I'm very puzzled by the mediocre and harsh reviews of this movie. Séptimo is a very good thriller. Definitely better than the 5.8 rating given on IMDb. Plenty of reviewers are being quite harsh saying Belén Rueda was unconvincing as the mother or the plot was weak or the kids acting was poor. But in the end, there are far worst movies with high ratings.
Lead acting is very good with Ricardo Darín playing Sebastián and Belén Rueda playing Delia. Nothing spectacular but fairly strong and convincing. Supporting roles were rather mediocre and kids are rarely good actors especially if there are no drama scenes so there's nothing there. Cinematography was probably the weakest link here and it showed along with the modest budget.
Aside from that, it is an enjoyable ride. Think about that literally, being take for a ride. Sebastián isn't the nicest guy, a slimy lawyer who puts his career and defending criminals above all. Except when his kids go missing and possibly kidnapped. Why? Shouldn't he have plenty of enemies? Probably the weak point in the script. But this film is a bit about what makes us human and realize what's important. The suspense is secondary, rather the traumas of life make us cling to what we appreciate, and even so more. If you are looking for a suspense movie, although some say it is Hitchcockian, it isn't in another sense. It's about life, separation and love. What we do to get what we want most.
Real rating? 6.9 out of 10.0
Lead acting is very good with Ricardo Darín playing Sebastián and Belén Rueda playing Delia. Nothing spectacular but fairly strong and convincing. Supporting roles were rather mediocre and kids are rarely good actors especially if there are no drama scenes so there's nothing there. Cinematography was probably the weakest link here and it showed along with the modest budget.
Aside from that, it is an enjoyable ride. Think about that literally, being take for a ride. Sebastián isn't the nicest guy, a slimy lawyer who puts his career and defending criminals above all. Except when his kids go missing and possibly kidnapped. Why? Shouldn't he have plenty of enemies? Probably the weak point in the script. But this film is a bit about what makes us human and realize what's important. The suspense is secondary, rather the traumas of life make us cling to what we appreciate, and even so more. If you are looking for a suspense movie, although some say it is Hitchcockian, it isn't in another sense. It's about life, separation and love. What we do to get what we want most.
Real rating? 6.9 out of 10.0
