Our pick of seven of the best films from the Mediterranean and where you can find them on video-on-demand streaming services.
Has the rain once again thwarted your plans for Easter? Thanks to the magic of cinema, you can comfortably travel to faraway lands despite rain, hail or snow – just with the help of a TV and a streaming service.
Not so long ago, we traveled to Italy, and now it’s Spain’s turn. The western Mediterranean country has recently been known for producing great series such as Elite and House of Money. However, the cinematic talent has always been there, as the following 7 great Spanish films prove:
REC
A TV reporter and a cameraman follow rescue workers into a dark apartment building in Barcelona and are quickly trapped by something terrifying. This groundbreaking 2007 horror film was a hit in Spain and internationally – so much so that it was even remade for an American audience. However, it’s the Spanish version that holds a place in our hearts.
Where: Net Cinema 1, Sooner (to rent)
The Shaft (El hoyo)
In a not-too-distant future, there is a new kind of prison: it is vertical, has only one cell per floor, occupied by two people. And there is only one food platform for all inmates. Science fiction fans should not miss this true gem of a movie, nor should social scientists.
Where: Netflix
Pan’s Labyrinth (El laberinto del Fauno)
In post-Civil War Spain, the book-shy young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie fantasy world. Directed by Mexican Guillermo del Toro, but produced and cast by an all-Spanish team, the film was highly praised by critics and audiences and is still one of the biggest Spanish cinema hits worldwide.
Where: iTunes (to rent)
Sleep Tight (Mientras duermes)
Behind the façade of a seemingly simple and nice janitor hides a true psychopath whose sole aim is to make life hell for the tenants in his house. A film guaranteed to make you distrust every one of your neighbors.
Where: Sky
An eye for an eye (Quien a hierro mata)
When the patriarch of an organized crime family retreats to a nursing home, the last thing he expects is for his own nurse to seek revenge on him. This highly original mafia film is a slow-burning thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout its running time.
Where: Netflix
Talk to her (Hable con ella)
Two men share a strange friendship while caring for two women who are in a deep coma. One of the many classics by legendary Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar and perhaps even his best film.
Where: Prime Video
Murderland (La isla mínima)
Two police officers travel to rural southern Spain, a place where time seems to have stood still forever. Their mission: to investigate the mysterious disappearance of two girls. The main plot and atmosphere may remind many of the first season of True Detective. And although both premiered in the same year, the Spanish film was never as successful as the series.