Venicephrenia (2021) User Reviews

A not-bad, not-great slasher but expected better from this team! [+50%]

[arungeorge13 · 5/10 · 14 August 2022]

Álex de la Iglesia's Veneciafrenia, on paper, is a film right up my alley. It is one of those vacation-gone-awry films that works when it's being a pure slasher, and fails when it tries to be a lot more. As someone who lives on the other side of the world, the initial scenes centered around protests in Venice towards ocean liners (and the thousands of Instagram-happy tourists they bring) was news to me, which I had to Google more about. The concept is intriguing, and works fine for a slasher. The protagonists are your typical not-so-likeable tourists who'd do anything just to have a good time, and it was difficult to get behind any of their antics. At times, they're plain stupid. In a film like this, it's mostly the antagonists that you're eyeing. The creepy jester is a scary addition to that universe, and so are the rest of them in masks.

But I wish we didn't have to know so much about them. Retaining some level of mystery around these angry locals would have made it more enjoyable. There's a bigger conspiracy at play, and except for some of the jester's carelessly-yet-magnificently executed savagery, the thrills are lacking. Pablo Rosso's cinematography work captures Venice in darker tones, which is apt given the plot. The ending is also rather tame - you expect a BANG, but turns out, it's just a whimper!

Could be better

[hugomlmota · 5/10 · 9 July 2022]

But not so bad as some reviews points. Too many loose ends asking to be developed. Yet thinking if this is some critic to Italian police. Lots of murders but they´re always one step behind. An interesting movie about globalization.

The worst? It´s almost impossible an italian policeman speaks spannish. And so passive.

The best. The concept. Scary. Indeed. Make us think twice if we should visit Venice.

That's a big point in favour of this movie.

Not recommended

[mbwzxj · 1/10 · 27 May 2022]

When I saw the trailer I imagined the film very differently. The acting is quite bad, cringey and the plot begins cool and gets worse by the minute to the point it makes no sense. Character development is non existent and there are no worthy plot twists.

* spoilers ahead *

If it had been a movie about an organized crime network that randomly kidnapped and killed tourists in a mysterious way and they ended up all dead or something happened it would have been cool, but the whole thing about the twins, the cringey cop, the part about the husband getting to venice, etc. It was all so bad...

Not Iglesia's Best, but delivers what it sets out to do!

[jorgito2001 · 7/10 · 3 January 2024]

As a huge fan of Alex De La Iglesia, I've had this film on my radar ever since I saw the "coming soon" trailer for this in a theater in Valencia, Spain back in early 2022...I waited and waited, hoping it would drop on a streamer in the U. S.... Finally the digital showed up on sale and had to snag it..mannnn, its about time!

Though nowhere near as great as some of my fav Iglesia flicks, like Day of the Beast (1995), The Last Circus (2010) or The Bar (2017), this Cult-sploitation/Slasher film delivers on a capable cast, a perfectly recognizable location (gorgeous Venice), eerie old building locations & plenty of blood & gore! The opening credits and final shot is reminiscent of a 60s/70s Giallo film. One of the final kills was especially creative (no spoilers). Sure, you've seen plenty of "annoying young people getting killed one by one" before, and the final FINAL act goes on a little too long, but Iglesia manages to put a hip, stylistic flare that I still enjoyed! No regrets blind buying this one!

Terrible Actors, Poor Script

[rodrigoalderete · 1/10 · 6 June 2022]

I was fan of Alex De La iglesia since I was a kid, my favorites movies so far are "Perdita Durango" "El Día de la Bestia" and "Las Brujas de Zugarramurdi" all of them was fresh, and fun. Today: is a big letdown. The reason I watched the entire movie is because the locations and the costumes. I was intrigue about a slasher movie in Venice (sounds very exotic).

The characters are CHILDLISH and ANNOYING. The script is so poor that I was getting dizzy. Skip it at all cost.

Presents itself as a slasher, but becomes something more mundane quite quickly

[andylautakhwah · 2/10 · 30 May 2022]

Veneciafrenia works better when it leans into the slasher with the beautiful Venice and its costumes as backdrop, but falls hard when it tries to focus on the main conspiranoic plot of the film, becoming something completely different and far less interesting.

just made my fever worse

[mejiadaniel-70925 · 2/10 · 4 June 2022]

I watched this while having the flu. I dont know how I watched the whole movie, I think only because the fever.

I dont understand how the use actual money to make things like this, give me the money and i´ll plant some really good peppers and potatoes on a field.

Its terrible.

Don't believe the haters

[ElCinefago · 8/10 · 10 October 2022]

Thoroughly enjoyable, fun and very dark film.

