User reviews

When The Exorcist was premiered it seems that its impact on believers was so great that people in the audience fainted, run out of the theater screaming, there were ambulances outside to take care of the sick, etc.

This movie doesn't go that far of course, but I imagine that what they call "sensitive audiences" for rating purposes would view this film with awesome respect for what is going on within the story.

I don't believe in anything so, my point of view lets me see this movie from a "naturalistic" perspective, no supernatural phenomena for me.

I rented this movie because I thought Alejandro Amenabar was its director, he isn't, he was one of the producers, but even so, the technical part (photography, color, editing, sound, music, etc.) is absolutely perfect, silky the pacing, a pleasure to the eye and to the ear and the discovery of a new promising name in directing.

The acting impeccable, and good entertainment too. Not bad for the price of a rental fee.

This movie has one great premise and it deals very good with it. It is a movie that builds up slow, but does have a punch behind it. Since I hadn't read the outline (summary line or whatever you want to call it) of the movie, as always, I didn't know what to expect other than I was expecting a drama (and that was just a guess because of the name of the movie).

Boy was I in for a surprise. Slow it might be and therefor something that quite a few people might not appreciate/love/can deal with. But if you let the movie sink in and let it have an effect on you, you will be able to see quite a bit. Still it's not flawless and might have done with a tighter script. But all in all its a good movie with a concept that might be able to make you think even after the movie is over (though I do think it might work better as a novel)

"El mal ajeno," directed by Oscar Santos, premiered in 2009 in Spain. The film follows the story of Dr. Diego Sánchez, a physician who, after a traumatic incident involving a shooting and a suicide, discovers he has the ability to heal others.

The film's main cast includes Eduardo Noriega as Diego, Belén Rueda as his wife, and Angy Cepeda as a patient with a terminal illness. The first half of the film focuses on Diego's struggle to come to terms with his newfound gift, while the second half delves into the ethical and moral dilemmas that arise from his ability to heal.

One of the film's strengths is its exploration of the human condition. The film delves into themes of faith, hope, and the price one pays for miracles. The performances by the cast are particularly noteworthy, with Eduardo Noriega delivering a nuanced and heartfelt portrayal of a man struggling with his newfound powers.

However, the film could have used more originality in its storytelling. While the premise is intriguing, the execution sometimes feels formulaic, lacking the freshness that could have made it stand out more.

Overall, "El mal ajeno" is a thought-provoking drama that explores the complexities of faith and morality. It is a well-crafted film that will appeal to fans of philosophical dramas, offering a mix of emotional depth and spiritual questioning.

Rating: 7 out of 10.

In Spain. Dr. Diego Sanz (Eduardo Noriega) has just separated from the nurse Pilar (Cristina Plazas), who works with him, and they have the teenage daughter Ainhoa (Clara Lago). Diego is emotionally detached from his patients, showing no sympathy to them, and is questioned by his intern Juanjo (Marcel Borrás). When Diego is treating a terminal pregnant woman, her lover Armand (Carlos Leal) threaten Diego in the parking area and makes him promise to treat her. Then he shots Diego and commits suicide. Soon Diego notes that he has acquired the power of healing people with his hands. Meanwhile, his beloved daughter Ainhoa has her gonorrhea badly treated and the infection spreads through her body.

"El mal ajeno" is a weird film with a supernatural story of a doctor that "inherits" healing power with his hands. The plot is inconclusive in most of the segments; therefore, deceptive. The conclusion disappoints the viewer. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): "Mãos Que Curam" ("Healing Hands")

In this Spanish hospital-drama, Eduardo Noriega (Abre los ojos/Transsiberian) plays the main character, Diego, a doctor who has lost his passion for his work, and does not want to get too personal with any of his patients anymore. But one day, a pregnant woman tries to commit suicide, and is submitted to his care at the hospital. Her boyfriend is upset at the way Diego treats their case, and apparently tries to kill him, but instead of dying, Diego gets an incredible ability to heal people simply by touching them. However, Diego does not want this gift, and soon finds out that there is a much darker side to the ability, which makes his Jesus-like ability even less desirable, and he tries to get rid of it again.

The film is a careful reminder that we should all treasure what we have, as we never know when it will be gone for good. The acting and directing is brilliant, and leaves us with a very touching and emotional movie, which will be remembered long after seeing the film for the first time.

I rarely give 1 star but this is the case. Here all the most disgusting things came together.

1) Terrible, mediocre actors 2) 100 percent Fake emotions. There is no desire to sympathize. Rather the opposite 3) Completely degenerate plot 4) General feeling of cheapness. It's like the movie's budget was $1,000, of which $900 was stolen.

I don't understand why they make such a low quality movie...

But it helps.

This is one of the most unique stories I have ever seen. And that is frankly saying a lot as I have been watching films for over 50 years.

The story is essentially about the balances in our lives where acts of selflessness and acts of selfishness collide, either from within us or from others who come into our lives.

Like I mentioned, care givers will surly appreciate this film. But anyone who has loved another person enough (think agape) should take time to watch this film.

The mysterious nature of the plot takes some time to understand but once you get the cause/effect chain of connectedness you are in a good spot

This film is hard to find. I recommended it many times but de people seem to find it.

I recommend you make the effort.

Enjoy.