I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

If "not seeing it coming" is your decisive criterion for which thriller to watch, then go ahead and watch it. Some say the twists were way too obvious whereas others say the twists were realistically smart. I, therefore, cannot tell what is in store for you.If not, then carry on reading: I do not appreciate a movie that tries too hard to surprise and does that without a story. That keeps me asking "so what"? Personally, I didn't find the twists as realistic as some deem it to be, as realism, to me, has more to do with the tangibility of causes than the nature of effects.Once I had realized the movie was all about twists rather than the story, I stopped caring about how the story told in flashbacks would unfold (because a partially hidden retrospection is what these movies are all about, most of the time).So, there actually is a story, but the story pertains in the twists and I was expecting otherwise. It almost feels like the movie is saying to the viewer: "I want to surprise you so much that it is actually impossible for me to think of a captivating story with believable motives, see, a movie can only last this long and because I am filled up with twists, I cannot even build characters and back up my story, there is in fact no story even though it might seem otherwise, because there was no time to give you one." This is the single reason I rated this movie a 5. It is interesting enough to keep watching with an anticipation to see more of what is coming and then letting it all add up coherently, but, in the end, all I felt was that I didn't even care about what I had just seen. I couldn't find a single thing worthy of remembering in this movie.Other than that... I liked the performances of the actors. I found the setting to be a little too nondescript for my taste; with nothing really sticking out in particular and setting a memorable atmosphere. Maybe I should have chopped more off the rating because of that.

This is a cleverly constructed film, with a well-fabricated script, which is acted beautifully – if that's an appropriate word, in this context – by four characters: an aggrieved and psychotic divorced academic; his abused ex-wife, who is a practicing psychiatrist, and whom he has kidnapped; and two police officers who are trying to unravel the mystery of the wife's recent disappearance.Above all, this is a horror story, and a quite chilling one if you can overcome the disbelief that nags at the back of your head: how could anybody concoct and execute such a convoluted plan? For complexity, it reminds me of Sleuth (1972), which many will recall as a well-crafted murder mystery, but certainly no horror story. There is also, I think, some slight affinity with The Vanishing (1993) which is a horror story, but of a different kind.Based upon a stage play (like Sleuth), this narrative is essentially divided into two parts: the scenes between the academic, Ramon (Dario Grandinetti) and his ex-wife, Laura (Goya Toledo) are all in flash-back; the interrogation scenes between the police and Ramon are in the present. Throughout the film, the scenes cut between those time frames at irregular intervals, the first of which provides a seemingly inexplicable narrative transition – so much so, the viewer may feel completely lost for a few minutes. As the story unfolds, however, that and other transitions begin to make more sense.The story centers upon Ramon and how he wants to murder Laura as revenge for what he felt was an unjust divorce; at least that's the rationale he uses. It goes much deeper than that, however, as is disclosed (but not here; see the movie). The problem for Ramon is this, however: how to achieve that goal without being convicted of the murder? As the ex, he'll be a suspect, obviously; so, being the brilliant academic he is, he sets up one of the most ingenious mind games I've seen on film.Not only does he play the cruelest of mind and word games with Laura, he also manipulates his own interrogation by Comisario Espinosa (Fernando Guillen) and Inspector Sanchez (Eric Bonicatto), pitting his mind and plan against the cops, and all to his advantage. The way Ramon accomplishes the latter is, once more, clever to the point of almost beyond belief. All the while, however, none of those interacting with Ramon – including the viewer – can be sure that Laura is in fact dead, much less harmed, apart from the severe emotional trauma of being held against her will. Not until the very last scene...So, while the basic story is nothing radical – man plans to murder his ex, in a nutshell – the plot, cinematography and editing kept me on the edge of my seat. That doesn't happen very often to me. In fact, this is one of only a few films that grabbed me from the get-go, as the fade-in opens with Ramon talking to me from a TV set, telling me about the first person he murdered. As he finishes his chilling description, he moves off the screen within the screen, and the camera pulls back to show a woman in red, gagged and bound to chair, and weeping in terror at what she just saw on the TV. Hooked...There are some gruesome scenes and still photos that will disturb some, for sure. And, when Ramon prepares to use a tea spoon as a truly diabolical torture tool, you may not want to watch. Suffice to say, I think, that not since Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lechter, have I seen a sociopath portrayed so effectively and so convincingly. Dario Grandinetti's Ramon is a worthy, but lesser, companion for Hannibal, and without the cannibalism (although I can't be sure about that last). As Laura, Goya Toledo is ravishing, smart, confident and determined to outsmart Ramon; while the good cop-bad cop routine by Espinosa and Bonicatto is clever and devious, with both also determined to uncover the truth about Ramon and his missing ex. So, kudos go the script-writer, the actors, director Laura Mana and the production team for creating a mini-masterpiece, I think.Having said all that however, I come back to the whole premise for the story: I just can't quite swallow the idea that somebody would go to such trouble to murder his ex; there are easier ways. So, while the writer did an excellent job to script it and made sure that there were no loose ends – everything was explained to my satisfaction – the critic inside my head just wouldn't stop screaming. I guess I'm just hard to please.Recommended, but not for any kids.

It appears that I am the first American to review this masterpiece. If so, I cannot agree more with the others who recognized the excellence of this film. In a time when plot twists are so formulaic and derivative, Killing Words shows that there us still room for a well-developed, intelligently-written story. A nod should go to the editing of work. At more than a dozen points in the development of the plot, there Might have been an opportunity for the viewer to pause and reason through where the story was headed. But the flashbacks were so well place that the viewer was kept off-guard. One reviewer correctly noted that this piece is a prime candidate for a redo by and American studio. I hope not. The style and grace of this movie could be easily ruined.

If you get a chance make sure to pick up this small gem from a Spanish actress turned director Laura Mana. This movie is rather obscure and not that well known over here in America as some other titles made in Spain so it might take some time and luck to find it. But once you do, get ready for one of the best thrillers of the last couple of years. This is an example of great film making, a flick made with a low budget and only small number of actors. But oh boy, some fine ones. That especially goes to Dario Grandinetti in a role of a serial killer suspect. The only thing he admits of doing is an abduction of his ex-wife, as revenge of her lies in their divorce case...Is there any more to it? The game of cat and mouse has begun. Not to spoil the fun and give away too much all I'll say is : don't point your finger until the very end. In difference to the majority of newer US thrillers the script is superb without any plot holes and the story is sharp and witty. Mana treats the audience as people who know how to think, rather than serving every single little detail on a plate. Everything is there, you just have to find it. Original, intelligent, twisted and somber, even funny at moments - this is a film that has it all and I can only hope it will not get a Hollywood remake, Palabras Encadenas is perfect as it is. Believe me in that :)