Movie Review by Dennis D. McDonald

This not-for-the-squeamish movie screams FILM FESTIVAL:

• high concept

• inscrutable

• daring

• unforgiving

• pretentious

It’s also beautiful to look at in a dark and hellish way — assuming you can look past the blood and gore.

The only thing close to it in my memory is another prison horror-fest, Brawl In Cell Block 99. That film revels in violence but is more traditional with its story and relationships.

This film makes no excuse for being allegorical, symbolic, and pretentiously thematic as we follow prisoners in a vertically stacked prison through which a large platform passes laden with food.

Those on the top levels get first pick of a sumptuous meal. As the table passes down through the levels the bounty shrinks to the point where those at the bottom get nothing but an invitation to unguarded cannibalism. Pleasant, huh?

Like Snowpiercer and Parasite we have a no-holds-barred illustration of class warfare with haves pitted against have-nots. The movie walks a fine line between obvious symbolism and faux profundity interspersed with bloody violence and cruelty. In its original Spanish, the English subtitles are well done and include cryptic gems like:

• “Relax, we’re just passing through.”

• “The Administration has no conscience.”

• “The important thing is the message.”

How allegorical you want to take all this is up to you. I saw it as less allegorical than as someone with a very strong sense of cinematic style tackling class warfare and selfishness in a brutal, angry, and very original way.

Review copyright (c) 2020 by Dennis D. McDonald