Cold Sweat DVD review

   

Starring: Facundo Espinosa
Language: Spanish
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Dark Sky Films
DVD Release Date: January 17, 2012
Run Time: 80 minutes

    Cold Sweat is a tightly wound horror film with a solid premise an explosive follow-through. The film is at times confounding, inexplicably violent and yet beautiful in its execution and style. Like the great horror films of the past, this clever Spanish horror films begins suddenly and starts with one of the film’s most graphic sequences. The way the violence suddenly takes hold unexpectedly and illogically reminded me of films like The Hills Have Eyes and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the villains are unique in their own way.

            The film begins quickly. We join a young man named Roman (Facundo Espinosa) as he sits outside of a home on an ordinary street. Thinking that he has tracked his girlfriend to the home of a new blonde lover, Roman is shocked to find that she was instead lured by two elderly political radicals who are experimenting on girls with cases of decade-old dynamite, acid, and creatively utilized nitroglycerin. Roman sneaks around the house, unsuspected by the elderly psychopaths, attempting to free his girlfriend and escape without exploding. 

            The aspect of the internet being utilized to ensnare the younger generation into the trap, allowing victims to come right into the home of the killers, is one of the film’s most inspired elements. And yet, although technology has pulled them into the mess, it does little to help them out of it. Cell phones have no reception in the house and Roman’s pleas for a 911 call on Facebook are ignored and ridiculed. It seems that Roman’s friends outside of the dynamite-filled home are far too skeptical, whereas a little more of that on Roman’s girlfriend’s part could have prevented this whole situation.

            Surprisingly stylish in the cinematography, it is somewhat disappointing not to have a high definition presentation of this on the DVD. Still, it is a solid film worth checking out in any format. There are also a surprising amount of special features, including a director’s commentary and some behind-the-scenes footage. There are also a few deleted and extended scenes, a poster gallery, a comic book and trailer gallery.