Good horror movie, Excellent production values, actors range from good to average, but the movie really abuse of the scarejumps. Although thats a good thing if you like it.
The plot its ok, but it could have been better. It looks like a excuse for the scarejumps, although there arent plot holes, ( the reaction to an event could look a bit weird for modern standards, and it could look like a plot hole, but its understandable in the context of the family) and there are some ok twists, and they tried to make an interesting history. But they abuse so much of scarejumps, and use so much tropes of the clasic haunted house movie, that the plot would be a 5 or a 4, and its the weakest part of the movie.
But still an interesting movie if you like haunted house movies, and i think its an interesting and decent horror movie overall.
The movie happens in the 70s, in spain, so maybe the setting can be a bit alien to american viewers. Take in account that it was a very traditional and catholic country, divorce and abort were still illegal, that explains some of the bits in the story. Franco died the year before, the country is still a dictatorship.
The protagonists are a family of farmers, with almost not skills, trying to get a better life in the big city. They find an old and big apartament in a classic neighbourghood of madrid.
I liked how it solves the "why the protagonist just dont run away from haunted house"?.
You wont regret watching this movie, but maybe youll think that it could have been better
34 Reviews
Flat
kosmasp15 August 2020
As in the thing you live in - though as the rating suggests here, some may feel that is also true as an adjective about the movie. Horror movies can have it hard. They are succesful but also very open to criticism, especially from hardcore horror fans. This isn't the best horror movie I've ever seen, by a long shot. A bit too much in the jump scare department for my taste. But having said that, technically this is more than sound and the story works too.
The movie starts off with one of those "come on, are you kidding me" scenes. But it has a story behind it and it does tell it quite nicely. Even the reactions from the characters are easy to follow and make overall sense too ... give it a try if you will, and try not to be too judgemental of the flaws. Very nice cinematography too
The movie starts off with one of those "come on, are you kidding me" scenes. But it has a story behind it and it does tell it quite nicely. Even the reactions from the characters are easy to follow and make overall sense too ... give it a try if you will, and try not to be too judgemental of the flaws. Very nice cinematography too
Nice try!
basilakos2628 August 2020
Nothing special here...
joseandresbriceno19 January 2020
Well, as horror movies fan, this movie is nothing special or original. At the beginning I got a feeling like it was some kind of a Spanish version of Poltergeist, however everything falls flat as it develops. I felt the story a little bit forced, and there really isn't enough time for you to care about the characters. Initially there is a lot of suspense, and there are some scary scenes where you can almost feel a terrifying atmosphere, but then it becomes way too repetitive and it takes a long time for something to actually happen. Compared to other Spanish horror movies, it's not very good. I would say it is almost a decent popcorn horror flick; I would recommend you to wait until you can watch it at home like on a Friday or Saturday night.
6/10
6/10
Scare jumps have a bad reputation because of this.
albertomtz6 July 2020
Every horror movie needs a scare jump, or many for sure. But to abuse the scare jump and use it every single minute of the movie is overkill, and it's what gives scare jumps such a bad reputation.
In this movie they use the most monotone situations to use scare jumps along with an extremely annoying volume boost. So yes, at the 5 minute mark I started rolling my eyes, but the atmosphere sort of gave me something to keep watching.
Then again, lighting is all over the place, they open the door and its a pitch black apartment, next scene theres a lot of light coming in from the windows, it uses light to their convenience and not in a realistic way.
It is never clear why the characters are acting the way they are (brother, grandfather, girl in wheelchair (and her mother)), and even worse, the movie concludes with a "resolution" that doesn't really explains those situations.
I'm sad I wasted my "free On Demand movie" code for this. It is a waste of time, scare jumps and money.
In this movie they use the most monotone situations to use scare jumps along with an extremely annoying volume boost. So yes, at the 5 minute mark I started rolling my eyes, but the atmosphere sort of gave me something to keep watching.
Then again, lighting is all over the place, they open the door and its a pitch black apartment, next scene theres a lot of light coming in from the windows, it uses light to their convenience and not in a realistic way.
It is never clear why the characters are acting the way they are (brother, grandfather, girl in wheelchair (and her mother)), and even worse, the movie concludes with a "resolution" that doesn't really explains those situations.
I'm sad I wasted my "free On Demand movie" code for this. It is a waste of time, scare jumps and money.
Haunted house story, with good performances and enough suspense, worth a watch.
