The Squad [DVD]

Sharing the occasional similarity with the Korean horror R-Point, The Squad is an effective film that manages to do a lot with a minimal cast and what I'm guessing wasn't a massive budget.

A Colombian military unit are deep in what looks like the middle of nowhere on a mission to get into a fortified hilltop building. While it's not stated outright, the building is base to guerrillas and the unit is ready to shoot to kill. Almost immediately, it's clear the building is dangerous but not for the reasons they expect. Saying any more would spoil things so I'll leave the plot at that. In any case, it's refreshing to see a horror film that utilises atmosphere and location as well as The Squad does, and one that doesn't state everything outright as if the viewer is an idiot.

If you're a fan of a bit of gore that's in the film for a reason rather than being the entire film, characters with flaws and a great atmosphere, then The Squad is for you.

This South American exercise in claustrophobic army horror sees a squad of soldiers investigate a bunker where things are very much not what they seem. Insanity and death aren't far behind... The director uses close-ups and narrow spaces to create a walls-closing-in atmosphere of creeping dread. We feel like we're there in the middle of the creepy horror and the gritty look and realistic performances from the cast only adding to the sense of impending doom.The Squad [DVD]

Possibly two and a half stars would be my true rating for this reasonably well made, but somewhat lacking, 'supernatural' film. The first fifteen minutes or so (as pointed out in another review) delivers a steady build up to what could have led onto a really good special op's story, with or without the eerie/horror element.

The storyline is simple - a team of soldiers are deployed into the middle of nowhere to assess the situation at a radio base on top of a hill. The previous occupants are incommunicado and have possibly fallen to rebels. The squad arrive at the base of the hill and start their operation by bickering about whether to await reinforcements or move on up to the station alone. So far so good, but once the team of soldiers reach their objective I felt things started to deterioate into a plodding and somewhat irrational story of physcological fear and mistrust as the 'horror' element is introduced and warfare slowly recedes. This is where the film lost it for me - there was no real reason, or logic in this highly trained team of specialists reacting as they did to the situation in hand. There were far to many times when I found myself thinking 'surely you're not going to do what you clearly are going to do'. The continuation of these irrational thoughts and behaviour became frustrating and a bit tiresome after a while, and I was hoping for either more action or answers to questions to raise the storyline back to interesting.

Having said that, the film does not appear cheaply made (although it clearly is - no CGI, special effects or battle scenes are employed) and it certainly isn't a switch off at half time offering. The acting and sub-titles are good and the authenticity of uniforms and weapons also look ok. All in all, it's fine for a cheap pick up, but more of a thinking man's film rather than a typical war or slasher movie.