Genesis (1998) Movie Review

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, this eerie and romantic Italian short movie directed by Nacho Cerda is certainly worth watching. With virtually no speech, Spanish or otherwise, Genesis (1998) can be watched by anyone.

Cast

The entire cast consisted of two people: Pep Tosar who played the sculptor, and his wife is played by Trae Houlihan.

Plot

After the death of his wife in a car accident, the artist decides to build a sculpture of her likeness. However, the sculpture starts taking a life of its own.

Review

Genesis resembled a Tales from the Crypt episode in that it only lasted thirty minutes, but in those thirty minutes, even with very little speech, the story and the cinematography carried the film. This is an eerie film as the sculpture contends with the memory of her dead wife and the sculpture’s life. As the sculpture took on a life of its own, his memories flooded back, and his love for her remained stronger than ever. This movie was a romance trapped in an eerie horror film.

(On a side note, Genesis won deservedly the Best Short Film of 1998 in the Fant-Asia Film Festival and in 1999 in the Malaga International Week of Fantastic Cinema.)

Verdict (Out of 10)

This short Spanish movie deserves a 8.2 out of 10 for its artistry and cinematography. Although the story is a tad derivative, the cinematography carried the film as it was a work of art within itself. This movie is certainly worth watching on Valentine’s Day for its romantic bent.