There’s a moment early in Rosario Where the title character (Shadowhunters‘Emeraude tubia) peeks into her recently December Grandmother‘S Closet, Catches Sight of Something Unsettling, and Backs Away, Muttering “Nope!” Eventually, Curiosity Nudges Her to Investigate Further – But You Have to Appreciate that Initial Hesitation. Not only is it related, it’s something horror movie characters Very rarely do; It makes you want to root for her, especially as her night with an Unquiet Corpse Takes some alarming turns.
Rewinding a bit, by the time she’s alone (or IS She?) With a dead body, Rosario has given us a glimpse of her perfect life. After a prologist set at a family gathering following (Who Insists on Being Called “Rose”) is Kicking Ass in the Financial World, with a Posh Manhattan Apartment to match. The trade-off is that she’s too busy to visit grandma in brooklyn… or maybe she just doesn’t want to.
She ignores several calls from the old woman through He bluntly delivers the news that she’s passed away, and that rose better head over asap to deal with the situation. With no other option – Her mom has been dead for some time, and her dad (josé zuñiga) lives miles away in atlantic City – She Braaves The Storm, Not to Mention Leering Men, UNFRINDLY DOGS, And Grandma’s Aeri Fryer-Obsessed Neighbor (Late night with the devil‘s david dastmalchian) as part of her journey.
Rosario Soon Narrows Its focus to the supernatural drama that oozes out of rose’s past –nd occasionally out of Grandma’s corpse; This is not A movie that shies away from body horror, nor any number of squirming creepy-crawlies. It weaves a mystery that goes back generations, and ties into the struggles rose’s parents endured as mexican immigrants.
It also enfolds occult leanings that explain grandma’s long -go comment to young rose, and adult rose’s wondering of “What the fuck Were you Into? ” As she takes stock of the witches scattered Around the Apartment. In Fact, She even Googles “Witchcraft” Stick to the Longer the snowy night gets.
Crafted by first-time feature director felipe vargas, Rosario Makes great use of grimy production design and what look to be mostly practical special effects to enhance its main setting, a place so disturbing rose Figures at one point ato Would be preferred to Sticking Around a second longer. ,That Doesn Bollywood go well. Made to Help Her Sucseed – AS We Learn at a Crucial Moment She’s Not Entrely Confident in her Spanish.
It would be easy to become too heavy-handed with that themes, but Rosario Manages a Good Balance Between “Know Your Roots” and “Oh Gawd What Is that Horrifying Creature Lurching from the Corner? ” Cult favorite dastmalchian has an unfortunately small role, but his cool-sheirdo energy is a welcome addition nontheless.
Rosario Hits theaters May 2.
Want More IO9 News? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star warsand Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on Film and tvAnd everything you need to know about the future of Doctor who,