disappointment media
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About

EL CONDE -- A Direct (But Very Smart) Horror-Comedy Satire

9/4/2023

0 Comments

 
Review by Sean Boelman
Picture
Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín is no stranger to genre-bending biopics, his critically acclaimed films Jackie and Spencer being some of the most unorthodox takes on the genre. His latest outing, El Conde, takes unorthodox to a whole ‘nother level, embracing its inherent absurdity in a way that creates a compelling (albeit obvious) farce.

El Conde is a historical fiction satire in which Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet is secretly a vampire, but after his image is disgraced, he decides to attempt to die once and for all. It’s an absolutely wild concept, and unsurprisingly given the talent involved, it delivers — becoming one of the most unique satires in recent memory.

Larraín and Guillermo Calderón’s script is not subtle with its commentary whatsoever. It’s clear from the moment you read the premise where this satire is heading. Yet, the movie still feels incredibly sharp despite its obviousness. It’s an ingenious and creative approach to a story we have seen done dozens of times before.

That being said, there is one thing that holds the film back: its narration. While the English-language narrator eventually ties into the story, the omnipresent nature of the narration makes the viewer feel as if their hand is being held, and that the filmmakers did not trust them to grasp the satire that it wears on its sleeve.
Picture
The narration also creates an unusual narrative structure that messes with the pacing a bit. There are ebbs and flows in an almost episodic style, as we drift through the alternate history versions of the events of Pinochet’s life. The sense of humor, while dry and acerbic, creates some seriously funny moments throughout, culminating in an absolutely wild finale.

Still, Larraín and Calderón do an excellent job of characterizing Pinochet in a way that does not feel like a caricature, which would have been easy to fall back into with a satire of this nature. Obviously, he’s a dictator who committed numerous war crimes — he’s not going to be likable. But the filmmakers, along with Jaime Vadell’s stunningly nuanced performance, do a great job of capturing the sinister type of charisma that allows 

One of the big MVPs of El Conde is the stunning black and white cinematography by Edward Lachman. Although the movie is set relatively recently given its ties to historical events, Lachman’s cinematography — along with some exquisite production design — give it the air of an old-school gothic horror, and this atmosphere will immerse you in the story even when the narration threatens to pull you out.

Pablo Larraín has made a genuinely creative, smart satire in El Conde. Although the symbolism is overt and the commentary obvious, and the film still insists on holding the viewer’s hand despite this, it’s a well-made, entertaining, and provocative satire.

El Conde streams on Netflix beginning September 15.

​Rating: 4.5/5
               
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019

    Authors

    All
    Adam Donato
    Alan French
    Allison Brown
    Borja Izuzquiz
    Camden Ferrell
    Cole Groth
    Daniel Lima
    Dan Skip Allen
    Erin M. Brady
    Jonathan Berk
    Joseph Fayed
    Josh Batchelder
    Paris Jade
    Rafael Motamayor
    Sarah Williams
    Sean Boelman
    Tatiana Miranda

disappointment media

Dedicated to unique and diverse perspectives on cinema!
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About