Review of Aftershock (2012) by Stuart W — 08 Jun 2013

Aftershock is Eli Roth's latest film and it steps away from the torture porn attitude of his famous Hostel series for a more disaster styled, crime thriller. Although Roth didn't direct this time, Nicolás López stepped up, Roth did however, produce, write and starred in the Chilean based flick. The film is about a group of tourist and local friends who are out one night clubbing when a fierce earthquake throws the city in a crime chaos.

The Good:

I have always loved Roth's films and this one has a lot going for it. The direction is great and the storyline progresses at a great rate, always managing to just make you comfortable enough so that whatever happens next is shocking. Roth's acting is superb, as usual and the scenery is beautiful. The kills and gore are terrifically gruesome in typical Roth fashion.

The Bad:

What put me off about the film, was the characters, besides from Roth's stupid (but likeable) Gringo the characters are so unlikeable you're totally put off. The character Pollo (Nicolás Martínez) is supposed to be The Hangover's Zach Galifianakis type but you don't buy in to it. The girl set up to be the thriller, horror final girl type is so irritating you wanted her to be the first to be crushed in the quake. This is so off-putting because if you don't like any of the people you're watching, I find it so hard to keep my mind on the film.

3/5.