User Reviews

As with the first two reviews, I have to agree that there were no weak acting here. Every single one of them were marvelous. The cinematography and especially the atmosphere were very effective and notable.

However, I would not classify this as a horror movie. I'm inclined to say that this is more of a suspense/drama.

Admittedly, the director was extremely talented in building up the tension, though it is quite tiring to always have that accumulate inside you without having any form of release as nothing of significance really happens. Granted, that he wasn't going for cheap thrills, which I can respect, but a movie gets anti-climactic fast, even with superb actors and atmosphere, if it's not going anywhere.

This would have been great for a short film, but made into a full length movie, it became a bit diluted. Still, I did not regret watching this for the positive points already mentioned above. Those were so good, it salvaged the entire film.

'The Squad' is a Colombian psychological horror thriller that comes tantalisingly close to delivering the nasty thrills its story craves - but unfortunately comes up short.

It follows a team of soldiers sent to investigate a Colombian mountain base where all contact has been lost. The soldiers find themselves in a place of unholy intrigue: the dark and grimy interior is graffitied with vague warnings and smeared with fresh blood, while the foreboding sound design toys with our nerves. And a thick and pervasive mist prevents the exterior scenes from feeling safe, ensuring daylight is as cloyingly atmospheric as possible.

The characters are never given enough development to make you sympathise with their peril, however. It's a typical assembly of soldiers who show their argumentative side as much as camaraderie, but no one feels like a fleshed out individual worthy of supporting.

The leisurely pace may also test some viewers' patience, with the decidedly lacklustre finale disappointing considering the careful setup. But, overall, 'The Squad' is watchable enough for the majority of its runtime even if a second watch is not in the cards.

6/10

I love different kind of horrors, I adore that blend with war, especially after seeing "Outcast" but this one, as many other Spanish, Latino productions, it fails to deliver as a horror movie.

So, let's make it clear, I'm not stating it's bad, but if you get it for a late, cold night, it will seem overlong and will put you right to sleep. The comments here are positive, almost everyone is praying The Squad, but how many remember what the purpose of it really is? Enough with finding excuses for horror, "it doesn't act like one but it is so different", "such a bold approach", "new and original!", are nothing more that signs that you may want to stay away from this. After you watch it, you can barely put it in the horror section, only cause the plot offers 2 small clues, one coming very obviously at the end and one at start.

Anyway, sorry to say, but I'm disappointed, cause I came for a duck, it looked like a duck, did not act like one, did not sound like one, so stop telling me this is a duck. Get a pair of glasses and problem solved!

I recommend Outcast or Dog Soldiers.!

Cheers!

Unfortunately The Squad fails to deliver on its interesting premise and promising first ten minutes. Competent camera work and a decent cast is unable to make up for a lack of plot, structure or coherent direction. I can appreciate what the director was attempting to do with lingering close-ups of grim, suffering faces, subtle sound cues and atmospheric lighting, but one can only rely on those techniques so long before delivering some kind of pay-off. For me the film completely failed to rack up any tension or arrive at a destination. I was more concerned with wondering why the characters - supposedly trained soldiers in a war zone - were behaving more like angsty teens who've fallen out with their parents.

The message that in a civil war everyone looks like the enemy could have been portrayed far more effectively without tacking on a poorly-realized supernatural element. The film-makers tried to do both and ended up with neither. I hate using the word, but 'boring' really is the only word that comes to mind.

Another reviewer here stated some interesting points. I do agree with most of his arguments, but I don't think the movie is as bad as he makes it to be. That doesn't mean I think it's really good, but I do think the director was going for the right thing. Fear and isolation can make people go crazy.

Of course the idea is anything but new and there have been quite a few movies with similar themes. While this is well played, there is something missing to help the viewer along the ride. Something that will even the field and make even some of the clichés look good. As it is, it is just decent (maybe you won't even think as much of it, as proved by other reviews). Suspense is high enough and though you can guess most turns and events, it is still enjoyable enough.

El Páramo is a tension-filled horror-thriller from Colombian director Jaime Osorio Marquez.

It tells the story of a squad of soldiers, who have been sent to investigate a remote, fog-stricken, mountain outpost, believed to have been overrun by guerillas.

Though, once they arrive...there is no one to be found. Only what looks to be the aftermath of a massacre.

Eventually, they discover a female guerilla holed up behind a wall that is scrawled with spells, and covered with magical charms, meant to ward off the devil.

The squad members can't agree on whether she is a witch; or whether she is responsible for whatever atrocity occurred here...but one thing is certain...it has struck a wedge between them.

Whatever you think occurs, it has the effect of revealing the men for who they truly are. It separates the good from the evil; the strong minded from the weak willed; and the survivors from the dead.

This is exacerbated when the most sadistic f*ck in the unit is killed, after being alone with the woman (whom he planned on torturing and/or raping). If she was able to kill an entire unit, and the man who made them all cower in fear- they feel she must be more than just your average guerilla.

Now that she's on the lamb, pure fear sets in. And what follows is an expert psychological breakdown of the military mindset.

Is someone really out there, using magic to knock them off one-by-one...or is it all in their heads...with themselves being the only ones to blame? A couple clever twists, expertly placed, keeps you thinking about this; and, just when you think you've gotten it all figured out- forces you to question your assumptions.

You really need to have patience- and engage in reflection- to fully appreciate this film. It is neither an action packed, nor gore based, horror...as some critics were clearly expecting. It plods along slowly, builds tension; and forces you to engage with the characters, by encouraging you to break each of them down them down psychologically.

