La cara oculta
Tags: dramatic, revenge, mystery

Plot synopsis:
The film opens with Adrián (Quim Gutierrez), a young orchestra conductor, viewing a video of his girlfriend Belén (Clara Lago) telling him she is leaving him. Adrián becomes distraught. While drinking away his sorrows at a bar, he meets Fabiana (Martina Garcia) and they have a relationship where Fabiana moves into the house that Adrián was sharing with Belén. Adrián becomes a suspect in the disappearance of Belén, however, the investigators can find no evidence of Adrián's involvement in Belén's disappearance.
It is revealed that the house is owned by a German lady who shows Belén a secret room built to hide her husband just in case someone came to look for him because he was a former Nazi SS officer. The room is self-contained and sealed off from sound.
It is also shown that Belén, jealous of Adrián's relationship with one of his violinists, Verónica, decided to pretend she is leaving him. She creates the video saying she is leaving as she hides in the secret room. The room has some one way mirrors where she can observe Adrián's reaction. When she decides he has had enough she looks for the key and realizes she lost the key and is now trapped in the room with no way to contact Adrián.
Fabiana finds the key to the secret room, but she doesn't know what it is used for. Fabiana eventually figures out that Belén is trapped in the house because Belén is able to communicate through tapping on the pipes in the secret room. As Fabiana is ready to open the door, she pauses and decides not to rescue Belén because she might lose Adrián.
Fabiana struggles with her decision, but decides to open the door and check on Belén because she can't get a response from her. Also, one of the investigators gave Fabiana pictures of Adrián and Verónica and she herself feels the pangs of jealously. As Fabiana is checking on Belén laying in a bed in the secret room, Belén surprises Fabiana and knocks her out and leaves Fabiana locked in the room. Belén decides to leave the house. She leaves the key to the secret room on a bed for Adrián to find and leaves a picture of the two of them taped to the mirror that acts as the door to the secret room. The final scene shows Belén sitting on the beach alone and Fabiana trapped inside hoping to be rescued.
It was also revealed that one of the police investigators, who is still not convinced of Adrián's innocence in Belén's disappearance, is a former boyfriend of Fabiana, and he warns Adrián that if anything should happen to Fabiana he will kill Adrián. At the end of the movie the audience is thus left to wonder not only if Fabiana will eventually die in the hidden room, but whether Adrián will also be killed because of her disappearance.

Review: A Spanish orchestra conductor named Adrián (Quim Gutiérrez) receives a video message from his sweetheart Belén (Clara Lago), in which she breaks up with him , after that , she is suddenly disappeared .
It does have mysterious happenings in a big , spooky house along with pain, suffering of one or two scorned women.This is an intriguing and suspenseful Colombian/Spanish co-production full of thrills , chills and twists and turns .
Acceptable performance by protagonist trio as Quim Gutierrez as wealthy , voguish orchestra conductor engaged to a Spanish girlfriend well acted by Clara Lago , whose sudden disappearance leaves Adrián stressed , saddened , leaving him the number one suspect in the eyes of the police , but he takes up with another woman shortly thereafter, , as he spontaneously becomes passionately involved with barmaid Fabiana finely played by the gorgeous Colombian actress Martina García .
We're not talking about a great classic film here, but it is pretty good guilty-pleasure that should keep you riveted through the end.I have one minor gripe, important to me but probably not to most people: Since classical music has always been a big part of my life, what drew me to the film initially was that the main character is an orchestra conductor.
And Martina Garcia reminds me of Jessica Alba in terms of her looks and her bare minimum acting skills.I thought the movie might be a bust until, half way through the film, Clara Lagos shows up and the movie becomes a heart-pounding thriller with top notch acting and a series of fascinating and very creepy twists.My advice: stay through the first so-so hour and you won't be able to turn it off.And yes, Quim Gutierrez should have rehearsed the role of an orchestra conductor better and...DO NOT WATCH THE TRAILER!.
I love watching films in general, but thrillers are my thing.
But, I'm very sorry to say that I haven't watched a good thriller film in quite a while.
This is a film when the roles of good and bad change really quickly, and when you start making your own conclusions on the topic, suddenly something happens and you instantly change the course of your thoughts, seeing someone else as "the bad guy".
When the film began, I was quite sure I was about to watch another conventional horror story, about a haunted house and all the rest...I could not imagine it would evolve to such an interesting plot.
A Spanish orchestra conductor (Quim Gutierrez) deals with the mysterious disappearance of his girlfriend (Clara Lago).I wish that IMDb had half stars, because I was torn between a 7 and an 8.
Don't see the trailer if you are just to see the movie because it will give you all the clues you need to to figure out what is going on!La Cara Oculta is a typical mystery Spanish movie,where you see what is going on in present time at the first half and on the second, the back and forth scenario takes place in order the mystery to be solved.It is not the best Spanish movie out there but it is the right one if you want to enjoy yourself for a night,alone in your house!The house in this movie is the leading role!so watch out!I don't wanna say any more 'cause I will ruin the story.So do not read reviews and do not see the trailer,just put it on your DVD and enjoy yourself!.
