What can I say. I love an art movie but this was a non starter of a movie.no hidden meaning,no hidden art,awful acting and a very worn and not very inventive story arc.terrible ending to boot.viewer be warned.
23 Reviews
Political propaganda trash...
vasilios871 August 2022
All men are not evil, and Christianity is not evil. This movie is meant as a smear campaign towards men and Christians. Any movie made for this type of purpose is utter trash. Don't let them brainwash you with this filth.
Prepare to be amazed and challenged by LUZ: The Flower of Evil
darkhoover1 September 2020
Caught LUZ at the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival. I went into it hoping my most anticipated movie of the Festival would make the wait worth it. To say it did so is a vast understatement!! This movie is simply unbelievable. Some people won't like it. Some people will argue endlessly about all the possibilities and concepts raised. Me- I'm absolutely mesmerized by LUZ. Easily one of the most beautiful films, frame after frame after frame, that I've ever seen. Certainly one which is interested in weighty questions that have no true answers, except for what we make of them, and our world. I said it after the screening, I see lots of Terrence Malick in this incredible film, and Stanley Kubrick too. Amidst the gorgeous imagery, there are also scenes of savage brutality that tear right into the ideas & beliefs being explored. This is why I attend these Festivals! Thank you to director Juan Diego Escobar Alzate, and the whole team responsible for bring LUZ to life! Don't miss this one!!
Good.
patrick-conrad-30-47481815 March 2020
A Must See
skipshea-801-8487565 September 2020
Imagine a folk horror film directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky with the stunning cinematography like found in the films of Guillermo del Toro and you have LUZ. A wonderful movie that explores the depths of faith where the lines of good and evil are completely blurred. A must watch for any horror fan.
Luz: Flower of Evil...was AWESOME.
sarah-588105 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Last night, thanks to-Horrible Imaginings Film Festival 2020-I got to 'ascend/descend into the heaven/hell' that is 'Luz: Flower of Evil'. What a ride!
From the onset of the opening titles, I was immediately hooked. This film was clearly painstakingly stylized. Every shot is gorgeous. The vivid colors pop off the screen and reminded me of the tripped-out psychedelic horror flicks of the 1960/70s and those black-light posters you might find in your hippie cousin's man cave. I kept asking myself: Was this film meant to be seen in 3-D? Would this be even more enjoyable (or horrific?) on drugs?
The film features a beautifully-composed score that often amplifies the horrific images on-screen. Luz's visual and aural styling were the major highlight for me. That being said, the actors are all equally superb and well-cast for the intensely emotional story set on a lush isolated mountaintop.
My main critique and note for the viewer is this: Like so many genre films, a major content warning should be attached to this film. There is an incredibly violent and prolonged rape scene and much graphic physical violence towards women.
The director notes that the film wrestles with man's (in the gendered-sense) pervasive negative impact on women and the natural world. This is good. As a woman, I will always question why male writers and directors, even incredibly well-intentioned ones, feel compelled to portray violence towards women, such as that depicted in the film. Who is it for? Few women, whether survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence need the graphic reminder of what men can do.
In the close of the film, we're left feeling both despair and hope. The perpetrating character in the film is never punished for the great violence he has inflicted. I don't believe he is a 'changed man'. My assumption is he will go on to do more damage. Some of the women and children kept by him do escape and are (hopefully) on journey to liberation and healing.
I'll close with this question: How can we, as storytellers in film, uproot and dismantle indoctrinated toxic masculinity without portraying rape and graphic physical violence toward women on-screen?
From the onset of the opening titles, I was immediately hooked. This film was clearly painstakingly stylized. Every shot is gorgeous. The vivid colors pop off the screen and reminded me of the tripped-out psychedelic horror flicks of the 1960/70s and those black-light posters you might find in your hippie cousin's man cave. I kept asking myself: Was this film meant to be seen in 3-D? Would this be even more enjoyable (or horrific?) on drugs?
The film features a beautifully-composed score that often amplifies the horrific images on-screen. Luz's visual and aural styling were the major highlight for me. That being said, the actors are all equally superb and well-cast for the intensely emotional story set on a lush isolated mountaintop.
