In "THE WAIT / LA ESPERA " (2023) Patience Pays Off In Dust And Dread (REVIEW)

Grief and revenge are common bedfellows in the horror genre, with one usually preceding the other. Horror movies tap into primal fears and use them alongside both literal and figurative “monsters” to the forefront of reality. Grief is one of the most ubiquitous emotions because we all will experience it at some point or another for different reasons. Sometimes, that grief manifests in a desire for retribution, and thus is the core premise of many horror and thriller genre films. These themes are often touched on in genre work, but to the extent which they are explored varies. Some films use it purely as a device for bloodshed, others treat it as a metaphor for something more sinister, but the shared connection is that our grief can become malicious once we start to seek vengeance. In F. Javier Gutiérrez’s “The Wait (La Espera)” themes of grief, revenge, and vengeance take center stage as an ex-hunter is faced with a personal tragedy that may or may not have been within his control. Is this exploration of the human condition more of the same, or does it invite new ideas into a well-worn genre trope?

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

Deep in the Andalusian countryside, Eladio has been hired to watch over the hunting grounds of Don Francisco’s estate, somewhere in rural Spain. The estate is divided into ten hunting stands, spaced far enough apart to avoid incidents. After three years of service, Don Carlos — Don Francisco’s second in command — offers him a bribe to add three stands to the property. Eladio hesitates, but his wife eventually convinces him to take the money. Eladio’s greed has unfortunate consequences that drag his entire family to perdition and plunge him into guilt, hatred, and revenge.

HOW IS IT?

Sometimes simplicity is the best canvas for complex emotions. Genre films that try too hard to force metaphor or meaning often risk missing their mark, because life isn’t lived in metaphors it is lived in actualities. It is why the most impactful genre films focus on personal stories and not gestures to solidify their meaning and intent. Much like how Ari Aster channeled the visceral and violent reactions to grief in “Hereditary” through moments of character tension more so than horrific action (except that scene, you know the one). It is when we are at our most vulnerable that we are the most raw, and it is in that space where great, slow-burn horror thrives. “The Wait” is all that and more. It is a gripping and beautiful film that uses a simple story to unpack larger themes of loss, vengeance, and the acceptance of our choices to uphold personal responsibility. Even if it doesn’t completely stick the landing.

The story centers around Eladio (Víctor Clavijo) who oversees a series of hunting stands on Don Francisco’s (Pedro Casablanc) Estate with his wife and son. It is a simple life that borders on poverty, but Eladio and his son Floren (Moisés Ruiz) are content while Marcia (Ruth Díaz) resents almost every facet of their lifestyle. The tension between Eladio and Marcia is palpable and likely familiar if you’ve ever lived with parents who are becoming estranged and resentful of each other. In this case, both people feel stuck, and while Marcia becomes more distant Eladio’s inability to handle this manifests in him completely checking out. This setup is necessary to understand the weight of pressure upon Eladio to accept a bribe that jumpstarts a series of tragic and somewhat foreseeable events. The tragedy will seem obvious to us, but as they unfold it is impossible not to feel for the characters as they suffer through one of the worst things imaginable, and for Eladio, the hits keep on coming as tragedy after tragedy pushes him to the brink of his sanity. As a slow-burn character thriller, “The Wait”  successfully holds your attention through both the intimate use of the camera and the undercurrent of dread that builds as Eladio’s situation worsens and he discovers his role in the situation, as well as how much of it may have been outside of his control. The recurring theme of responsibility for one’s choices becomes quite potent as the film barrels towards a mostly fulfilling ending that leaves more questions than answers, and despite never fully answering the question at the heart of the film’s thesis (“Is human choice inevitable, or is something larger at play”) it gives enough to chew on for discussion and exploration.

As mentioned earlier, the use of intimate, close-up shots throughout immerses you in the dusty and desolate landscape of the Andalusian countryside. Despite being portrayed as a massive hunting estate, so much of the scenery is beige, tan, and dirty. The few shots of forested scenery also host some of the film's most depressing moments, leaving one to wonder if it is intentional to make the least bleak-looking part of the movie the location of its most fatal moment. The scenery and slow-paced shooting also help to portray Eladio as living in some kind of purgatory, which of course includes suggestions of something more malevolent at work alongside fever dreams of grotesque mutations and cannibalism. The horror in “The Wait” isn’t as upfront as most folk horror films, and much of that may have to do with the film not ever really deciding if it is or isn’t a folk horror movie in the first place. The more horrific scenes are used sparingly, and while the ending doesn’t make clear what is going on, it does at least confirm the presence of something more supernatural than pedestrian. Not to be outdone by gorgeous cinematography that captures desolation and beauty equally, but the music from Zeltia Montes provides the perfect somber soundtrack to the series of unfortunate events that unfold. Working in perfect harmony with the visuals and performances, “The Wait” may not be 100% horror, but it does evoke much of the same feelings of dread and despair that are hallmarks of slower-paced films such as this.

LAST RITES

“The Wait” is a beautifully tragic story that uses intimate close-up shots, authentic performances, and dusty color palettes to portray one man’s descent into his own version of Hell. Despite not fully committing to some of the folk horror elements, the presentation and delivery are so effective that you’ll be engrossed regardless.

THE GORY DETAILS

Directed By

F. JAVIER GUTIÉRREZ

Written By

F. JAVIER GUTIÉRREZ

Starring

VÍCTOR CLAVIJO

RUTH DÍAZ

MOISÉS RUIZ

PEDRO CASABLANC

MANUEL MORÓN

TRAILER

Where can you watch it?

The Wait (La Esepera) is available NOW on VOD and Digital Streaming Platforms!

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