Nazareno Cruz y el lobo

One of the best argentine´sci-fi films about a cursed man, Nazareno Cruz, that when he falls in love he is going to transforming in a hungry wolf. The movie has a lot of beautiful images with excelents special effects. With Alfredo Alcón as the devil that shows to Nazareno a false paradise to live and try to taking with him.

Not unlikeable but this slender tale cannot support the full extent of the preposterous and pretentious factors that the director wants to introduce. Incredibly good to look at throughout but dragged down by the melodrama and poor use of music. Beginning well, this soon plunges into some sort of music video, before deteriorating into something more akin to a stage musical and eventually into the world of opera, while our sad little tale meanders hopelessly behind. There are shots of grasses, swaying in wind and rain and also rivers and the sea, shot in breathtaking fashion but still the dialogue plods and the music grates. It is also unforgivable that we don't get a transformation scene!

Leonardo Favio adapted a radio soap opera story about an amazing operistic style. Everything is extreme, the lighting, the art direction, the sound recording recreates a dream environment crowded of fine characters. Nora Cullen, in a masterwork, performs an old witch who tries to protect the newborn werewolf. This movie became one of the most succesfull in Argentine filmmaking

The werevolf superstition in Argentina became a real national problem. The seventh son of a couple was believed to become a "Lobisón", and the seventh daughter, a witch. It caused trouble in a nation that needed population. The average number of children until the 1950s in the rural areas was over 10. So, there was no worry until the 6th boy or the 6th girl was born. In rural areas people avoided a seventh child of the same sex. It is said that there was even cases of infanticide. President Irigoyen issued a decree to end that superstition: from then on, the President of the Republic becomes the godfather of that sixth son/daughter. In many Northern provinces, the "Lobisón" was not believed to turn into a wolf at midnight: he turned into any animal, sometimes at will. And returned to his former state shortly after. So there was little or no harm done. The murderous werewolf belongs to the traditional European belief.

This film is one of the first Argentinian horror films, and was the highest grossing film in the history of Argentina, up until El Secreto De Sus Ojos was released in 2009.

It was directed by cultural icon Leonardo Favio, and was the break out role for television actor Juan José Camero, who plays Nazareno Cruz- the seventh son of a family living in Argentina.

The story is based on the Guaraní myth of the Lobison- a werewolf-like creature, from South America, that lurks within the mind and body of the accursed seventh son.

By the time he reaches adolescence...Nazareno is already the most popular boy in his village.

And he has fallen in love with the most beautiful girl in town.

As the story goes, though, the seventh son is always born with a curse...the curse of the werewolf...which will see him transform into a wolf, upon the rising of the full moon...so that he can feast on human blood.

However, this metamorphosis is not initiated until he finds true love.

So, now that he has found the love of his life, he is approached by the Devil...who gives him an ultimatum: choose love or give it up in exchange for a vast amount of wealth, power, and influence.

Nazareno chooses love over riches.

But...he probably should have realized that any deal with the Devil is libel to be a ruse.

Because things don't pan out like he expects them too.

The girls father finds him fooling around with his daughter, and- feeling he has tainted her innocence and purity- decides to punish Nazareno for his lustful transgressions.

Fortunately for Nazareno, this incident just so happens to coincide with the rise of the full moon...and so he transforms into a wolf.

This isn't some epic special effects transformation, or anything, though...it's basically the actor falling down on all fours, before they cut to a shot of a real wolf...which is subsequently subject to a series of actual dogfights in the film.

Which, I'm not going to lie...is a bit anti-climactic, for a film that is otherwise a beautifully shot, mildly arthouse offering.

The whole thing is effectively a tragic love story.

One that combines elements of Beauty & The Beast with Romeo & Juliet and a traditional indigenous werewolf tale.

But it might not be for everyone...because it's a bit slow paced, and arthousey.

The best part of this film is definitely it's cinematography and framing...which is really quite beautifully done.

The only thing is, there just isn't enough special effects- or arthouse complexity- to make it stand out from the rest of the crowd, and keep you fully engaged.

But it's not a bad film, by any means.

Where the execution might be lacking a bit, the story gives it a solid base...and the end result is certainly palatable.

Those expecting an action packed werewolf slaughterfest are sure to leave disappointed.

Whereas, those open to a more contemplative arthouse style might appreciate the picture a little more.

Aforementioned considerations aside, once the story has played itself out...it's kind of a middle of the road werewolf tale...which could be taken as a hit or miss, depending on what you personally appreciate and go in expecting.

I enjoyed it...but don't go in expecting to get blown away, or anything.

Because it's just not that type of film.

6 out of 10.