My main critique and note for the viewer is this: Like so many genre films, a major content warning should be attached to this film. There is an incredibly violent and prolonged rape scene and much graphic physical violence towards women.
The director notes that the film wrestles with man's (in the gendered-sense) pervasive negative impact on women and the natural world. This is good. As a woman, I will always question why male writers and directors, even incredibly well-intentioned ones, feel compelled to portray violence towards women, such as that depicted in the film. Who is it for? Few women, whether survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence need the graphic reminder of what men can do.
In the close of the film, we're left feeling both despair and hope. The perpetrating character in the film is never punished for the great violence he has inflicted. I don't believe he is a 'changed man'. My assumption is he will go on to do more damage. Some of the women and children kept by him do escape and are (hopefully) on journey to liberation and healing.
I'll close with this question: How can we, as storytellers in film, uproot and dismantle indoctrinated toxic masculinity without portraying rape and graphic physical violence toward women on-screen?
If you want to see a film with beautiful Cinematography, this is IT.
ivivilily13 October 2020
Juan Diego Escobar Alzate has created a visual masterpiece with this 104 minute folk horror feature film. I first viewed LUZ: the flower of evil at the Buffalo Dreams Film Festival 2020. Not only is the imagery captured visually stunning, the soundtrack moves the viewer through each frame and scene effortlessly flowing between emotions. The canvas that is painted by the natural light of the sky and each choice made regarding the actor's costuming and set design are with such detail. There is an ebb and flow constantly between the very dark parts and this of the light. The Dark gets very, very dark. I intentionally rewatched the film on DVD just to view with out subtitles (with a friend who was able to not miss a beat of the story). It really says something when a viewer can simply watch and understand most of the film "sin palabras"/without words. LUZ may leave you with much to ponder. LUZ may leave you without words. Thank you and much success to the team Afasia Films, all the actors and crew that worked so hard to create ~LUZ~.
A superb modern horror movie
bfsalex21 December 2020
One of the best horror films in recent years in my opinion, LUZ is a real visual feast and an impactful rumination on religion, faith and belief. Some great central performances really help to lift this one to the next level too. This one has really stuck with me ever since I watched it.
Faith does not always bring us into the Light
sachaput508 December 2020
Juan Diego Escobar Alzate makes a remarkable feature film debut as director and writer. Beautifully shot and well acted by a cast, with whom I am not familiar. I was fortunate enough to see this thanks to the folks at Horrible Imaginings Film Fest earlier this year.
El Senor is a father and leader of a small religious cult in the mountains of Columbia. To be honest, since we see the people mostly using older technology, except for some modern firearms, I had thought this was actually some near future dystopia. My bad on that!
El Senor believes that he can bring about salvation, by discovering the reincarnation of Christ, in young boys he brings to his compound and keeps locked up. Much of the tale deals with the increasing madness of this man and his daughter's discovery that much of what he has been telling them are lies.
The cinematography in this movie is one of the highlights, with shots of the night sky, waterfalls and the overwhelming landscape. The isolation of the family and those around them is evident, as we see how vast the world outside their small farms really is.
This is a dark film and one in which we can debate the ending and the fates of the characters. Highly recommended.
El Senor is a father and leader of a small religious cult in the mountains of Columbia. To be honest, since we see the people mostly using older technology, except for some modern firearms, I had thought this was actually some near future dystopia. My bad on that!
El Senor believes that he can bring about salvation, by discovering the reincarnation of Christ, in young boys he brings to his compound and keeps locked up. Much of the tale deals with the increasing madness of this man and his daughter's discovery that much of what he has been telling them are lies.
The cinematography in this movie is one of the highlights, with shots of the night sky, waterfalls and the overwhelming landscape. The isolation of the family and those around them is evident, as we see how vast the world outside their small farms really is.
This is a dark film and one in which we can debate the ending and the fates of the characters. Highly recommended.
Cinematic Marvel
pw80120 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Luz is an absolutely cinematic marvel to watch. The setting, the set design and the composition of shots makes this a beautiful film. The acting was spot on and terrific as well. Directing was well done. This feels more like a mid 20th century coming of age film, but there is a set piece in there that you know makes it more modern time. In a way, because of that it has a "The Village" feel as people in this very small community still believe in mystical things and that there are omens and signs in every. Where things are blamed on devil or God when in actuality, it is more of a lost of innocence from everyone in the area. To me this more of a drama film than a horror film. And for dramatic film, it is very good.