The film follows a bunch of young tourists from spain as they venture in the magic and mysterious streets of Venice.

The film will have you laughing quite a few times but also it'll have you rooting for the main characters, who will become very human and close to your heart.

The photography and production design is superb as well as its original soundtrack.

Cosimo Fusco, the main antagonist plays two different characters and it's just delicious.

This is a great film that seems half role play game and half slasher. Contains elements of classic Italian and Spanish horror films.

Date to watch it, I promise it won't bore you at all.

Please dont watch it

[monymoralescbc · 1/10 · 11 December 2022]

It's literally one of the worst movies I've ever seen.

The acting is sooo sooo bad. The script is incredibly poor. Main idea was interesting but it landed so bad. What was the director thinking? I was really looking forward watching this movie and it turned out to be a colossal disappointment, it really just uses Venices looks as a backdrop, it is only visually appealing only. Main villain kills a few tourists and then commits suicide? Why? All of the chatacters are dumb and cringey none of the actors know how to act. Dialogs sound stupid and specifically english dialogs sound like they were copied out from google translate. Please don't watch it. Huge waste of time.

Don't watching it

[mzunah · 1/10 · 9 June 2022]

Worst movie I've seen in a long time. Beware anyone to waste their time. There is no good acting, bad directing, and a very ridiculous story. Nothing good at all.

I guess Alex De La Iglesia should retire

[dbaishev · 2/10 · 15 November 2022]

I watched a lot of his movies, and as I was watching this "thing", I was deeply injured by the quality, that his movies fallen. A lot of people recommended me to watch his movies, but I can't comprehend this anymore, I'm escaping all of his movies in the future for sure.

I even made this account to make this comment, because this movie was so bad, that It made me do this.

Actors are quite lazy in their acting, script was really poorly written, and even Venice atmosphere didn't make it plausible to watch.

Anyway, don't watch anything coming from Alex De La Iglesia in the future, don't waste your time.

Could've been good

[marianassampaio · 1/10 · 3 January 2023]

As someone who has been to Veneza, I thought it was a great idea to use it as a location. There are plenty of narrow alleys where a tourist can easily get lost and disappear. Typical masks and costumes were also a nice touch. That being said, the plot doesn't work.

At first, it seems like they're gonna go for "we can't prove our friend was here". Then it's hinted things might be something mystical, but that's not it. Then we have evil twins, conspiracies and revenge. It was all over the place.

What bothered me the most is that a few tourists where being killed right in front of multiple people - sometimes in broad daylight - and absolutely no one thought it was odd. They literally clap and record people dying, and the victims barely react. It's hard to take it this movie seriously, even as a slasher.

Bad, mala, bad, malo

[danielcereto · 3/10 · 19 October 2023]

I don't like to complain or hate slashers. I love mostly. Even the freaky ones. But this one is really "malo" aka bad.

I am Spaniard, so I know the director. In the 90's 00's he made a couple of interesting movies. So, consequently I was curious about this one. What can go wrong with a bunch of kids in Venecia, ready to be slaughtered?... The answer is easy. All.

First, acting is horrendous. Pretty bad choices even for a slasher. I was expecting everyone to die since minute 1, lol.

Second, the script is bad, really bad. Even for a slasher. Predictable, dumb and probably wrote by a 5 years old.

Last, skipt it. There is nothing good here. Better go for a walk or some exercise. Thanks.

Great (& more importantly) Original horror story.

[keirondarbyshire · 8/10 · 27 November 2023]

This is such a good film.

I'm not understanding why there's no many really bad reviews.

It feels like they're watching a completely different film from what I've seen.

The acting was great, sound quality was excellent, costumes were brilliant, the story was superb, the directing was faultless. It looks like a fair few quid was spent on this, yet even it's Gross has been low & I can't fathom why?

Ignore the bad reviews. If you want a really good original horror movie, this will be your bag.

I'll be recommending this movie to all my friends who love a good horror/slasher.

I will happily watch this film again & again.

Surprising good

[alexrosetz · 8/10 · 24 September 2022]

Jumped in the movie without seeing the trailer or reviews.

The first tourist kill surprised me! Kept me on my chair. Completely intrigued from the mask creepy guy. Who was he? Why? Turns out is not that important! But the whole mask thing, not seeing the face of one of the main character, creeped me a lot. Which is why I enjoy this more than i would imagine, having read a synopsis for example.

Furthermore, when the first friend was lost, and nobody can prove he was with them (no photos, no room check-in, no passport), was a great touch!

Towards the end became a bit more flat. But overall good directing, and as a Spanish speaker, good acting and dialogue.

Scenario: ok Directing: good Actors: good Overall, a surprising.