While vacationing in Chile, Gringo (Eli Roth) and his friends Pollo (Nicolás MartÃnez) and Ariel (Ariel Levy) attempt to find the best places to party. The three men eventually meet up with three young women who are on their last day of vacation. Pollo convinces the girls to stay one more day so they can go to an underground nightclub. While having the time of their life in the club, a massive earthquake strikes. When the group finally reaches the surface, they find that even more problems await them.
Directed by Nicolás López, who co-wrote the film with Eli Roth, Aftershock doesn’t break any new ground. In fact, if there had been an earthquake in Hostel, you would wind up with the same film. Fantastic sets and some gory moments can’t make up for the fact that the characters are underdeveloped and the story is severely lacking. The three men eventually meet three women who agree to follow them on their adventure. Irina (Natasha Yarovenko), a Russian model, Kylie (Lorenza Izzo), a non-stop party girl, and Monica (Andrea Osvárt), her overbearing big sister. It’s very easy to tell which woman will fall into the final girl category, and that’s just one of the problems here.
Clichés are typical in horror films, but this one may be pushing it. Even more troubling are a group of prison inmates who escape during the earthquake. They serve very little purpose for the film, and when they’re no longer needed, they’re eliminated in the laziest way possible. Genre fans will enjoy the gore, but there’s very little else.
Is Aftershock Essential TIFF Viewing?
If you’re a huge fan of the horror genre, there should be enough to enjoy. There’s plenty of blood being splashed around, and the clichés may not bother you. Everybody else should probably avoid this one.
Aftershock Screening Times
- Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 11:59 pm at Ryerson Theatre
- Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 6:15 pm at Cineplex Yonge & Dundas 3
- Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 3:30 pm at Cineplex Yonge & Dundas 9
More About Aftershock
Aftershock Production Gallery
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Just saw it last night. Complete & total garbage. The firsr half played like a ripoff of The Hangover or I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell (one of the worst films ever) mixed in with cheap looking tourism board footage. The second half, despite ramping up the gore, completely lacked suspense and despite, rapes and immolations, was so bland and dull, we nearly walked out. Luckily I didn't because afterwards was the most uncomfortable q&a I've seen in a long time.
Well, I don't think I dislike it as much as you, but it certainly could have been much better. I just felt like they threw a bunch of stuff in and didn't know what to do with it, and the ending was laughable.
I thought the one scene, involving the rapes and immolation you speak of, was the only good scene in the film. It at least stirred up some emotion while watching, although it does that through disgust instead of tension or our connection with the characters.