El duende sátiro (2016) – Film Review
El duende sátiro is a Spanish-language horror film made in Ecuador. It has an unusual storyline and the acting is solid but the film has failed to attract the attention of an international audience.
El duende sátiro is set in a small village surrounded by jungle, where there’s a local legend about a goblin-like creature called el duende. According to the legend, el duende is a demon that was thrown out of paradise. The legend further states el duende likes to play the guitar and often falls in love with beautiful young women with big eyes and long hair.
The film begins with three young women enjoying a late-night swim in the river. One of them is the local tavern owner’s daughter, Palmira (Valeria Mosquera). Her father, Don Fernando (Luis Torres), who is reputed to be the best guitar player in the village, has forbidden her to spend time at the river. Since her mother disappeared, he is very protective of Palmira and worries that something bad may happen to her in such a remote spot. Nevertheless, Palmira often sneaks off to swim alone or shower under the waterfall.
Although nothing bad happens while Palmira and her friends are swimming in the river, there are indications something may be watching them from the jungle.
Back at the bar, Don Fernando has arranged some live music and the place is packed. Unfortunately, it isn’t long before disaster strikes and a local woman goes to the toilet and gets dragged through a hole in the ceiling. Nobody sees her again.
Many of the villagers are sure the girl was snatched by el duende and some of the local children have witnessed it walking along the rooftops but Don Fernando initially denies its existence, saying el duende is a myth. However, people are quick to point out that the hole in the roof is far too big to have been made by an animal.
Unphased by the tales of el duende, Palmira continues to sneak off to the river and spend time there alone. Whether she believes in it or not, the creature is monitoring her activities and, when she falls asleep next to the water, it gifts her some flowers, which she awakes to find resting on her chest.
The monster isn’t the only one interested in Palmira. Recently returned to the village, her childhood friend Joaquin (Jorge Cabrera) has noticed Palmira has blossomed into a beautiful young woman and arrives at her 18th birthday party with his guitar, planning to play something for her.
However, Don Fernando sends the young man away, showing a marked dislike for him, even though he and Joaquin’s father used to be good friends. Don Fernando tells Palmira he doesn’t like Joaquin because his playing is so good it’s unnatural, but it’s hard not to wonder if the real reason may be he fears Joaquin plays better than him.
As the film progresses, el deunde ramps up its activity resulting in several deaths, while Don Fernando struggles to keep his daughter safe from the creature, which has already assaulted her in her bedroom.
El duende sátiro is a pretty good film that offers something a little different from North American and European horror movies but is unlikely to impress viewers who prefer their horror films served with plenty of blood or don’t like to take things slow. It’s around 23 minutes before the camera provides a brief glimpse of the creature as it spies on Palmira. Hiding in the undergrowth wearing a black suit, it’s an unusual monster with grey skin and long fingers. Its face is hidden behind a sombrero. It’s a creepy scene that works well because the camera doesn’t linger. It’s just a quick flash of something nasty.
The speical effects in El duende sátiro are a mixed bag. The scenes where the creature manifests from smoke are convincingly done but when Don Fernando gets seriously burned the close-ups of his damaged flesh are not. Fortunately, many viewers may find the story is strong enough to go it alone and does not need an overdose of special effects to help prop it up.
Although it’s a far cry from terrifying, on the whole, there’s more to like about this film than there is to hate but to appreciate it at its best, you need to be able to understand Spanish. However, certain streaming platforms provide English subtitles, so if your language abilities are not up to the task and you want to see it, you should still be able to enjoy watching El duende sátiro online. As for finding a DVD or Blu-ray copy, don’t hold your breath.