A very good movie with minimal star cast and outstanding plot line.An orchestra conductor living a wealthy life with his beautiful girlfriend and abruptly her Girl Friend vanishes leaving him inexplicably, caused by his infidelity.The plot revolves around the hunt for his girlfriend.A very good thriller, described by the fantastic storytelling telling about the present and the past, acting is very good and plot twists are enthralling.Recommended to the suspense and mystery lovers.7.5/10.
This Colombian film - quite rare in European cinemas - has a good suspense source, enabling to create a thrilling story about love and its related topics (jealousy, faithfulness, yearning, etc.), visible is rather extreme circumstances.
True, there were some interesting twists, but the very end could have been more concrete or revenge-related, the current one created a kind of vacuity, no quivering.Characters seems realistic, but apart from Clara Lago as Belén, there were no catchy performances, preferable particularly in case of events happening in limited space.
The movie shows some promise initially with the mystery surrounding the disappearance, but when the mystery is revealed, the reaction is "Seriously?" The premise behind the disappearing woman is so ridiculous that it is hard to believe someone actually wrote a script around it.
Sure, they tend to make strange and weird movies, but it happens that I enjoy watching such films.
One thinks while watching, nothing is served on a plate like in American movies, so one feels engaged while watching, not disconnected and one cares what will happen to the characters.
Dubbed in English and re-named from its original Spanish title La Cara Oculta, The Hidden Face is a decent thriller if you have the patience to endure its lackluster first half.
To truly appreciate this thriller, I strongly caution against watching the trailer or reading other reviews that include one of the film's best kept secrets.The plot plays out in two parts, each from a different perspective that converges into a series of twists and turns before the finale.
They hit it off and before you know it, Fabiana moves in with Adrian, even as the police begin investigating Belen's sudden disappearance.
Like a curious cat, Belen sets a trap to expose Adrian, but inadvertently sets about a chain of events, and in the process, seals her own fate.Dubbing this Spanish film into English would not have been such a bad idea if it weren't for the terrible voice acting.
The movie follows the disappearance of a girl and so on, I tell you that there is something to do with the HOUSE, so anyways a lot of stupidity is shown which I really don't liked and can be prevent if they want to, Second seriously !
Then in the story comes Fabiana a nice waitress who falls for Adrian also, and she's a nice girl, well is she?Good acting, good story, great twist , good filming giving us two sides of the story , and the camera really show us both sides.I enjoy watching this movie, if you have a chance you have to see it, if you like a good thriller there no chance you will be disappointed on this one.
I started to watch this film by chance, as I had nothing better to do and I was really surprised how good it was!The beginning of the movie may be a bit slow and at one point I asked myself if this would be good or not, but then the shift of the stories and the beginning of 'the missing girl story' really starts to make this movie interesting.
As the story of the girl develops, you begin to wonder what happened to her and then the twist with the German woman and her secret immediately make you realize what has happened and then the movie gets really interesting.I must say it was really good, from the beginning to the last second!
The three main actors Clara Lago (as Belén), Martina García (as Fabiana) and Quim Gutiérrez (as Adrián) did a great job with their respective performances.
La Cara Oculta – The Hidden Face – CATCH IT (B+) La Cara Oculta is very interesting thriller giving two perspectives of girls fallen in love with a Spanish Orchestra conductor.
Good thriller suspense movie.
The direction of the actors is mediocre--having them over ham scenes--which makes them look like bad actors.This would have been X rated in my youth but not in a tawdry way---An added plus to the movie.Basically if I say too much about the plot it will ruin it however stick with it to the end....the first half is somewhat cheesy (trying too hard inauthentic unsubtle etc...).If this was an American movie would give it a 6.
I think he's a major talent.The film concerns a Spanish conductor, Adrian (Quim Gutiérrez), who, with his girlfriend Belen (Clara Lago) has rented a home from a German woman who is out of the country for a time.One day, Belen disappears.
You're not sure if it's a horror film, a ghost story, a straightforward drama, a murder mystery, and when you find out, it's even more mesmerizing.
I love Spanish-language thrillers and horrors and whenever I need an escape from Hollywood, I would look up a nicely crafted mystery from the Latin regions."The Hidden Face" is about an orchestra conductor who's girlfriend mysterious disappears leaving him devastated and perplexed.
The thriller consists of the young woman's attempt to escape said room, which proves to be more than a difficult task.The plot sounds first-rate and the execution is not bad, however at times it did feel more like a Colombian soap-opera, especially the parts involving the conductor.
An interesting aspect of the movie is the one-way mirrors used to view the bedroom and bathroom from inside the hidden room, adding more to the captive's frustration after seeing the events occurring without her known presence."The Hidden Face" is a good thriller that emerges as a crowd-pleaser and is definitely worth a look at..
