Frightfest Halloween 2024: ‘Parvulos’ Review
Stars: Mateo Ortega Casillas, Leonardo Cervantes, Carla Adell, Farid Escalante Correa, Norma Flores, Horacio F. Lazo, Noé Hernández, Juan Carlos Remolina | Written by Isaac Ezban, Ricardo Aguado-Fentanes | Directed by Isaac Ezban
Mexican horror movies have always been about it seems but there’s never been enough of them in the mainstream to make them popular enough that fans would call it a sub-genre of any kind. Issa Lopez has perhaps changed this in recent years, starting with the excellent Tigers Are Not Afraid. Parvulos is hoping to continue the high quality of that Mexican horror movie.
Unfortunately, or maybe not because it’s a good thing, you don’t want to know too much about Parvulos before watching it. But what I will say is that it involves two brothers living in a cabin in the woods, in some kind of post-apocalyptic world. We soon discover that they are hiding something dark and sinister in their basement.
It is also one of my favourite types of horror movies, the coming-of-age horror. And it’s an almost perfect example of this sub-genre. We get thrown into this world where the three brothers have clearly spent a lot of time together, have learned together and are super close because of it. Everything we see them do is to help their family survive in a place that has a lot of things trying to kill them.
The cast are fantastic, especially the three young siblings. Despite the character’s toughness you never lose sight of their vulnerability because they are so young. They can only grow up so much when living alone.
Parvulos looks great too and experienced director Isaac Ezban (Evil Eye, Deathcember) has got a great eye for how to make the world he has created look exactly how he wants it. There’s a beautiful use of black and white imagery throughout, while the environment when we see outside of the cabin manages to be both pleasing to the eye but also pretty creepy.
And what about the horror elements of the movie? Well, the most horrific moments are shown with awesome practical effect work and blood that covers the screen from top to bottom and more! There’s no holding back when it comes to the gore, with a clear influence from The Evil Dead at times. I would say the other notable influence might be A Quiet Place. It has a similar tone and family dynamic. There are also some really cool practical make-up effects work for some more terrifying ‘things’ (I’m trying to keep this spoiler-free!) that just can’t be faulted.
Like the best coming-of-age movies of any genre, Parvulos manages to make the viewer emotionally invested in these characters. Anyone with siblings will understand the characters’ choices and emotions even better. And because of this, there are some absolutely heart (and gut!) wrenching scenes.
Parvulos is a truly dark and twisted take on the coming-of-age movie. There’s so much for horror fans to love about but it is much more than just its blood and gore. Family drama has never been so full of love but also gruesome and brilliant. Check out Parvulos as soon as you get the chance.
**** 4/5
Parvuloa screened as part of this year’s Frightfest Halloween event.
