Search - Shiver on DVD

Rani L. (Mina) from WASHINGTON, DC
Reviewed on 12/26/2008...

This is one of the best Spanish horror films I've seen. It's similar to the French horror film Them and Del Toro's The Orphanage. Good use of music and sounds that enhanced its creepy atmosphere. Junio Valverde was perfect (and handsome) as Santi (he also played a character by the same name when he was younger in The Devil's Backbone). The twist was unexpected. It also had funny and tender moments. Highly recommended.

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If you liked The Orphanage...

misplaced cajun | Colorado | 11/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"n Shiver, Junio Valverde plays Santi (also plays Santi in Devil's Backbone) a kid who suffers from an allergy to sunlight that forces his mother to move to a small village in northern Spain. The village sits in the mountains and gets significantly less sunlight than the place they were living, so Santi is able to go out during the day and be a normal kid. When a classmate sees something in the woods, Santi and two other kids end up trekking into the woods to find it. One boy ends up dead and Santi is the suspect. DNA testing reveals that he was not the one to kill the boy, but then another man is killed and Santi happens to be nearby yet again. But this time Santi gets a good look at the killer and no one believes him.

A great horror flick! It's suspenseful and the acting is great. There's also a nice little twist at the end that could be considered somewhat predictable, but worked for me."

Excellent Production: Artistic and Scary at the same time...

The Jaundiced Eye | Texas, USA | 01/06/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I recommend this movie. It is the rare combination of skillful direction and cinematography with a plausible, scary plot. Too many horror movies rely on blood and gore to mask the lack of craftsmanship, originality, and talent involved in their production. In Shiver, the acting is excellent, the scenery is beautiful, the plot is more plausible and artfully presented than most, and (most importantly) it delivers some serious chills without relying on the cliched nonsense we have come to expect from movies of this genre. It is an interesting, exciting, original cinematic experience created by a skilled group of professionals.

The version I watched was offered in Spanish with English subtitles. While some may not enjoy this format, I assure you that after a few minutes, and once you become involved in the story, it will be a worthwhile, rewarding cinematic experience."

Creepy and atmospheric Spanish horror-thriller

z hayes | TX | 05/15/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Shiver" is a horror-thriller from Spain [originally titled "Eskalofrio"] that subtly gets under one's skin without resorting to cliched plotlines, cheesy acting, and over-the-top blood and gore effects.

Santi [Junio Valverde] is a teenage boy who suffers from photophobia [an extreme aversion to sunlight] and lives with his mother Julia [Mar Sodupe] in the city. Upon doctor's orders, the pair decide to move to Lapland, a sheltered valley where the days are short. Santi and his mother are hopeful that he can finally lead a normal life, and not be treated like a pariah. But things turn out worse than expected - whilst out in the woods with two other boys, one gets attacked and killed, and Santi becomes the prime suspect. The villagers begin to turn menacing and threaten mother and son, even after DNA tests prove Santi's innocence. Then, Santi again finds himself a murder suspect when a man he meets in the woods gets killed. This time, Santi sees the 'thing' attacking the man, but his claims are waived aside as fanciful thoughts by the police. Along the way, Santi discovers some interesting clues in his rental home, objects left behind by the previous tenants that may help him solve the mystery of the creature stalking the woods.

The movie is highly atmospheric, and though the plot felt a bit contrived midway through [when I was able to deduce what was going on], it is the skillful direction that provides viewers with a creepy viewing experience. There are some true jump in your seat moments here, and the best part is one doesn't really know what to expect in these tense scenes [one particular scene is the one where Santi is asleep on the couch].

The movie is basically carried by Junio Valverde's performance as Santi - his alienation and perception of being an outcast shines through in his performance and elicits one's sympathy. Mar Sodupe puts in a credible performance as Santi's loving mother. The other characters, such as Santi's estranged father [who makes a curious appearance midway through the movie] and even the police inspector are lackluster and forgettable. Of course, special credit also goes to the 'thing' that stalks the woods - I felt that it's performance was understated yet chillingly effective in conveying horror.

Unlike many predictable Hollywood horror movies, this Spanish horror flick is intelligent and has a couple of different themes running through it, and a discerning viewer will appreciate how all these are presented in the movie. Fans of atmospheric horror movies will enjoy this [note: I watched it in Spanish with English subtitles, and it did not detract from my enjoyment of the movie]."