By Terry Sherwood
Terrors of opening night in the theatre take on a new malevolent dimension in Spanish film APOTEMNOFILA. It’s premiere night and the theatre is filled. Curtain time and the leading lady Clara (Lucía Azcoitía) refuses to implore pleas to leave her dressing room.
Clara is gripped by turmoil that can only be satisfied by indulging in a self-administered medical procedure. The turmoil and anxiety about performing are caused, at least in Clara’s mind, by something.
The title gives the bloody clue as to what she does with practical beastly precision much to the shock of her people who finally open the door.
Lovingly claustrophobic camera work of the backstage of a theatre with halls abound.
The practical gore is well done even as Clara has a sense of liberation in the shocker of the ending. As in Hamlet ‘O, my offence is rank; it smells to heaven’.
Apotemnofila screens as part of Panic Fest 2024.
Bloody Flicks 