Mivas_Greece11 February 2021
Metaphysical horror film from Spanish cinema. The film takes us back to the 1970s in Madrid, where a family leaves rural life and moves to the capital. Except they don't know that the house they moved into is haunted by the previous owner. What does the spirit desire? What's the story in this house? A pretty good movie from good Spanish cinema, though with not so much original script anymore. Good performances and enough suspense, a good overall suggestion for the genre, worth a watch.
It could have worked
lelostatakos31 January 2021
Generic
velikitata17 December 2020
Adequately entertaining and somewhat gloomy...
paul_haakonsen30 October 2020
I stumbled upon "Malasaña 32" by random luck. And while I didn't know anything about the movie, I must admit that I was interested because of the movie's cover/poster. And of course, with it being a horror movie, I ended up sitting down to watch director Albert Pintó's 2020 movie.
And it turns out that "Malasaña 32" was actually an adequately entertaining horror movie. Sure, for the majority of the movie, writers Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira, David Orea and Salvador S. Molina were playing it safe and following the 'how-to-make-a-horror-movie' textbook, but every now and again there were some interesting deviations which kept the movie interesting and fresh.
Storywise, then "Malasaña 32" was fairly straight forward, a bit predictable actually at times. But maybe that is because I have seen way too many horror movies in my life. But it was entertaining, nonetheless.
What I liked about "Malasaña 32" was the visuals. There was a very gloomy atmosphere to the movie, and the apartment scenes were quite intense. That alone was well-worth sitting down to watch the movie. And the scene with the floating medium host, well that was simply great, and one of the best parts of the movie.
"Malasaña 32" has some nice acting performances, by an entirely unknown cast to me. And that was something I appreciated and enjoyed.
This movie is an adequate horror movie, although it doesn't really bring much of anything new to the horror genre. If you are new to horror movies, then "Malasaña 32" is a good starting point.
My rating of "Malasaña 32" is a six out of ten stars.
And it turns out that "Malasaña 32" was actually an adequately entertaining horror movie. Sure, for the majority of the movie, writers Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira, David Orea and Salvador S. Molina were playing it safe and following the 'how-to-make-a-horror-movie' textbook, but every now and again there were some interesting deviations which kept the movie interesting and fresh.
Storywise, then "Malasaña 32" was fairly straight forward, a bit predictable actually at times. But maybe that is because I have seen way too many horror movies in my life. But it was entertaining, nonetheless.
What I liked about "Malasaña 32" was the visuals. There was a very gloomy atmosphere to the movie, and the apartment scenes were quite intense. That alone was well-worth sitting down to watch the movie. And the scene with the floating medium host, well that was simply great, and one of the best parts of the movie.
"Malasaña 32" has some nice acting performances, by an entirely unknown cast to me. And that was something I appreciated and enjoyed.
This movie is an adequate horror movie, although it doesn't really bring much of anything new to the horror genre. If you are new to horror movies, then "Malasaña 32" is a good starting point.
My rating of "Malasaña 32" is a six out of ten stars.
1ST HALF IS INTERESTING BUT REST IS BAD
thatgirlwithyellowboots8 October 2022
I chose this movie over the trailer and also the country since spanish movies ain't my first choice.
The story starts with a house being haunted and soon, after 5 years, a family gets shifted into the house. They start experiencing strange incidents inside the house.
The 1st half of the movie is very interesting, but the moment it starts proceeding to the other half, it feels as if it was stretched for no reason. The plotline degrades after the half part so I do not recommend this movie for 2nd time.
Good parts about the movie are the characters. They make the situation seems so realistic. I liked the actors. Movie is great but not that level where you can finish it.
The story starts with a house being haunted and soon, after 5 years, a family gets shifted into the house. They start experiencing strange incidents inside the house.
The 1st half of the movie is very interesting, but the moment it starts proceeding to the other half, it feels as if it was stretched for no reason. The plotline degrades after the half part so I do not recommend this movie for 2nd time.
Good parts about the movie are the characters. They make the situation seems so realistic. I liked the actors. Movie is great but not that level where you can finish it.
if you like...
ops-5253526 October 2020
Slow horror movies with lots of mindfull content, lingering around the predigital era of the 20th century spain, with a production design and well equiped and well maked up locations with very good darkfilming and well acted scary moments then its a recommend from the grumpy old man.
its well over american average horror flicks made lately so see this its creepy.
its well over american average horror flicks made lately so see this its creepy.
Good, but nothing new
foxtografo10 March 2021
It's a bad copy of good terror
bcdruno216 September 2021
1:35 hs of hard and not vibrant scences without development of the story or character!! Abuse of jumps horror!
The Last 15 min we know what is happening (too late). And suddenly we have an horrible end, when you think.... What the hell????
