Películas para No Dormir: Cuento de Navidad (2005)
Genre: Horror
Duration: 71 minuten
Alternative title: Films to Keep You Awake: The Christmas Tale
Country:
Spain
Directed by: Paco Plaza
Stars: Maru Valdivielso, Christian Casas and Pau Poch
IMDb score:
6,1 (1.936)
Releasedate: 27 October 2005
Películas para No Dormir: Cuento de Navidad plot
A group of children find a woman dressed as Santa Claus in a well in a forest. It turns out she's a wanted thief. They decide to take her money and leave her trapped in the pit. One day they come back and the woman is gone. Santa Claus is bringing deadly presents this year...
Actors and actresses
Rebeca Expósito
Koldo
Peti
Tito
Eugenio
Moni
Ekran
Charles
Taylor
Gourmet Policeman
Reviews & comments
Mug
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- 13981 messages
- 5969 votes
In recent years, Spanish horror films have become very popular. American remakes, directors who get a taste of Hollywood, and a large fan base.
It is all the more remarkable that the 6-part TV film series Películas para No Dormir (loosely translated, films that will not make you fall asleep) directed by those Spanish 'greats' has not yet been discovered by the avid peanut butter eaters of this site . Pay some attention, although this Cuento de Navidad is not exactly a cracker.
Cuento de Navidad is more suitable for younger viewers. There isn't much gore to be discovered. It is more of an ode to the 80s, also the period in which the film is set. From bad 80s zombie flicks video tapes to whistling ice lollies, from Star Wars to The Karate Kid. From that perspective the film is very enjoyable. Well, who didn't grow up with bad horror films and other Hollywood junk as a youngster?
Sharpen your ax and with a bowl of nuts on your lap you will have more than enough to enjoy. Even a healthy night's sleep afterwards!
Translated from Dutch · View original
arno74
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- 8700 messages
- 3342 votes
Nice as a light-hearted eightiesparody of horror, slasher and youth films. In that sense, it was certainly a nice idea by Paco Plaza to keep his contribution to the Films to Keep You Awake series a little less serious. The opening scene (after the bit with that bad eighties horror) with those cycling children is immediately a parody of the successful Spanish youth series from the 80s Verano Azul (1981-1982) | IMDb. The names of the kids and the scenario (a school holiday) are also a reference to this. There are many more references to the '80s.
Especially within the context of the Films to Keep You Awake series (which certainly also includes good horrors), this is a pleasant twist on that design, Paco Plaza tries in this way to get as much out of the low budget, and that results in a fun film.
Outside of that context, what remains is a low budget film with charm. Also nice to see Ivana Baquero (the girl from Pan's Labyrinth (2006) in a different role. 3*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Shadowed
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- 11421 messages
- 6719 votes
Entertaining and delicious short horror film with a big punch of humor. Director Paco Plaza may have started his career on a somewhat rough note, but that is no longer noticeable with this project. From start to finish everything is imbued with lightness and with a story that captivates, The Christmas Tale has no trouble holding your attention. It is therefore nice that all the children act very well despite the rather easy characters they have to play. In terms of gore and/or tension, Plaza could have gone a little further and the stylization could have been a bit tighter, but in the end it remains optimal entertainment with an unpredictable course. Maybe I should check out the other participants in this Spanish series as well.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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