Review of We Are What We Are (2010) by Eric R — 14 Dec 2011

A family is completely disoriented after the death of their father, the primary caretaker. Left to fend for themselves, the mother and three children, two boys and one girl, are now responsible to take care of everything.

One very important thing is 'The Ritual" which happens to be when the family murders someone and eats them for dinner. Yea, that's right the family is a group of cannibals. This is a film that is half art-film, half horror film, which was clearly influenced by Claire Denis' Trouble Ever Day.

The family is full of strong personalities and what really unfolds is the slow dissolution of the family unit. Its actually very well done as we see the various characters conflicting with each other after losing the head of the household.

The oldest son, tries to take control but he feels anguish and resentment from his mother. The younger boy is semi-deranged as a brash, violent person. These characters are all very different. The resentment, jealousy, and building angst among the remaining members of the family is subtle building to a rather violent climax.

The setting of the film is in slums of Mexico and the visuals really help create this world. Almost the entire movie is at night and the grungy, dirty, creating a real sense of realism in this rather fantastical story-line.

The film has some dark comedic sensibilities and really seems to be both political and social allegory. It really comments on just how self-absorbed people are that they ignore almost everything around him.

The opening scene of the film, which may be best scene in the entire movie, shows this off perfectly. As their father dies on a sidewalk at the mall, a janitorial crew comes by and drags him away and cleans up the mess almost instantaneously.

The passer-bys continue right past this, never skipping a beat. It's a film about the decay of family and society to some degree with a dark, macabre twist.