The latest film by director Juanma Bajo Ulloa, titled El mal, has received mixed reviews that highlight its lack of depth and narrative consistency. The plot centers on a journalist who receives the confession of a serial killer, but according to several critics, it fails to effectively explore the psyche of its characters, getting bogged down in repetitive situations and artificial, pretentious dialogues.
The criticism is not happy
The film, marked by a script that many consider weak and cowardly, has been described as a blunder that is unaware of its own limitations. Although Bajo Ulloa shows flashes of talent in his daring staging, his personal signature seems to blur, leaving fans of his work with a sense of dissatisfaction. The secondary characters, such as the editor and his daughter, have a potential that is lost in the narrative, which helps to highlight the shortcomings of the main plot.
The criticisms also mention that the duration of the movie, which reaches two hours, is excessive. It is suggested that a more concise version could have significantly improved the visual and narrative experience. Despite the shortcomings, some action moments manage to capture the viewer’s attention, although they are not enough to compensate for the weakness of the script.
With the setback that El mal represents in his career, it is expected that Bajo Ulloa will return with more impactful projects in the future. In the end, this work has been seen as a missed opportunity to explore the complexity of evil and its consequences, leaving the audience yearning for more than what this production has offered.
