Guillermo Del Toro produced, this supremely creepy Spanish horror-thriller about a woman determined to solve a mystery despite her failing sight. Julia (Belen Rueda) is reeling from the apparent suicide of her blind twin sister, Sara. Convinced Sara’s mysterious boyfriend had a hand in her death, Julia investigates while also going slowly blind from the same condition, straining to identify the shadowy figure who keeps flitting in and out of her vision.
Part psychological thriller, part slasher horror, part whodunnit, this is rich in atmosphere and suspense, with a commanding central performance from Rueda, who was similarly compelling in The Orphanage. It’s too long — most scenes could have been trimmed — but it’s worth the slog for the thrills along the way, not to mention the unexpectedly poignant ending.
