[psycho d]

Dog Eat Dog (2008). This Colombian thriller gives a rare cinematic peak into the streets of Colombia, where the stories that we hear of are brought to life for our horror.

The story was a crafty little number. There is a lot going on here, and by its denouement, all of the loose ends are nicely tied up, all pretty like, and then tossed into a vicious pool of blood. There is even a creepy little supernatural element that really pushes this one close to the edge. The characters are fun in their polarities, happy sociopaths mingling and bitter thugs, a love-crazed crank caller and the scummy hotel clerk all interact with commendable enmity, all very entertaining.

The acting was pretty solid. Marlon Mareno holds his stoic and bitter character until the end. But somehow the audience still comes to cheer for him. Óscar Borda is perfect as the uber-tough guy whose life is out of his control. Blas Jaramillo overacts a bit for the film, but coming from a theatrical background makes this not only acceptable but even part of the fun. The rest of the cast is are perfectly supportive and never a crack does show.

The direction was laudable, especially when we learn that this was Carlos Moreno's debut. The photography really gave the feeling that you were right there alongside the antagonists (they really were bad guys all of them), sweltering in the heat. The camera moment was intimidating, suggesting that violent tension was so furiously bubbling just under the surface that a bloodletting maneuver might erupt at any time. The Afro-American score was awesome on its own accord, percussive beats that kept things moving and our pulses racing.

At its finish, more than anything else, you'll have that privileged feeling that you just visited, or should I say escaped, a land where where only the titular types survive, and for long either.
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