When
was the last time a psychologist actually helped a patient in any movie? Perhaps
Arnaud Desplechin’s Jimmy P? And
before that? David & Lisa maybe? Do
not expect a lot of breakthroughs when a reclusive analyst reluctantly takes on
a difficult patient. Instead, she should worry about surviving with her sanity
in Carlos Algara & Alejandro Martinez-Beltran’s Veronica, which screens tonight during the 2017 Brooklyn Horror Film Festival.
She
might be a head-shrinker, but our unnamed psychologist still clearly wrestles
with forms of agoraphobia and social anxiety. She continues to publish, but she
no longer actively treats patients. Nonetheless, she cannot refuse her mentor
when he refers a particularly hard case to her.
Veronica
de la Serna has heard all the psycho-babble before and she takes perverse
pleasure in spitting it back at the psychologist. Clearly, she has a great deal
of anger and resentment. She also has sexual issues, which she recognizes in
the psychologist, as well. After several rounds of testy verbal sparring, de la
Serna focuses on her sexuality as her prime weapon for destabilizing the
doctor. However, the shrink has a tool shed fully stocked with axes, chains,
and sinister mushrooms.
Anyone
who has seen their share of psych-you-out movies will probably guess the big
old twist, but Algara & Martinez-Beltran execute it with great visual flair.
Miguel Angel Gonzalez Avila’s stunning black-and-white cinematography has a
Gregg Toland glow and the darkly ominous overtones of Dean Cundey’s work with
John Carpenter. The good doctor’s lodge-cabin-villa is also a terrific horror
movie location, making the Overlook in The
Shining look conveniently subway accessible.
Olga
Segura exudes danger and sexuality as the deeply threatening de la Serna. As
the doctor, Arcelia Ramírez falls apart pretty spectacularly, while coyly maintaining
her secrets. The two women play off each other quite well. Algara and
Martinez-Beltran also keep them moving around the house and grounds at a
sufficient clip to prevent a feeling of staginess from setting in.
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