Camera movement and light play just remember other filmes, nothing new!
It is not the best Spanish horror at all!!
The Last 15 min we know what is happening (too late). And suddenly we have an horrible end, when you think.... What the hell????
Camera movement and light play just remember other filmes, nothing new!
It is not the best Spanish horror at all!!
Good, but lacking originality
redtiago8 September 2020
Spanish horror movies have great quality. And this one is no exception. But like the japoneses horror movies sometime ago, nowadays they produce good quality horror movies but very similar. We see one excelent, two ok still excelent, then the next ok it's good but already seen this.
Even so i still recommend it.
Leaving for the city.
ulicknormanowen7 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The first hour is haunting and absorbing; for once ,in a horror movie,the characters are not cardboard ,they have a social background ( a family leaving the country for the broader horizons of the capital ,in the mid-seventies ) ; without relying on special effects,the director creates a stifling Gothic atmosphere ,taking advantage of the setting (an old house where evil things might have happened ); fear stems from trite ,everyday things : the letters the mentally handicapped son receives, the TV with a nice (but slightly menacing) grandma from an animation , the meeting with the lady and her handicapped daughter in a shop , the picture the mother is given ....even granddad has something threatening when he's gazing into space.
Unfortunately things begin to deteriorate by the last third : all the clichés of the worst horror movies are used and the movie looks like an umpteenth parody of "the exorcist" :levitation,vomiting , screamings, you name it...The only saving grace of this finale ("the evil is not in the house ,it's in your family") is not really exploited.
It leaves promises on hold ;it's all the more disappointing since the beginning was really puzzling.
Unfortunately things begin to deteriorate by the last third : all the clichés of the worst horror movies are used and the movie looks like an umpteenth parody of "the exorcist" :levitation,vomiting , screamings, you name it...The only saving grace of this finale ("the evil is not in the house ,it's in your family") is not really exploited.
It leaves promises on hold ;it's all the more disappointing since the beginning was really puzzling.
Not a horror movie
helena_sanchez30 January 2020
What a bad horror movie! It is all about scare jumps all the time, bad actors, and what's worse, the plot. After watching 80 minutes of nonsense scare jumps, the plot is just some cheap political propaganda. Don't waste your money!
Mediocre Malasana
richardwworkman6 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Family moves into apartment where an old lady passed away. Pretty soon spooky things start to happen.
To be fair through the first half of this film I thought that was about it. The director goes heavy with the sudden jump scares. Unexpected noises and sudden shocks keep coming, in fact, there are too many and it gets a bit repetitive as they tend to follow a similar pattern.
Loads of generic ghost story stuff in this but the story takes an interesting turn when we learn the back story behind the haunting. A boy, tortured in life for his sexuality and gender indentity seeks the souls of the youngest boy in the house.
It's at this point the reason why the movie was set in 1976, when attitudes towards trans people were even less inclusive than they are today. Particularly so in post military dictatorship conservative Madrid.
However, for me this little twist in the tale isn't enough to save what is a pretty mediocre storyline. Bog standard haunting with occasional monster and possession references.
I've a couple of reviews that read this with as anti-trans but I don't really see it.
It's a decent enough film but not exceptional.
To be fair through the first half of this film I thought that was about it. The director goes heavy with the sudden jump scares. Unexpected noises and sudden shocks keep coming, in fact, there are too many and it gets a bit repetitive as they tend to follow a similar pattern.
Loads of generic ghost story stuff in this but the story takes an interesting turn when we learn the back story behind the haunting. A boy, tortured in life for his sexuality and gender indentity seeks the souls of the youngest boy in the house.
It's at this point the reason why the movie was set in 1976, when attitudes towards trans people were even less inclusive than they are today. Particularly so in post military dictatorship conservative Madrid.
However, for me this little twist in the tale isn't enough to save what is a pretty mediocre storyline. Bog standard haunting with occasional monster and possession references.
I've a couple of reviews that read this with as anti-trans but I don't really see it.
It's a decent enough film but not exceptional.
Veo veo
cristinamasia11 July 2021
Copy and paste
faranak-tiba20 May 2023
It can be rather puzzling, indeed, why some filmmakers choose to replicate elements from other films without adding their unique touch, showcasing zero creativity. It's as if they've taken to merely copying and pasting plotlines, character arcs, and even aesthetic elements from previous successful movies. This is certainly a source of frustration for many viewers who long for fresh and innovative content.
