An Average Movie-Goer’s Review
No spoilers! If you would like spoilers – check out the Spoiler post
I love horror movies and if I’m going to watch them anyway, why not write an entertaining/funny review from the POV of an average movie-goer and not a professional critic.
Today we’re looking at the 2021 Netflix exclusive The Wasteland also known as El Páramo
In 19th century Spain, an isolated family must deal with a beast that feeds on fear and the effects it has on each other.
Is it Scary?
The Wasteland has a few good jump scares but mostly focuses on telling its story. In this case this means the scares never reach a truly terrifying feeling. They’re more of a slow-burn and you definitely see them coming but they’re spaced out enough where it never gets boring.
Most of the suspense will come from what the family will do next but you won’t be left afraid to go to sleep… unless you have an outhouse and a small bladder.
Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed The Wasteland. It wasn’t really scary but definitely tells a good story about a family and their mental health. At times it can be on the nose about the message it’s telling but it never hits you over the head with what’s happening, leaving it open to interpretation.
Overall it’s definitely a slow burn but at just under 90 minutes, it doesn’t get boring. It does drag a bit in the first quarter but these scenes mirror later scenes that really show the change the family is going through.
The acting is pretty good as well as the dialogue which helps you connect to the characters. The creature design is pretty bland, nothing that will leave you scared but I do think it was purposely done for reasons in the story. But, that is also up for interpretation.
I do recommend The Wasteland but I wouldn’t say it’s a ‘highly recommend’ unless you like slow-burn psychological horror that focuses way more on the psychological piece instead of the horror.
Cast IMDB