Cornerhouse Digital Reporter James Pemberton review Las Brujas De Zugarramurdi…
Cult director Alex De La Iglesia is always one of Spain’s more interesting and bizarre genre filmmakers, and from the same guy who brought us the superb Action Mutante, The Day of the Beast and The Last Circus, any new film from him will be greeted with anticipation. Las Brujas De Zugarramurdi (Witching and Bitching) does almost live up to the directors off-kilter, fast paced, wild cinema for me.
Starting with a superbly staged heist at a cash for gold store in Madrid’s Puerta Del Sol, led by Jose (Hugo Silva), Tony (Mario Casa) and with a little assistance from Jose’s son Sergio (Gabriel Delgado), the bumbling if somehow lucky criminals get away with the police in hot pursuit, and take hostage taxi driver Manuel (Jamie Ordonez), who reluctantly becomes the gangs new accomplice. With two clumsy detectives in pursuit, and Jose’s angry ex-wife also not far behind, and after a brief stop at a creepy and off-beat village cafe populated by locals who would not go out of place in The League of Gentlemen’s Royston Vasey, the group end up in the small Basque village of Zugarramurdi. This is the territory of a powerful coven of witches led by Graciana (Carmen Maura) and its not long before she leads the attack on our luckless hero’s.
It’s clear from its opening heist to its comically grotesque conclusion; Iglesia is not slowing down with age and incorporates the madcap political incorrectness that has been present in his previous genre entries. Where else would you have a heist orchestrated by a man dressed up as Jesus and a sequence that shows witches and evil women from the ages, including the image of Myra Hindley juxtaposed next to Margaret Thatcher. It’s like Iglesia is still in tune with delivering shock and fun contrasted with high energy, and will never strain from showing you something outrageous. It’s not perfect though – some scenes drag in parts towards the end, and some of the finale did seem a bit unevenly concluded. Plus one of the witches, Eva, played by Carolina Bang, despite having a smouldering and gorgeous screen presence seems slightly under written. Though these are minor criticisms for a film that has a beautifully staged first part, with some brilliant laugh out loud moments. Despite the lull towards the end this is still a very good horror comedy, that confirms the originality that can be found in Spanish genre cinema. If you want to see one outrageous entry in the ¡Viva! Festival this year then you can do no wrong with Witching and Bitching. You’re guaranteed a highly energetic and wild evening’s entertainment.
Las Brujas De Zugarramurdi screens again as part of ¡Viva! on Fri 21 March. Book your tickets here.