Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

jotix100 Ramon, the aesthetics professor one meets at the beginning of the story, is a strange man. His apartment is a mess, yet his immaculate basement is so clean that it seems incredible he is preparing to commit a heinous crime and disturb anything that is so orderly and neat. Ramon, who is first seen speaking in a prerecorded video cassette, is finally seen wearing the same shirt as in the tape. His former wife, Laura, a psychiatrist, is tied and gagged.Ramon, who has confessed as to being a serial killer, having killed nineteen people to date, wants to torture Laura for whatever pain he feels she caused to him after they divorced. He proposes a game where he would say a word and she must answer him using the last syllable of the word in a new word. If she loses, he'll pop out one of her eyes. When that happens, Laura demands a rematch. Ramon tells her if she loses now, he'll pop out both eyes.After Ramon and Laura have played their game, he is shown at the college where he is teaching his philosophy class. Two police inspectors come to interrogate him about Laura's disappearance. At first Ramon is cool and collected. He doesn't get ruffled as questions about his actions are thrown at him.In a final sequence Laura, who by now has become emboldened because she figures he has gotten the best of him by using psychology, questions him about the murders he had confessed. It's clear he has not been telling her the truth, but what emerges is the fact Ramon's frame of mind when Laura asks him about his mother and his liaison with a male student."Palabras encadenadas" is a psychological thriller based on a theatrical play by Jordi Galceran and adapted by its director, Laura Mana, whose work in this film shows a sure hand and a noted improvement on some of her previous work. Although it feels like a deeply felt staged play, there are moments of great intensity in the cat and mouse play Ramon plays with Laura.The best thing in this film is Dario Grandinetti. He is in total command and he lets the viewer know from the start. This actor gets better and better all the time. He gives an intense performance that is hard to imagine any other actor playing this part. Goya Toledo, is seen as Laura. She also has wonderful opportunities where to shine. Fernando Guillen and Eric Bancatto, appear as the police inspectors investigating the disappearance and possible murder of Laura.This is a highly polished film from Laura Mana.

Crap_Connoisseur Killing Words should be retitled "Killing Time" because that is exactly what I felt was happening while I watched this film. Killing Words is by no means a complete disaster; it is competently made and showcases some fine acting performances. The problem is simply that this is a thriller without any thrills.The basic premise of Killing Words involves a serial killer, Ramon, kidnapping his ex-wife with the intention of making her his 19th victim. The catch is that Laura is a psychiatrist and basically, if she can "cure" him, she will survive. This set-up begins promisingly with Ramon showing Laura detailed video-confessions outlining his murders and a tense word game, played for the prize of Laura being allowed to keep her eyes in her head. The film starts to unravel, however, when Ramon claims to both the police and Laura that the tapes were fake and that the whole act has been a hoax to get revenge on Laura for lying about him during their divorce proceedings. While this "twist" is interesting to the extent that it raises the question as to whether Ramon is simply a twisted loser instead of a psychopath, it has the unwanted effect of draining away all the tension and suspense that the film had been building. In one fell swoop, this film transforms from a Spanish "Silence Of The Lambs" to a poorly produced episode of "Murder, She Wrote".The film is not helped by Dario Grandinetti's over the top performance as Ramon. Grandinetti's performance is initially restrained but increasingly becomes an exercise in making crazy eyes and smirking for the camera. Goya Toledo fares better as Laura, helping give the film some much needed credibility. Veteran actor Fernando Guillen also turns in another fine performance as the Comisario. However, these compelling performances can not overcome the pedestrian screenplay which contains too many plot twists and not enough suspense. With the exception of the refreshingly perverse ending, the film has virtually no shock value and should be avoided by horror fans.Killing Words is an example of a film that starts well but becomes entangled in its own web of twists and inconsistencies. If you feel like a Spanish thriller with some bite, watch "The Nameless" or "Tesis".

Splattii I had to import this DVD from Bangkok as I gave up looking for it elsewhere.It was well worth the time and effort.I've seen a lot of film over the years, and in recent history this is at the top of my "recently seen list". The movie had good acting, a good story, and to be honest all the elements required for a Hollywood remake. It's somewhat (and I'll use this comparison at a HIGH level) like a Silence of the Lambs meets OLDBOY. Fans of Haneke may also want to take a look.While watching this film you slowly learn more about the characters, and why the women is being held captive. It keeps the viewer interested and helps keep the story intense. The characters are kept to a minimum and the focus remains on the story at hand. It allows the viewer to stay focused on the plot and not get lost in little sub plots that aren't required. The film is intense and will keep the viewer glued to the screen until the end.The only bad part about this film is the fact the DVD is a bit questionable in terms of the subtitle quality. They were translated fine for the most part, but there were a few times in which they went off. Outside of that I can't find any other noticeable fault with this film.I honestly suggest you see this film if you can.

surrealkitten This film is the finest effort of all parties involved. Pure, unpretentious, riveting. This movie should remain a symbol of the extraordinary passion of Spanish filmmakers and actors. For non-native speakers, very little spanish language is needed to understand the action of the movie, such is the skill of Mana, Grandinetti, and Toledo, who proves so skillful in her presentation of Laura that she may perhaps stunt herself for a while. Not even Grandinetti's amazing performance in Hable Con Ella can match his portrayal of a sexy, vulnerable, completely horrifying villain in Palabras Encadenas.