A beautiful and scary piece of art...
MonsterMatt23 December 2020
Luz: The Flower of Evil (2019) This Colombian film is a beautiful and scary work of art. The feature debut of Juan Diego Escobar Alzate who has done television work and short films previously, it is assured and bewitching. Taking place in the remote mountains. We are never sure where or when. One of the girls finds a cassette recorder in the woods, so it must be late 20th century or later. They live a primitive life, horses for transportation, no electricity, and no indoor running water. The community is basically a cult, run by El Señor. Besides his daughter and two other girls in his household, he has a boy chained in a pen outside. He says the boy is Jesus. But he has had other boys who didn't prove to be the Messiah. El Señor rules the community with an iron hand, but the girls are beginning to see through his prophet act. Other villagers are starting to stray in various ways. As real life intrudes, El Señor begins to lose control. And the boy in the pen definitely is not Jesus...
Haunting and beautiful. Unique and terrifying.
joonatan-9608131 August 2020
A folktale, a horror story, a cautionary fable, and a biblical parable rolled into one. There's very little gore or bloodshed (but what there is will scar you), yet every minute of it feels like the air is being sucked from the room.
Luz is a parable that looks like it was filmed in paradise. There's an ethereal quality to this world that feels far removed from reality. The skies are forever painted in vanilla and crimson. The horizon stretches forever to caress the mountain peaks. The forests are lush and deep. Beauty is highlighted by the absence of things. There is nothing beyond this realm. It's so captivating that by the time we realize there's also no escape, director Juan Diego Escobar Alzate has already ensnared us into El Señor's trap.
By the time we begin to look elsewhere, the grainy image reveals perpetually disheveled faces, endless sweat, and grime for days. The film feels heavy and humid, as if the temperatures from far away seep through the canvas. Alzate keeps the framing tight when he's with people, and wide as they are alone. Community is oppressive, nature is limitless, and the closer we're drawn in the hotter the room gets.
This is Alzate's first feature film and it's a remarkable debut. His story is told with tense minimalism without any extra fat on it. It also resists the urges that most new storytellers fall into, and reigns the visuals in at every turn instead of showing everything. The decision pays off in spades, as the implications are far more horrifying. Only a single scene tips the scales, but it's the kind of moment that people will speak of for years to come.
Luz is a parable that looks like it was filmed in paradise. There's an ethereal quality to this world that feels far removed from reality. The skies are forever painted in vanilla and crimson. The horizon stretches forever to caress the mountain peaks. The forests are lush and deep. Beauty is highlighted by the absence of things. There is nothing beyond this realm. It's so captivating that by the time we realize there's also no escape, director Juan Diego Escobar Alzate has already ensnared us into El Señor's trap.
By the time we begin to look elsewhere, the grainy image reveals perpetually disheveled faces, endless sweat, and grime for days. The film feels heavy and humid, as if the temperatures from far away seep through the canvas. Alzate keeps the framing tight when he's with people, and wide as they are alone. Community is oppressive, nature is limitless, and the closer we're drawn in the hotter the room gets.
This is Alzate's first feature film and it's a remarkable debut. His story is told with tense minimalism without any extra fat on it. It also resists the urges that most new storytellers fall into, and reigns the visuals in at every turn instead of showing everything. The decision pays off in spades, as the implications are far more horrifying. Only a single scene tips the scales, but it's the kind of moment that people will speak of for years to come.
Breathtaking Cinematography
kazzyreacts18 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This film is visually stunning. I admire the director's vision and what he accomplished with Luz. While watching it, I had thoughts of Guillermo Del Toro and Gaspar Noé - two directors whose work I find outstanding and particularly visually striking. This film pushes boundaries and may not be for everyone. It is difficult to watch at times and I remember feeling that same way while watching Irreversible and Enter The Void - two incredible films directed by Gaspar Noé.
