ma-cortes
Entertaining but middling ¨Spanish Slasher¨ in which a series killer executes a crime spree at Salamanca University . Students of the university of Salamanca are brutally murdered by a black masked minstrel nicknamed ¨Tuno Negro¨ . As a psychopathic killer infiltrates in the "University Tuna" of Salamanca and chooses his victims via the internet . Alex (Silke) , an architecture student who has recently moved to Salamanca discovers a pattern behind the killings ; it seems as if the murderer strikes regularly after the exams to free the campus from worse students . Relying on the night and the students spree (Jorge Sanz , Patxi Freytez , Sergio Pazos , Javier Veiga) , the "Tuno Negro" commits murders with a simple pattern , as he kills the worst students in each class . The lousy student does not end the course , nor will have the option to repeat it . As murderous tells the following : Nescientia Necat (it is Latin and means "Ignorance kills") . Meanwhile , two police inspectors (Fele Martínez , Enrique Villen) are investigating the weird killings and a strange professor (Eusebio Poncela) discovers an ancient legend from XVI Century dealing with the ¨Tunos Negros¨ who were executed by burning pole . This exciting , bizarre film contains tension , thriller, drama , mystery , plot twists and shocks , including decent scares with tense terror sequences especially in its final part , in a creepy outcome and including strong sexual scenes between Silke and Fele Martínez . The picture is thrilling and some moment brilliant, but the players are quite mediocre , being plagued by average acting . In addition, the star players at 30 years old , impersonating university students , something that is not believable . The script could have been written a little more credible , especially in the final , in which the disproportion of the situations cause hilarity and little surprise at the ability to overcome the ultimate denouement . Known main actors formed by a Spanish-all-star-cast such as Jorge Sanz , Silke and Fele Martínez give regular performances . Being supported by fine secondary actors such as Enrique Villen as a hardened detective who takes on the case , Eusebio Poncela , Francisco Maestre , Aitor Mazo and Paca Gabaldon , among others . Maribel Verdú only appears in the opening scene, and then the murderer kills her in the first minute of reel . It is almost a fraud , as it would probably has served to include her in the advertisement of the movie . Creepy movie builds taut by showing virtually well staged killings , adequate settings , unsettling score and evocative cinematography . Although is sometimes slow moving , overlong and stagy , however is entertaining for continuous suspense . As trivia I add the followings : when they attempt to save an Universitary girl, Silke passes in front of a cinema which is showing ¨La Niña de Tus Ojos¨ or ¨The girl of your dreams¨(1998), a film starring 'Jorge Sanz , being also produced by Andres Vicente Gomez , and the film is watching Sergio Pazos when is attacked by the killer results to be "Killer Tongue" or ¨Lengua Asesina¨ by Albert Sciamma . Sinister , mysterious atmosphere is nicely photographed by magnificent cameraman Carlos Suarez , and standing out colors with luxurious images . As he photographs splendidly , being highlighting the beauty of Alcala Henares and Salamanca especially, and its marvelous university and cathedral . Suspenseful and frightening soundtrack by Roque Baños heightens the suspense .This motion picture displaying genuine chills , suspense, dark atmosphere and a twisted finale , being middlingly proceeded by Pedro Barbero and Vicente Martin and turned out to one of the most popular Spanish thrilling movies of the 2.000s and certainly one of the most amusing . By that time , there have been realized several Spanish ¨Slashers¨ imitating to ¨Scream¨ saga , including a lot of young people being murdered , such as : ¨School killer¨ by Carlos Gil with Jacinto Molina , Carlos Fuentes , Zoe Berriatúa , Olivia Molina , ¨El Arte de Morir¨ by Alvaro Fernández Armero with Gustavo Salmeron , Lucia Jimenez and Fele Martínez , ¨Mas De 100 Camaras Velan Por Seguridad¨ by David Alonso with Antonio Hortelano , Laura Manzanedo , Monica Starreado , and ¨No Debes Estar Aquí¨ by Jacobo Rispa with Tristan Ulloa and Pablo Echarri .
francoca
I watch the movie, because I just had to see where it was going. Lucky me I saw it in Spanish, so I did not loose any translation. I have seen each and every one of those actors in some other movie, but can remember where.About half way though the movie, Alexis Valdez comes out from under the bed of Alex and try to assault her................. I am 7/8 thru the movie,and I can not figure out what was that all about. I keep thinking is Alexis Valdez el Tuno Negro and he will be discover at the end? I do not see the connection of this 5 minute seen. I can only think it is a cheap filler, they need kill some time as well as kill students.
tenten76
This film is much more mainstream (and less 'Spanish') than anything by Almodovar, or Guillermo del Toro, but there are a few latin moments which shine through.The acting is fine.. the dialogue is occasionally very, very funny.. a few scenes are hilarious (and I mean that in a good way). The baddie looks cool, the women are gorgeous, and the men are all great characters.I got a bit confused at the explanation towards the end (it didn't seem to be relevant?), but that may just be because I was desperate for the bathroom and couldn't concentrate. As mentioned by someone else, the soundtrack is pretty good - and overall, I think this film deserves a higher mark than it's getting. It's easily as good as "I Know What You Did.." or "Urban Legend".
diztorted
Well, supposedly spanish filmmakers are trying to avoid the "american" way of making films, well I guess they missed the point here. Because this film follows exactly all the elements that make american horror films what they are, one minute thrills with some exceptions. The film is rather predictable, the dialogue is awfully ridiculous,but the sex scene was somewhat interesting. The acting on the other hand was not that bad, Fele Martinez once again shows that he is one of the best young actors working in Spain these days, and even though he looks too old for being in college Jorge Sanz does a good job also. The soundtrack of the film is one of the few good elements the film has, and well...the last 15 minutes of the film are flooded by certain touch of dark humor that brings up all that was lost by the first one hour and a half. At the end, what I have to say about Tuno Negro is that, is totally forgettable, but you might as well have a not so bad time if you go see it. It´s up to you.