Softwing
Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??
Bluebell Alcock
Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies
Stephan Hammond
It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
Frank Damage
I don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but I just wanted to point out the minor discrepancy from the original title to it's English translation. Literally the title reads, "To Enter to Live," though the actual way it would be conveyed, or should be interpreted should be more along the lines of "Ready to Rent" or "Ready to Move In." Two possible headings that those who have ever rented might be familiar seeing in the classified ads.Though it seems to have received some rather harsh criticism (not entirely unjust) from some reviewers here, anyone who is thinking of watching this should know that it is a film made for television in Spain and IN THAT RESPECT, is far superior to almost everything you'll see on U.S. television in the horror genre and in many cases outside of it. I'd compare it to the old HBO series "Tales From the Crypt" but without the comic book nuance, or that ridiculous crypt keeper.This film will probably not be well received by many jaded horror fans mainly because it does have a few annoying, "why didn't she!?" "why didn't he!?" and "why did they even both from the start!?" moments throughout the course of its 1 hour and 8 minute run. However, all that can't (or really shouldn't) supersede the fact that it is well directed, suspenseful and loaded with visceral horror from nearly beginning to end.I'd be more inclined to give this a solid 7, but for the sake of other reader's expectations a 6 will suffice. Good story and plot that could've been executed better, but why not go in and take a look around for yourself? You might not even notice the peeling paint and it could be an inspiring stop on the way to something better.
Lawson
Here's a little Spanish horror TV movie that works despite its low budget. Having a good director can really make a difference. Jaume Balaguero also did Rec, though personally I prefer his underrated Fragile. Mmm. I'd rather not describe too much of the story 'coz part of the fun of it was finding out what was happening as it was happening. Let's just say it's about a young couple checking out an apartment they're thinking of renting, and it gets intriguing from there. Balaguero gets the suspense right, as well as the tension of the action sequences. It helps too that he had good actors playing the victims and villains. Really too bad this movie didn't get a theater release. Maybe it'll get a US remake too, like Rec.
Paul Andrews
Películas Para no Dormir: Para Entrar a Vivir is set in Spain where Mario (Adrià Collado) & his pregnant girlfriend Clara (Macarena Gómez) need somewhere to live. Mario sees an advert for an apartment, it's 140 square foot, it has three bedrooms, two bathrooms & most importantly it's as cheap as chip's. Upon arrival things don't look too promising, the apartment block is on the outskirts of town in a very rundown area, the building is in a state of disrepair & the place looks so bad even the Cockroaches are moving out. However they decide to give it a chance & meet up with the estate agent Portera (Nuria González) who show's the couple around. While looking at the apartment Mario notices the shoes he recently threw out & Clara notices a photo of them both, soon they find out that something evil is happening & the estate agent isn't as nice as she first appeared...Also known as Films to Keep You Awake: To Let to English speaking audiences this Spanish production was made-for-telly & directed by Jaume Balagueró & one has to say that Películas Para no Dormir: Para Entrar a Vivir is one of the better entries in the Films to Keep you Awake series. The script by director Balagueró & Alberto Marini at least is a straight ahead conventional horror themed story from start to finish, it's not any sort of masterpiece but it passes seventy odd minutes entertainingly enough. Películas Para no Dormir: Para Entrar a Vivir starts off very promisingly actually with a nice creepy, overcast, rain sodden opening full of foreboding & promise. Things quickly turn sour for Mario & Clara & I was at there thinking this is pretty good stuff but it reveals it's twist too early & then does nothing with it & by the end Películas Para no Dormir: Para Entrar a Vivir had become nothing more than your average slasher set in an isolated location with a couple of young lovers for victims & a crazy homicidal maniac & if that wasn't enough there's a pretty obvious & groan inducing twist ending which we could have done without. So the first half builds up the tension, the atmosphere, the intrigue & the mystery nicely with the second half collapsing into tired genre clichés which on the one hand could be considered a disappointment but on the other I am sure there will be many out there who enjoy your average bog standard teen slasher & will maybe like the second half more than the first. At less than seventy minutes in length it moves along at a decent pace, it's never boring, the character's & dialogue are OK even if the villain is a little sketchy & the basic premise is sound.Director Balagueró does alright, like just about every other horror film ever made all the colours are bleached so the whole picture is dark & moody & overcast. At least Películas Para no Dormir: Para Entrar a Vivir actually tries to be scary & crank up the tension, whether you will be scared by it will depend on your disposition but at least I could see what it was trying to do. I doubt most seasoned horror fans will have too much trouble making it to the end. There's not too much gore here, someones fingers are sliced off in a garbage disposal chute off screen, we just get to see the blood splatter & that's about it. Like the other Films to keep You Awake Películas Para no Dormir: Para Entrar a Vivir was shot in Spanish, because the film is so dark & grey the white subtitles are very easy to read although some don't stay on screen for too long.Technically the film is good, it's well made with solid production values. Filmed in Barcelona in Spain. The acting appears to be alright but since Spanish isn't my language I have no idea what anyone is saying & have to assume the subtitles are an accurate translation which sometimes they are not.Películas Para no Dormir: Para Entrar a Vivir is one of the better Films to Keep You Awake, it starts off very well & then settles down into a rather predictable & routine second half but overall I thought it was a good effort & I liked it.
Fmartiterron
"Stories to keep you awake" was a legendary Spanish TV series that told independent suspense / horror stories every week. As of 2006, some Spanish media have joined resources to produce a follow-up in the shape of six direct-to-DVD films, directed by some of the most popular Spanish film directors. "Para entrar a vivir" is helmed by Jaume Balagueró, director of "The Nameless", "Darkness" and "Fragile".The film is about a young couple who are looking for a new home. The man finds an interesting ad in his mailbox and they both drive to the suburbs. The building is almost derelict, and the efforts of the seller (Nuria Gonzalez) to calm down the couple fail miserably. Immediately, she knocks down the man and ties down the woman. The nightmare has just begun.Coming from Balagueró I expected yet another rendition of the haunted place story, but surprisingly Balagueró goes for an Argento-style psycho thriller and succeeds. The visuals may not be as polished as Argento's (after the failure of "Darkness" Balagueró has turned to a more barebones style), but the tension and the gore are certainly there.A must see for horror fans out there.