In the end, what made me enjoy this film so much, is how it acts as a scathing critique of the military mindset. Going into it, I fully expected this to be a pro-military propaganda piece, with a horror angle. But it's not. It's completely the opposite. Not only does it act to condemn the war (in Colombia), in general...but also encourages you to reflect on how dangerous it is to throw ordinary people (with all their psychological misgivings and limitations) into such situations. It's an atrocity waiting to happen.

Slow build-up aside, I found this to be a relatively engrossing film.

6 out of 10.

No real plot Terrible acting Nothing happened Awful dialogue

It's takes something truly awful for me to not finish it Turned this one off

A special high mountain command (stars : Juan David Restrepo, Mateo Stevel, Andrés Castañeda, Daniela Catz, and Nelson Camayo, among others) of nine is sent to a military base in a desolate high-plains moor of Colombia , but all contact with the military base high in the desolate wastelands of Colombia has been lost . Contact was lost several days ago and was believed to be target of a guerrilla attack . Upon arrival, the only person found inside the base results to be a woman , as the men discover a shocking scene of carnage, and only one survivor , a peasant who is heavily chained . Gradually , the team is disturbingly hooked by isolation and the impossibility to escape , and creating them doubts about the true nature of that strange woman . They start to question the identity of their enemy, and the true nature of the strange , silent woman . Is she a terrorist ? A victim? Or something more sinister? Something supernatural… Paranoia takes root . Prisoners of fear and the terrible secret they share , and the events go wrong .

This stirring as well as violent film has breathless , brutal scenes , a gut punch of an action film , it creates a nice amount of tension and fright . It begins when authorities – believing a military base to have fallen to a terrorist attack – send a nine-man squad to investigate ; as a special unit of combat taking on the challenges of dealing with pressure themselves , isolating , fright and fighting at an unnamed war . This is a thrilling picture with terror elements in which a squad is submitted to strange horrors and impossibility of escape that undermine the integrity and sanity of the soldiers, causing them to lose the certainties about the identify of the enemy . It's an interesting movie , from the beginning until the end the frightening and scary action is unstoppable . It's a thought-provoking and clever studio of an Elite Squad , about some experienced soldiers, and unflinching remark at the lack of communication , as a group inability to communicate with the outside world originating upsetting feelings , hatred and confrontation . The film turns out to be a crossover from various flicks , as it takes parts here and there of The Bunker by Rob Green , Deathwatch by Michael J. Basset , The Guard Post , among others . The flick has an eerie atmosphere , it is in gloomy color , enhanced by the mud of trenches and with lights and shades that originates a ghostly setting . Set design is alright , the movie is enough atmospheric , the dark sludge , the dirtiness and filthiness with the muddy trenches are very well designed .

Jaime Osorio Marquez makes his acceptable writing and directing debut with this tale of an elite team of soldiers , though overusing the Steadicam . American remake rights to The Squad (El Paramo) have already been snatched up by a Hollywood producer. Colombia Reports says Scott Lastaiti (his previous credits include executive producing Turistas , Love in the Time of Cholera and Stan Helsing) saw the film, thought it was "chilling," and ultimately purchased the rights.

Movie is trash. I kept saying nothing happens in 20 more minutes I'm shutting it off, said that 3xs, should have shut it off after 45 minutes.

It was better than expected! its not bad, its not the best .. Wonderful directing acting and all other things that are said in the reviews.

Could easily be a 1hour 1.20hour movie though, not that much happens to be so long, but it keeps the tension through the whole movie, i never felt bored as in most of the movies nowadays, it manages to keep you in the atmosphere Dont wait to be impressed by the best movie, but it certainly Deserves to be watched:)

I caught this first time around on Netflix about a year ago and absolutely loved it. So much in fact I bought the film on DVD a couple of months ago (not sure if it has had a blu-ray release). I really can't recommend this film enough it is well written, well shot, well acted and has a brooding, claustrophobic quality about it that stands it head and shoulders above the large percentage of dross that currently boasts to be "the scariest film you will see this year, blah blah"

I must also mention the score which adds impressively to the ominous atmosphere of this film overall. Impressive!

How much do you know about the Colombian film industry? Probably more than I do. 'El Paramo' is a heck of an introduction; opinion seems to be rather divided here and I won't pretend that everything is perfect with this movie but I found it very watchable. Yes, it follows a well-trodden path but is none the worse for it. I thought it a shade heavy on the melodrama and it lacked a little refinement here and there, hence only 8/10 but artistic direction and photography were tight and sensitively handled throughout. I enjoyed the device of concentrating totally on the actors to the exclusion of just about everything else -there IS a lot of darkness and mist around, so may be best avoided if expensive sets and grand scenery are more to your liking. Or if somewhat grisly scenes turn you off! The basics of the story (which all unfolds quite nicely) are no more than have been revealed by other reviewers, so I've nothing to add except praise for the well-designed music soundtrack and a warm recommendation overall.

This film is estimated at $1,300,000 budget. Acting, camera, environment and direction are superb.

This is a psychological triller edging to the horror genre. The tension the movie manages is not like all the other many Hollywood movies where it is mostly sound effects that make people to jump off their seats, with a boring story used many times. Hollywood please it time to change the genre a bit, this movie put Hollywood movies in shame considering the budget. Sound effects are well managed, lightning, location create the eerie atmosphere that makes it a good movie.

Movie will be remade the new movie makes justice to this original version.