VOD of the Dead - WELCOME TO HELL (2021)
Heavy metal and horror are like peanut butter and chocolate. Films like THE DEVIL’S CANDY, BLACK ROSES, and TRICK OR TREAT (just to name a few) articulate the thematic connection between metal and the macabre, with the latter of the three coming to bear during the “Satanic Panic” era of the 1980s. The connection between horror and harder styles of rock isn’t a difficult one to make. From the pulsing beats of double-bass drums mimicking the increased heart rate, one might experience during the most thrilling/horrific moments in horror films to the album covers which are usually adorned in dark colors and even darker depictions of sinister images. Artists like H.R. GIGER famously lent their talents to metal bands, and most famously contributed the cover art to DANZIG’s 1992 album, DANZIG III: HOW THE GODS KILL. This is not to say that all horror fans are metal heads, and all metal heads are horror fans, but the middle of that Venn diagram is pretty wide and gapping generally speaking. Metal and horror are also universally appreciated genres in their respective mediums, and the prevalence of heavy metal in Latin American countries cannot be understated. So much so, that it has even inspired its own sub-genre of Latin Metal. This brings us to WELCOME TO HELL (BIENVENIDOS AL INFIERNO), a 2021 Argentinian horror film being released exclusively by SCREAMBOX on JULY 12, 2022. Does this Spanish-speaking heavy metal horror romp enter the pantheon of heavy metal horror classics, or is it as washed up and bland as BRING ME THE HORIZON?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
To escape the leader of a satanic death metal band, Lucia moves to a remote cabin in the forest with her grandmother. Though safe in her surroundings, she is haunted by his memory and knows he will stop at nothing to track her down.
HOW IS IT?
Hands down, the best part of writing VOD of the DEAD for MACABRE DAILY are the glimmers of greatness that often come across our inboxes. I’ve spoken before about this being the best time to be a horror fan, and I feel like that point is constantly being reinforced purely based on the quality of some of the films we feature on this site. WELCOME TO HELL is no exception. This Argentinian slow-burn is a simple story told extremely well held up by some great performances and one of the best third acts I’ve seen this year!
First, let’s start with the story. The synopsis does a great job of speaking to the story as a whole, but what hasn’t been included in the tender and quiet moments between Lucia and her mute grandmother. Not only are these moments important for understanding the historical context of their relationship, but they also highlight the struggle that Lucia is experiencing with settling into a life away from her abuser and ex, Monje Negro. This is a slow burn flick through and through, and as such, the challenge is always to keep things interesting and pacey while withholding the “goods” until the last act and/or moments. WELCOME TO HELL meets this challenge well using flashbacks to show us how this relationship started, and ultimately why Lucia decided to flee. It’s pretty sinister stuff, but nowhere near as transgressive as films like THE SADNESS. The theme of domestic abuse is prevalent here and the added element of Lucia carrying her ex’s child makes matters that much more conflicting. It’s clear that Lucia (wonderfully portrayed by CONSTANZA CARDILLO) isn’t only trying to escape her past life, but also the daily reminder growing inside of her. This conflict feels even more poignant considering recent legislative events that have occurred in the US, and while it could be easy to demonize Lucia for her actions in the film the filmmakers instead focus on the external and societal pressure that comes with being a mother.
Lucia’s ex, Monje Negro (Black Monk), is the leader of a satanic death metal band and is diabolically played by DEMIÁN SALOMÓN. His portrayal is rather typical of the death metal aesthetic you might see from the members of bands like DIMMU BORGIR or CRADLE OF FILTH, but there is a demented look that he gives from the very start that makes you uneasy. While there are three other members of the band, they seldom have much to do in the film until the last act and are largely window dressing for our protagonist and antagonist. As I said before, this is a bit of a slow burn, but the third act delivers above and beyond what I could have expected. These days, I often worry that slow burns end up putting all their eggs in the third act basket. While that is in essence the point of the slow burn, that third act has to deliver in order for the whole film to succeed. In WELCOME TO HELL, the third act goes hard! We don’t subscribe to spoilers here but suffice to say that you will not see where the film goes and you will be sure glad they didn’t hold back. Part of this is on account of the great practical effects work we get towards the end, and how well shot so many of these scenes are.
One particular scene bathed in red light stands out as Lucia struggles with one of the band members as he attempts to choke her. It’s intense and made more so by the proper use of colors and sounds. Seeing as how this is an independent film, it’s quite impressive how simple and effective the use of locations and scenery are in establishing a sense of place.
While I’m sure Argentina as a country does not look this way in every place, it is nice that the filmmakers used the natural scenery (whether by necessity or not) as a backdrop even though there are only a handful of locations.
LAST RITES
WELCOME TO HELL (BIEVENIDOS AL INFIERNO) is a delightful indie that should be welcomed with open arms by those who love heavy metal in their horror. Great performances and an astounding third act make this SCREAMBOX exclusive something to keep an eye out for!
THE GORY DETAILS
Directed By
Written By
Starring
Where can you watch it?
WELCOME TO HELL (BIEVENIDOS AL INFIERNO) is available on Digital and streaming exclusively on Screambox on July 12, 2022!
Stay up to date with “The Dark Side Of Pop Culture” by following MacabreDaily on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
