The Incident (2014)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

I read the reviews before watching this film and something made me pick it despite the harsh criticism (and if anyone thinks this is a paid shill review - it's not ;) Indeed I watched the first 80% idly on a plane and it was amusing and entertaining enough for me to indulge it. When I landed I had about 15m to go and when I got home figured I would finish the rest just to see how it got wrapped up.When I got to the end I was reeling and mindblown. The storyline(s) are superbly crafted and I am continuing to see the wonderful attention to detail and unravel what it really all means. I cannot really say anything about that without putting some degree of spoiler so suffice it to say this is well worth watching - if you liked memento, Lost, inception etc you will like it but in my opinion it is way better than any of them in closing the loop on the subject matter ;) Am going to watch it again this weekend.An absolute delight and kudos to all who made it! :)

Unfortunately, it is common for fantasies like El Incidente to be billed as science fiction when they are far from it. They can call it "surreal" science fiction, but it's still not remotely science fiction. It is fantasy.I'm very tolerant regarding reality getting bent or even mutilated in science fiction, but that isn't what happens in this movie. It is a metaphorical fantasy way of seeing the universe, and unabashedly so. It is not a space warp thing.I give it a 1/10 if you're looking for sci-fi, or a 7/10 if you are looking for a metaphorical fantasy.

El Incidente isn't perfect, but I found it an interesting and provocative film with solid direction and excellent performances; and even though the ending was too "spiritual" for my taste, I can recommend it as a good sample of science fiction which takes advantage of the genre in order to express complex ideas. It's not convenient to reveal too much about the two (or more?) stories of El Incidente, so I will limit myself to describe its philosophical challenges and their possible provenance. Director and screenwriter Isaac Ezban seems to have taken inspiration on "alternative logic" tales, from the TV series Lost to the work by author Philip K. Dick. However, on some aspects, the screenplay is highly rational, finding a logical solution to genuinely strange problems which we fortunately don't find in daily life, and they make us think when we see how they were solved by the picturesque characters, each one of them displaying diverse aspects of human experience. Some characters evolute and maybe improve thanks to their bizarre situation; while other ones "de-evolute" and return to the primal instincts they probably dominated during their normal lives, before finding "the incident". By the way, the poster of the film and the connotations of the title might suggest an "extraterrestrial contact" or a similar science fiction formula; however, there's nothing like that in El Incidente. By the way, I also have to mention the fact that the twist in the end doesn't seek a congruent causality, but an emotional message; in other words, the ending doesn't provoke an "Ohhhhh!", but an "Ummmmmm...". Santiago Mendoza Cortés, Paulina Montemayor, Raúl Mendez, Humberto Busto, Fernando Álvarez Rebeil, Nailea Norvind and Hernán Mendoza bring perfect performances in their roles, and the technical aspects are also very competent. In conclusion, I wouldn't consider El Incidente a great film, but it kept me quite interested, and as I previously said, it deserves a recommendation.

El Incident (2014) Two brothers are fleeing a police officer, taking the fire stairs of the building. But they will quickly realize that they have entered an endless loop.The situation, or rather the incident happens suddenly, and puts the characters in front of the accomplished fact. What will be interesting is how everyone will try to understand, and adapt. The situation can not hide its inspirations from "Lost" or "Twilight Zone".The repetitive structure allows each character to explore, and we see them cross their new looped world, all the while varying in attitude. Misunderstanding gives way to fear, then refusal, to finish on a kind of indifference.The film uses this structure to explore more profound themes. Each of the group has witnessed from the beginning of the death of a member of their group, and we see how each individual apprehend this shock. There are those who indulges towards the abandonment and deterioration; while others face the problems with a kind of stoicism, taking a repetitive lifestyle. It could thereby compare this attitude imposed on the character to a broader vision of life and society, each undergoing repetition days and social obligations and work. I was surprised to discover many aspects and facades to this film, the revelations of the third act force to bringing a second reading to what could have been a simple idea for a short film, but who finds here throwing theories forcing us to ask questions. The rate also contributes to the strength of this film. The elements being unveiled at the same pace as the characters discover them, alternating in a balanced manner between the two parallel stories. The end seemed accelerated as taken by his own ardor, and give me the impression of being slightly confused at first.To accompany this mystery, music is intense and mysterious.As for the actors, they are of good alois, express crises and fears, but I felt that they were only contented to shout, the parents and the police officer having somewhat the same personality.A well made movie, refreshing, and a stonishingly remaining in the head.7.5 / 10