EVERYONE WILL BURN

Unable to get over the death of her son, María José’s life has fallen apart. She lives in a small town where everyone knows and sees everything, and holds a grudge against the villagers who she feels are responsible for her son’s death. Little Lucía appears just as she’s about to step off a bridge, triggering strange events and a series of horrific deaths among the local population. The villagers immediately blame Lucía, who is busy putting her supernatural powers to good (or is it evil?) use. Meanwhile, María José finds new joy in motherhood and decides to protect her adopted daughter come what may, with the side perk that she can finally get a chance to take revenge on her son’s murderers. Led by an outstanding performance by Macarena Gómez (who also appears in Eduardo Casanova’s LA PIETÀ), director David Hebrero’s second feature is a little gem that deserves wider exposure. Featuring a pretty awesome opening scene, this movie is reminiscent of Alex de la Iglesia’s earlier movies. Hebrero manages to build a continuous eerie atmosphere and plays with the culture of small town communities, where it’s impossible to escape the spotlight and where everyone knows who you are and what you’re doing. Add a pinch of apocalypse and some religious fanatics and you’ve got a wildly explosive cocktail. EVERYONE WILL BURN will make you think twice about wanting to move to a small town. (ANNICK MAHNERT)