting) co-writer (with Tomas Nepomuceno) / Carlos Algara & fellow co-director Alejandro Martinez-Beltran intelligently uses every corner of the secluded woodland counselling building, via closely working with cinematographer Miguel Angel Gonzalez Avila to web extremely fluid, ultra-stylised sweeping panning shots that untangle the slow-burn Horror mind-games.

Sitting with Veronica and the unnamed psychologist, the directors explore the darkest reaches of Veronica's mind in thickly sliced monochrome, which crackles to splinters of colour rising from arc shots and nerve-scratching tracking shots, coming into focus as the true nature of the relationship comes into focus.

Spending the whole film together, Olga Segura and Arcelia Ramirez give hypnotic, contrasting performance as Veronica and the psychologist, with Segura capturing Veronica repressing her tormented memories, whilst developing an awareness of using her open sensuality against the repressed psychologist, who Ramirez superbly has balanced between being confident to help Veronica, whilst at the same time becoming more withdrawn, from what Veronica causes her to confront.

Originally written for the roles to be played by two men, the changes in the screenplay by Nepomuceno and Algara brings in a battle of differing femininity to the brilliantly written psychological Thriller power play which takes place between the psychologist and Veronica, which opens their minds up to a gloriously brittle Horror twist ending which threads a new perspective on the psychological analysis of Veronica.