Like those films mentioned, it takes courage to watch Luz; it's not for the faint of heart. However, if you're interested in watching a beautifully shot and written film, with superb acting, you'll enjoy this movie. Just don't go into it hoping for something "happy" or "easy". Luz is neither of those. And yet it's still an excellent film. Trigger warning: Rape
Like those films mentioned, it takes courage to watch Luz; it's not for the faint of heart. However, if you're interested in watching a beautifully shot and written film, with superb acting, you'll enjoy this movie. Just don't go into it hoping for something "happy" or "easy". Luz is neither of those. And yet it's still an excellent film. Trigger warning: Rape
Beautiful and wonderfully unsettling
jon_pratt123458 August 2021
Stylistically beautiful with an incredible colour palet and haunting score. It is a film to let wash over you; there are some very disturbing moments but it is not a jump scare horror, rather it is a slow immersion into a wonderfully unsettling experience.
Breathtaking visuals
jonathanangus-8861824 December 2020
A beautiful, unsettling experience. Reminds one of The Witch, but I think this movie is probably better than that one. And the music was not only a lovely choice, but the narrative makes you think about what music really is and does.
'A road to Heaven and a descent to Hell.'
Eric_Lang20 November 2020
These are the director's words and they completely sum up this film. Having just watched it at Paracinema online film festival it got the coveted 'wow' from me. In fact I intend to watch it again before my rental expires. A trippy existential folk horror that inhabits a place where good and evil are one and the same. Recommended...
Indie Masterpiece
vvurmzflessshhh4 September 2020
Cult classic! A masterpiece work! Just viewed the film at the Horrible Imaginings Film Festival and it is a deep exploration and intricate piece of work. Watching and searching for years, trying to find a piece of work that will be able to challenge your will to understand duality of spirituality and chaos in us all, an examination of ones deep spiritual commitment, as they face simultaneously a duality of evil that is intertwined in the hearts, minds, and souls of all humans. This takes a well written tale into a realm that only an indie filmmaker with vision can create.
Bold, Original, and Unpredictable
dlaemmlen-126 October 2020
LUZ is bold, original, and unpredictable filmmaking in every way: breathtaking cinematography, an unsettling soundtrack, slow-burning performances, and a quiet yet horrifying premise that probes our most universal challenge--the constant battle between light and dark impulses. Alzate's feature debut promises more intriguing exploration of mankind's darkest urges to come.
Immersive and Stunning
probablyloveletters23 December 2020
I went into this film blind and I'm glad I did. I don't think anyone's description of this movie would do justice.
It's beautiful, from the actors to the cinematography it's visually stunning. The story is immersive and the dialogue is thought provoking. Even though it is subtitled it pulls you in so deeply that you tend to forget, at least that was my experience.
Conrodo Osorio is commanding and terrifying and Yuri Vargas' performance is equally outstanding.
This was a fresh take on folk horror and a must see. Excellent all around and looking forward to much more from writer/director Juan Diego Escobar Alzate.
Probably The Most Beautifully Shot Film I've Ever Seen
horrormoviefan2411 January 2021
I watched this movie a couple nights ago. The cover got my attention and the description sounded interesting to me. I am so happy I decided to watch this. What a fun psychological horror film that kept me guessing and kept me interested. Great acting. Great writing and great directing. This is also probably the most beautifully shot film I have ever seen. The shots are amazing and some of them look like living paintings. I can't wait to see more from the team behind this one.
A sight to behold
dancurtis-5788731 July 2022
This film may not be for everyone, but if the viewer allows the slower pace and the performances to exist and push the admittedly thin narrative forward, there is a lot to be gained. I highly recommend Luz to fans of horror folklore and the films of Terrence Malick. I think this team has created something special that can truly be thought-provoking and moving, with images that I can't get out of my head and performances to match the fantastic landscape. The profoundly dark side of human existence is on display in Luz: Flower of Evil. If such darkness intrigues you as it does me, I recommend giving it a chance.
The intersection of dark fantasy, horror, and philosophy
I_Ailurophile30 October 2021
The visual presentation quickly impresses, boosted by impeccable image quality. The filming locations and set design are swell, and there's strong attention to hair, makeup, costume design, and all the little facets of which films are comprised. Shots and scenes are carefully arranged, capturing all possible detail. And between all these aspects, and swell lighting and camerawork, and the sometimes seemingly artificial rendering of the sky - for all the mindful perfection in what we see, the picture has the ready appearance of fantasy.
