Romasanta (2004)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Paco Plaza

Writers:

Alfredo Conde (story)
Elena Serra (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 May 2004 (Spain)

Genre:

Action | Horror

Plot:

An uproar is caused when some mutilated cadavers are discovered, giving way to the legend of the "Werewolf of Allariz"...

Plot Keywords:

Werewolf | Transformation | Spit In The Face | Dead Bird | Waterfall

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Julian Sands	...	Manuel Romasanta
Elsa Pataky	...	Bárbara
John Sharian	...	Antonio
Gary Piquer	...	District Attorney Luciano de la Bastida
David Gant	...	Professor Philips
Maru Valdivielso	...	María
Luna McGill	...	Teresa
Carlos Reig-Plaza	...	Gómez (as Carlos Reig)
Reg Wilson	...	Judge
Ivana Baquero	...	Ana
Laura Mañá	...	Antonia
Sergi Ruiz	...	Francisco
Itziar Fenollar	...	Benita
Carlos Sante	...	Hunter 1
Jaume Montané	...	Raúl

Also Known As:

Romasanta: The Werewolf Hunt (Australia) (DVD title) (International: English title) (UK) (DVD title)
Romasanta, la caza de la bestia (Spain)
The Werewolf Manhunt (International: English title)
Werewolf Hunter (USA) (video title)
Werewolf Hunter: The Legend of Romasanta (USA) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, some sexuality, nudity and brief language.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Spain | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Finland:K-15 | Malaysia:18PL | Malaysia:U (cut) | Germany:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | New Zealand:R18 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15

Company:

Filmax

Trivia:

Based on the case of serial killer Manuel Blanco Romasanta who murdered 13 people in 1850s Spain. He claimed a curse turned him into a wolf causing him to kill. Because of these claims, Queen Isabella II acquitted him.

Quotes:

Antonio: He is not a man. He is a wolf who becomes human so that he can seduce and murder his victims.

Movie Connections:

Version of El bosque del lobo (1971)

"Romasanta is not a man"

'Romasanta' tells the chilling tale of Manuel Blanco Romasanta, known murderer of 15 people (although confessing to murdering many more) and how he charms women before killing them brutally like a wolf. When we are introduced to Romasanta a wolf backs away in fear from him, and this saves the life of the heroine Bárbera. Romasanta is going with Bárbera's sister and they leave Bárbera behind to go to another town to secure a place to live and a home, running in fear of the wolves that have been killing the town folk. On the way to the new town, Romasanta kills his 'girlfriend' and her daughter and then returns to seduce Bárbera. She suspects that Romasanta has killed her sister and niece and sets out to have justice brought to him.

Julian Sands (Romasanta) is excellent in this chilling Gothic tale, portraying the character with such eerie class that makes the film as good as it is. This is no ordinary werewolf movie, it is a psychological thriller, looking at the mind-set of a man suffering from lycanthropy, making him turn mentally to a beast but making him feel the physicality of it.

All in all, an excellent Gothic tale, a new take on werewolf movies and I would say that it is better than most films involving werewolves. What's more, it is based on real events. Excellently filmed and acted, especially by Julian Sands. Definitely worth watching. From me, 9/10.

Cat §quire