Hernán Findling (director)
(studio)
18 (certificate)
91 (length)
23 August 2019 (released)
06 September 2019
For all of Argentina’s of political and economic woes it is proving to be a reliable source for genre with three films at this year’s FrightFest and each very different with has signal of a healthy industry.
Impossible Crimes is the least horror of the lot being more of a thriller with some supernatural elements dropped in for colour and thrills. The opening piles on the tragedy for Lorenzo Brandini (Federico Bal) as we see him at the bedside of twin sister as she dying from cancer, and moving forward a few years a car crash takes his wife and son. His deep love for his family is reflected in his casual dress and happy demeanour working on a manuscript.
Moving forward a number of years the care free writer is gone and he’s a shaven-headed hard bitten police officer asked to investigate a number of violent crimes. There’s no suspects but there is an unhinged nun Caterina (Sofia del Tuffo) claiming to be responsible for them although they are so strange (a woman drowning in a cupboard from lake water) that it is seemingly impossible she could be.
Unconvinced that she is, but more convinced that there is something wrong with her he delves deeper into her past, putting together the pieces. Things start to get unpleasant and he is also forced to look at his faith and beliefs questioning their value and their central tenets.
Blended in and crucial to the story is the Catholic faith and how Brandini reacts when confronted by, and asked to take part in the rituals, which includes an exorcism. He is a man who hasn’t lapsed as such as he was never that interested, and following on from the tragedies what does if offer him.
Well paced by director Hernán Findling from a script by Nora Leticia Sarti it’s an entertaining, sleek thriller, intricately plotted (though there are clues throughout) film that pulls you along to a satisfying conclusion. The acting is so-so with Bal playing the moody detective for all its worth in a very solid, workmanlike manner.
