On Wednesday I was contacted by a filmmaker who was requesting that I watch and review their short film, El Gigante. I was immediately drawn to it because of the mention of wrestling. I’m a former WWE viewer and I love seeing two genres of media mix together. Plus, the director was so humble and excited, how could I refuse? Here’s my review having watched this fourteen minute film in full.
El Gigante is directed by Gigi Saul Guerrero with Luke Bramley based on the script by Shane McKenzie and his book “Muerte Con Carne.” Cast members include Edwin Perez, Luis Javier, Arlina Rodriguez, Alexa Marie, Mathias Retamal, Devyn Dalton, Nisreem Slim, Adelita Rckwell and David Forts. Cinematography was performed by Bramley and Spencer Village with special effects by Hannah Chornoby, Andrea Dulmage and Carolyn Williams, and original scores by Chase Horseman, Shadan Saul Guerrero, Fabian Saul and Sunny Shams.
It’s so hard for me to pick a place to start my El Gigante review because there is not a single aspect or inch of this short film that I didn’t enjoy. I’m glad that it came across my path when it did because it looks like it’s about to enter into the film festival circuit and I’m more than happy to publish this positive review in hopes of helping it to gain more traction within the community. It is simply amazing and a real triumph for independent filmmaking. I know very few people who can take $8,000 and make it look as good as El Gigante. It literally looks like it was the opening scenes of a feature film made for two million bucks. I am thoroughly impressed. Major props to all the cast and crew members!
I wish that I would have at least known about El Gigante during the month of February because I really would have championed it during Women in Horror Month. Gigi Saul Guerrero was the mastermind who took Shane McKenzie’s novel and turned it into one Hell of a bloody good time. She has some serious, major talent when it comes to filmmaking. In the past, she’s produced several other projects, but nothing appears to be as successful and insightful as El Gigante. She really shined brightly here and I foresee a lot of great things in her future. I will go out on a limb here and say that she’s as good as The Soska Twins. Seriously, one of the most talented female directors in the game. If you ever get a chance to see El Gigante, you’ll know why.
Obviously, I enjoyed the story as well as the direction from Guerrero, but there are two other parts that help to make El Gigante a sickening short film. The make up department and gore effects department! The make up jobs on the actors looked so realistic. They’re subtle but they get the job done. The band of crazy desert family members looked like they hadn’t showered or seen a doctor in years; and I’m sure the actors that portrayed them don’t look like that in real life. The gore effects had the same air of realism to them. The blood was the perfect shade of red. Organs were shaped currently. Injuries sustained looked like they were from crime scene photos. Sowing the mask into the bottom of the dude’s neck was genius!
All of these movie magic effects and the movie’s setting were only highlighted by the cinematography from Bramley and Village. Their knack for catching the action at the right angle, the lighting, the set decorations’ placement in relation to the camera… They painted a portrait of horror here and should really get the championship belt!
In short, El Gigante is a masterpiece of horror. Perfect length and sleek editing. From the actors who really sold their characters, including the boy running around in an Ewok costume and eating teeth, to the mystery man behind the mask… It’s fantastic, savage and sadistic. This one is going to win some awards very soon! I promise you that. Final Score: 10 out of 10.
