In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

I was slightly looking forward to this and was greatly disappointed.Firstly, don't call a movie "Atrocious" and then make a terrible movie. I don't really see the point of the title aside from being a description of the actual movie quality.This is a "found footage" movie, some movies in this new category can be good and some can be terrible.This movie seemed to be composed of mostly 40 minutes of quiet footage, setting up for the eventual crisis point. The crisis point is the remaining 35 minutes of running around with the camera from an unknown assailant while screaming.No real scares, no real excitement, nothing but Atrocious.

Spanish entry into the found footage sub genre is a pretty chilling ride but it just takes forever to get going. At least the payoff is worth it not like rubbish found footage films like Episode 50 and the Bucks County Massacre where nothing happens. Atrocious is well shot and there are likable characters on board. add to the macabre decor the Spanish language with English subtitles and viola you have a good entry in the found footage genre. I can't give this more than the average mark of five just because it almost puts you into a coma until the last 15 minutes. Nowhere near as good as Evil things, the tunnel or paranormal entity but still nonetheless not bad.

Atrocious (2010) *** (out of 4) This Spanish entry in the "found footage" genre has a brother and sister going to their summer house with their parents and younger brother. The place is close to an urban legend of a small child who got lost in the woods but was never found. The legend has it that if you get lost in these woods that her spirit will show up and lead you out. There's also a version that isn't so friendly. These found footage films, in my opinion, delivers some of the greatest scares in regards to horror movies and this one I found to be quite effective. I like this genre so much because the films require you to use both your visual and seeing senses at all times. You never know where in the frame something is going to happen so your eyes are constantly trying to hear things and your eyes are bouncing around the frame just waiting to notice whatever might be there. This is a type of exercise that also has your mind running at full speed and this is where the suspense comes from. ATROCIOUS isn't the best the genre has to offers as there are a few plot points that I'd question but there's still no doubt that the film was very effective and very scary at times. There are several scenes in the woods where the kids get lost and you just keep waiting for something to happen to them. Director Fernando Barreda Luna does a very good job at building up the suspense and making sure the viewer is constantly on the edge of their seat. The final showdown in the woods was highly suspenseful even if how they got there left a bit to be desired. As for the ending, I won't ruin it but I don't think it perfectly closed up the film as I had hoped. Still, the performances are good and the "found footage" stuff was nicely done and made believable. ATROCIOUS is a good, creepy film that manages to use atmosphere and suspense over gore, which is always a good thing.

It is a "shaky camera" film style,so if you don't like those types of movies don't watch it. I don't mind the "shaky camera" style and thought the use of a labyrinth in a horror movie was something you don't see too often. Your typical don't go out and investigate movies or you end up dead. There is also a dead dog in the movie and was pretty real looking just a warning for people who are sensitive to that type of thing. Other then that I thought the twist was predictable but you did not clue in till about half way through the movie. I knew someone was off their rocker but I thought it was the dad until they showed mom sleeping a lot.