Los Sin Nombre (1999)

"Los Sin Nombre" also known as "Nameless" is one of my favorite Spanish movies and one of the movies I recommend the most often. I feel it’s only appropriate to follow a discouraging review with an up-lifting, must see recommended review. “Nameless” is that kind of movie and to my surprise, I found out that this movie was written and directed by the same gentleman who directed “REC 2”, Jaume Balaguero! Just like “Red Lights” and “Apartment 143”, one movie had amazing strengths while the other was just a little bit (or a lot) weaker.

I first saw “Nameless” at the Lovecraft Film Festival one year. It was shown as one of two “mystery” movies that year and while it was inspired by Lovecraft, it has a very Lovecraft-like style; dark secrets that are better left untouched.

The movie begins with the brutal murder of a six year old girl. Her body is found mutilated and burned and is only identifiable by her legs and a bracelet that she wore; one is shorter than the other. Five years later, the mother of the girl, Claudia, begins receiving odd phone calls begging for help from woman who claims to be her daughter. Claudia does what she is asked and finds strange pictures at an old hospital that the woman asked her to go to. Scared but hopeful Claudia gets help a police officer named Massera. He begins to investigate the situation and finds out that things are not what they seem.

I would share more but this is a wonderful thriller, mystery that NEEDS to be seen to fully appreciate!

Favorite moment – the ending. Enough said.