So many intriguing ideas are left frustratingly underdeveloped in Demián Rugna's modern-day Argentinian folk-horror story about a small rural town contaminated by a "rotten." Brothers Pedro and Jaime Yazurlo discover a demon is about to be born from a disgusting, possessed body that they can not simply kill without making things worse. There are some smart, experienced women in town, but these guys are much better at yelling the rules at each other than they are at following them. Some amazing practical effects are all played straight—this is not a tongue-in-cheek gorefest—but missed opportunities abound for something truly scary.
Demián Rugna's Argentinian horror film about a small rural town dealing with demonic possession has great effects but leaves too many of its intriguing ideas frustratingly underdeveloped.