Perhaps this tendency can be explained by a combination of factors. One of the main reasons is the inherent risk aversion in the film industry. It's costly to produce a movie; therefore, stakeholders might prefer to stick to what has been proven successful rather than take a gamble on something new and untested. This 'safe' approach leads to a recycling of ideas and themes, diluting the essence of creativity.
Additionally, the ubiquity of sequels, prequels, and remakes is due to the established fan bases these franchises possess. The familiarity offers an almost guaranteed return on investment. However, this doesn't excuse the lack of innovation. As an audience, we should demand and appreciate new ideas, narratives, and styles that reflect the dynamic nature of our society. It's through this diversity and creativity that the art of cinema can truly evolve and grow.
Also, it's crucial to note that sometimes this perceived lack of creativity can be attributed to cultural saturation. With the sheer volume of movies being produced globally, it's almost inevitable that similar themes and concepts will emerge. However, it's the task of a truly great filmmaker to take these common threads and weave them into a story that feels fresh, unique, and compelling.
To conclude, while it may be amusing to see filmmakers sticking to tried-and-true formulas, as viewers, we should champion originality and creativity, encouraging filmmakers to step outside of their comfort zones and deliver truly unique cinematic experiences.
Perhaps this tendency can be explained by a combination of factors. One of the main reasons is the inherent risk aversion in the film industry. It's costly to produce a movie; therefore, stakeholders might prefer to stick to what has been proven successful rather than take a gamble on something new and untested. This 'safe' approach leads to a recycling of ideas and themes, diluting the essence of creativity.
Additionally, the ubiquity of sequels, prequels, and remakes is due to the established fan bases these franchises possess. The familiarity offers an almost guaranteed return on investment. However, this doesn't excuse the lack of innovation. As an audience, we should demand and appreciate new ideas, narratives, and styles that reflect the dynamic nature of our society. It's through this diversity and creativity that the art of cinema can truly evolve and grow.
Also, it's crucial to note that sometimes this perceived lack of creativity can be attributed to cultural saturation. With the sheer volume of movies being produced globally, it's almost inevitable that similar themes and concepts will emerge. However, it's the task of a truly great filmmaker to take these common threads and weave them into a story that feels fresh, unique, and compelling.
To conclude, while it may be amusing to see filmmakers sticking to tried-and-true formulas, as viewers, we should champion originality and creativity, encouraging filmmakers to step outside of their comfort zones and deliver truly unique cinematic experiences.
Awesome Spanish film!
jp_916 March 2020
"Malasaña 32" is a great horror film with influences about "The Exorcist", "The Conjuring", and Polanski's apartment trilogy. Set in the 1970's, the set decoration and costume design are cool. The script is creepy, the acting and direction are amazing. The special effects are great. The story is thrilling, a classic haunted house mistery and even sadly scenes, some jump scares but not easy ones, a very good film. A classic for the 2020's decade.
Overall good
stinfload1 December 2021
Remake ir not remake that is the question
yordykortina22 July 2023
A Spanish film and that's not why I'm going to speak well of it. A well-done staging but nothing more. It gives the feeling that this movie is a tribute to famous old horror movies such as poltergeist with all the intention in the world, the television, the kidnapped child, there is even a sound that reminds me of that old movie and of course the medium with a different appearance. They have not spent much money on this film, the dead can hardly be seen clearly. It doesn't add anything new, but it does have something and that is that it's a movie that I've seen without dubbing and that's what saves it, since dubbing in terms of language, I don't know why, tend to be cold and distant. I liked the beginning but not the end, an outcome that we better let the story end like this with the telephone and that a second part is not made, lest it be much better than it is.
All that build-up accounted to nothing substantive
SoumikBanerjee19965 July 2022
A great approach in color grading, some competently shot sequences, and a few chill-inducing moments; yeah, that is pretty much how I would like to recapitulate my assessment of 32 Malasana Street.
While it is quite conspicuous that this Spanish feature did display technological proficiency that without a doubt, requests some wordy praises, but all that build-up, all that gloomy, unsettling suspense eventually accounted for nothing substantive.
Although there was a critical connotation underneath this formulaic and predictable narrative that dared to speak up against the societal bigotry and discrimination weathered by trans people, that too sadly settled upon a short-sighted conclusion rather than a prolific one.
While it is quite conspicuous that this Spanish feature did display technological proficiency that without a doubt, requests some wordy praises, but all that build-up, all that gloomy, unsettling suspense eventually accounted for nothing substantive.
Although there was a critical connotation underneath this formulaic and predictable narrative that dared to speak up against the societal bigotry and discrimination weathered by trans people, that too sadly settled upon a short-sighted conclusion rather than a prolific one.
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