That slant is echoed in the music in the movie, above all Brian Heater's dynamic score - shifting in turn from light and airy to brooding and dramatic. And the narrative cements the approach, and affirms it as a very dark fantasy on hand, with an exploration of faith, human nature, and good and evil by way of a distinctly disturbing series of events. Definite flavors of horror peek through the tale alongside disconcerting themes including zealotry, manipulation, domestic violence, wrath, corruption, and more. Particular unsettling, jarring, and at times downright horrifying incidents manifest throughout, sustaining another example of a movie in which the sense of horror is broadly more thematic and conceptual than concrete. At that, still, the horror is part and parcel with the grimly fantastical air the picture adopts.
It's hard to single anyone out among the cast, as I think everyone is outstanding. Every assembled actor demonstrates brilliant range, nuance, and force of personality to bring their characters to life. Filmmaker Juan Diego Escobar Alzate's direction is solid; his screenplay is wonderfully ambitious. The technical craft is solid, and the result of it all is a daring, original film. No especial fault leaps out at me, save for that the feature is difficult to parse at times - this is a movie with Big Ideas to communicate, and for the viewer to ruminate upon. Though not truly limiting our enjoyment, that method does instill a lingering doubt as to whether we're picking up everything that Alzate is laying down, or missing something that would make the movie complete in our vision. It's an unfortunate side effect of the dense type of tale being told that our investment depends entirely on willingness and ability to actively analyze as we're watching, and vice versa.
But, like I said - this is ambitious. And even if it's not wholly perfect in its creation, it's surely engrossing, and disquieting. Nitpicking aside, it's very well made, and a pleasure to watch. It's a blend of genres that works to build a film both curious and surprising, and if one is receptive to the variety - why, if nothing that I've written has been off-putting, or instead entices - then this is well worth seeking out. 'Luz: The flower of evil' is artistic and heavy in the story it imparts, but excellent, and recommended for patient, open-minded fans of drama, fantasy, and horror alike.
That slant is echoed in the music in the movie, above all Brian Heater's dynamic score - shifting in turn from light and airy to brooding and dramatic. And the narrative cements the approach, and affirms it as a very dark fantasy on hand, with an exploration of faith, human nature, and good and evil by way of a distinctly disturbing series of events. Definite flavors of horror peek through the tale alongside disconcerting themes including zealotry, manipulation, domestic violence, wrath, corruption, and more. Particular unsettling, jarring, and at times downright horrifying incidents manifest throughout, sustaining another example of a movie in which the sense of horror is broadly more thematic and conceptual than concrete. At that, still, the horror is part and parcel with the grimly fantastical air the picture adopts.
It's hard to single anyone out among the cast, as I think everyone is outstanding. Every assembled actor demonstrates brilliant range, nuance, and force of personality to bring their characters to life. Filmmaker Juan Diego Escobar Alzate's direction is solid; his screenplay is wonderfully ambitious. The technical craft is solid, and the result of it all is a daring, original film. No especial fault leaps out at me, save for that the feature is difficult to parse at times - this is a movie with Big Ideas to communicate, and for the viewer to ruminate upon. Though not truly limiting our enjoyment, that method does instill a lingering doubt as to whether we're picking up everything that Alzate is laying down, or missing something that would make the movie complete in our vision. It's an unfortunate side effect of the dense type of tale being told that our investment depends entirely on willingness and ability to actively analyze as we're watching, and vice versa.
But, like I said - this is ambitious. And even if it's not wholly perfect in its creation, it's surely engrossing, and disquieting. Nitpicking aside, it's very well made, and a pleasure to watch. It's a blend of genres that works to build a film both curious and surprising, and if one is receptive to the variety - why, if nothing that I've written has been off-putting, or instead entices - then this is well worth seeking out. 'Luz: The flower of evil' is artistic and heavy in the story it imparts, but excellent, and recommended for patient, open-minded fans of drama, fantasy, and horror alike.
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