‘Infiesto’ Netflix Movie Review - It’s A Bleak Bleak World

It's almost jolting to move from the world of True Spirit and arrive in the apocalyptic landscape of Patxi Amezcua's Infiesto. One common link between the two films is the use of the color yellow. In True Spirit, the yellow filter was applied for a warm, cutesy effect. Infiesto, on the other hand, has no time for happiness. The yellow paint spread over all the frames in this film is so murky and eerie that it renders everything solemn and devilish. Characters remark, "This is the end of the world," and you do not doubt them for even a second.

The streets are empty due to the pandemic. So in a way, it's almost like the end of the world. But detectives Castro (Iria del Río) and Samuel (Isak Férriz) have to deal with another problem apart from the virus. Like everyone else, they, too, are suffering due to the pandemic. Castro's boyfriend is infected, and Samuel is not allowed to see his mother. These two are separated from their loved ones, and the stress is evident in their expressions. Their face is as hard as a rock, which makes sense as they are exhausted and cannot take comfort in the arms of the people they love. Castro and Samuel only have each other for comfort and encouragement. It's nice that these two are good friends.

If the pandemic has upended their personal life, their professional life undergoes strain due to a crime. It all begins when a girl, Saioa (Andrea Barrado), who was kidnapped and presumed dead, is suddenly found alive. When Castro and Samuel investigate the case, they discover that a cult might be involved in the abduction. There are three men hell-bent on making a sacrifice to stop the end of the world. The boss is the one named the Prophet. Saioa might have been saved, but that means some other girl is now in trouble. Will the detectives be able to nab the culprits and save the day?

In Infiesto, you see texts like "Day 1 of Lockdown, Day 2 of Lockdown," and so on, which at first serve as information and later exhibit the urgency of a ticking time bomb. The criminals, after all, say, "This is just the beginning," so the detectives really need to work fast and quickly have to wrap up the case. The events are recorded with an uncanny stillness. Even when a bomb is detonated, there are no excessively shaky camera movements. This calmness gives the impression that the surface of this movie is "dead." Only the bad guys laugh or smile in this film. It's as if this world has become a playground for the Devil.

The good guys - the detectives - don't have the luxury to either process victory or sadness. Notice the scene where Samuel receives bad news and briefly cries and hugs Castro before making his way into the crime scene. He doesn't get much time to grieve. Similarly, after a big win, we don't see anyone celebrating. Infiesto is imbued with a sense of urgency and ache. The characters are busy and have no room for leisure. They constantly worry about their loved ones and race against time (they have 48 hours to save a woman) to stop a sacrifice.

Samuel and Castro are not larger-than-life characters. They have just one superpower: They are determined to do their job. This leads Samuel to take up a questionable route of action, leading to his suspension. What's more, he finds a solid lead just after this incident. That's a cliché. Anyway, it doesn't bother you as much as the final confrontation between Castro and the Prophet. It lacks zest and suspense but blends in with the rest of the film. Infiesto is not something you watch for pleasure. However, if you do watch it, you will find it absorbing enough to keep you glued to your seats.

Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times