We Are What We Are

Mexican film We Are What We Are is probably the darkest film you’ll see all year. I’m not talking tone either, rather the lack of lighting throughout the internal scenes of the film. Of course, some people may prefer that rather than see a prostitute get her head caved in by a shovel or a man graphically stabbed in the face. If that sounds pretty nasty, don’t do a runner just yet though. As We Are What We Are is actually a low budget family drama. It just happens to be about a family of cannibals in Mexico. Again, don’t be fooled into thinking this is some sort of Texas Chainsaw Massacre rip off in terms of intensity, as writer / director Jorge Michel Grau concentrates mainly on the relationship within the family as they come to terms with the loss of their father and their new fumbling attempts to grab their next “meal”. However, when the violence does happen, it is awkward and brutal. There is a major problem with the film though that holds it back, that being that the family itself are a pretty horrible bunch. As you don’t have any connection with them emotionally it’s hard to care whether they starve or not, and towards the end it’s more likely you’ll be rooting for them to get their comeuppance. Whether Grau meant this or not isn’t clear. What is clear are his unsubtle commentaries on Mexican life, particularly the corruption in society angle. I think this will split people down the middle (much like a scene in the film!) but a secondary DVD viewing with the opportunity to increase the brightness on your telly may shed further secrets.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
This lacks the killer bite, but if you were going to make a “realistic” drama about cannibals living in Mexico, you’d be hard pressed to top this. Rating: 6/10.