Angustia (1987)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Bigas Luna

Writers:

Bigas Luna (screenplay)
Michael Berlin (dialogue)

Release Date:

8 January 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

The eyes of the city are mine.

Plot:

A film-within-a-film thriller about two teen girls among a small group of people whom are terrorized...

Plot Keywords:

Movie Theater | Eyeball | Ophthalmologist | Hypnotism | Film In Film

Awards:

5 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Zelda Rubinstein	...	Alice Pressman, the Mother (old movie)
Michael Lerner	...	John Pressman (old movie)
Talia Paul	...	Patty (new movie)
Àngel Jové	...	The Killer (new movie)
Clara Pastor	...	Linda (new movie)
Isabel García Lorca	...	Caroline Robinson (old movie)
Nat Baker	...	Teaching Doctor (old movie)
Edward Ledden	...	Doctor Murphy (old movie)
Gustavo Gili	...	Student #1 (old movie)
Antonio Regueiro	...	Student #2 (old movie)
Joaquín Ribas	...	Student #3 (old movie)
Janet Porter	...	Laboratory Nurse (old movie)
Patrice Manget	...	Nurse at Clinic #1 (old movie)
Merche Gascón	...	Nurse at Clinic #2 (old movie)
Jose M. Chucarro	...	Caroline's Boyfriend (old movie)

Also Known As:

Angoixa (Spain: Catalan title)
Anguish (USA)
Angústia (Portugal) (original subtitled version) [pt]
Angoisse (France) [fr]
Im Augenblick der Angst (West Germany) [de]
L'angoscia (Italy) [it]
Os Olhos da Cidade São Meus (Brazil) [pt]

Runtime:

86 min | Portugal:83 min (cut) | USA:89 min | Argentina:95 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:R | France:-12 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

Luna Films

Quotes:

Alice Pressman, the Mother: [toying fondly with a snail] What are you looking at with those little eyes?

Movie Connections:

Features Death Wish 3 (1985)

Mama Mia!

Before the film even begins, a message is displayed on screen warning you about the possibility of hypnosis and dizziness etc. In my opinion, that's a great way to hype someone up. And with hype, disappointment usually follows. But not with Anguish, this was a really cool little flick.

The flick actually is pretty much two movies in one. I'll only describe the first story, since if I tell you about the second, it's kinda ruining it for you. The initial story follows a son who is being hypnotized and forced into murder by his mother, played by Zelda Rubinstein, the tiny lil paranormal investigator in Poltergeist. It's a pretty simple premise at first, but once the other story kicks in, the movie's tension and entertainment value is severely upped.

The direction and atmosphere is all fantastic, the only minor problems is the acting, it's pretty amateur to a degree. But there are also strong performances as well, the son/murderer did a really good job. And it's killing me trying to recall what I remember him from! And at under 90 minutes, the movie doesn't last too long. Poifect!

It's a rare lil horror flick that should definitely have more of a following. With a cool idea leading the way Anguish is one flick any fan of horror or of our beloved lil Zelda should without a doubt check out.