Probably, the major success of "Tesis" ('96) directed by Alejando Aménabar, started the Spanish engine of producing exquisite & intriguing thrillers, and the majority of them were so well-crafted that nowadays we can say for sure that Spain surpassed Hollywood which became predictable and out of ideas and even the remakes from foreign films are terrible."La Cara Oculta" (english titled "The Hidden Face") is a suspenseful Spanish / Colombian co-production full of thrills & chills, presenting the inevitable (but, very creative & well-staged) plot twist that grabs the viewer in a way which reminds a lot the work of Master Alfred Hitchcock and, posteriorly, his more devoted filmmaker, Brian De Palma.Colombian film director and writer, Andrés Baiz, knows how to project an eerie sensation to this piece of work, to have a great notion of pace and how the suspense works and the story goes in a crescendo to the final revealing, which is shocking and unexpected.
The cinematography is splendid and au pair with Hollywood produced films: peculiar choice of camera angles and nicely staged sequences directed with style, that make us wonder how a movie can look so good without the production values provided by a big studio.About the cast, it's hard to believe that a bland looking guy with boring personality on-screen such as Quim Gutierrez can score with the three main actresses in the film: Martina García, Clara Lago and Marcela Mar, but after all it's only a movie and his Maestro character is rich and famous, so we can accept that.
Had the wooden leading actor being replaced, the movie could have been even better, because the way he played the character as being a self centered, arrogant & pompous kind of nerd didn't help it either...In short, never mind the slow start (that will remind you a lot of "What Lies Beneath", itself a Robert Zemeckis' homage to Hitchcock's works), but please give this movie a chance, because the second half it's a surprisingly engaging and gripping experience not to be missed !!.
I strongly advise you not to read reviews nor in any case watch the trailer, because the essence of this psychological drama is in the horror you feel when you finally realize what is actually going on and later in quite predictable, but no less terrible plot twist.
It was a good movie but it could've been much much better if the director had revealed the hidden place later ...
But in the second half I was shocked and I remember feeling sorry after realizing how little time was left for the rest of the film.
If you ever liked good psychological thrillers like a Tale of Two Sisters, Saw, and others, you are in for a treat.The movie begins like the plot suggests, and if you pay attention to details for the first half, you will understand later why these details are being focused.
Who doesn't like that?The only reason I didn't give it a 10 was because there was a part on the second half that was a bit too obvious that was going to happen, but then again, I am a psychological thriller fan so I kind of know when things are too obvious in these movies.
It is a very good character study in love, jealousy, and Latino social norms in relationships.The movie starts off as a mystery and evolves into something more sinister yet compelling and understandable within the context of the Spanish-Colombian social influences and gender behaviors.I did not see any of the trailers or investigate this movie before I watched it----- nor do I recommend it.
The feelings it provoked reminded me of other such good movies I had seen (spanish, too): Sleep Tight, and the unforgettable The Skin I Live In. I consider all of them a must watch!.
When i started watching it i was sure this was another typical horror movie, but what a twist!
The Hidden Face is a great foreign suspense thriller that begs for a domestic remake in the U.S. The Hiddden Face has one of the most unique plot lines to hit the genre in quite some time.
The actors were nice and good but I didn't like Fabiana, the director could have chosen a nicer and more beautiful actress.I liked the backwards in the movie, where you discover what happened, also the music was great especially in the enthusiastic moments.My only problem is that they could have found another clearer end, and also they could have found a more beautiful actress than Fabiana :)I rank it as my number 1 thriller ^_^ <3 I would highly recommend it.
It could have been so much better if they thought about writing for a good story rather than just a shocking plot ending.
First of all, if you've already watched the trailer then this movie will hardly be interesting to you.One of the things I really hate is when I see a good idea ruined by a below-average realization.
The movie has its very own style which makes it stand out but also quite difficult to digest to be honest.The story revolves around Spanish orchestra conductor Adrian who accepts a job occasion in Bogota for one year.
When Fabiana starts to witness strange events in Adrian's house, she also starts to investigate.On the positive side, most of the story takes place in the remote mansion outside of Bogota which is a gorgeous building with a few interesting secrets.
The initial story line is intriguing enough to keep the audience interested during the movie's first half.However, the movie loses its pace halfway through the film when the most important secrets are already revealed.
The movie though fails to tell us what happens after this little twist which might have added some tension to the film.
The film has a mysterious atmosphere, great locations and a few stylish sex scenes but the movie is lacking suspense and tension.
But that would be a mistake, because hidden in the second half of the film is a strikingly original story turn, which leads to some pretty brilliant scenes (especially one involving ripples in sink water as a means of communication....I'll say no more to avoid spoiling the twist....in fact, don't read reviews and plot synopses and don't watch the trailers before you settle down to watch this film); I like it when a film makes us look at events we have already seen from a different perspective.
The Hidden Face (2011)A highly contrived plot and a couple of improbable turning points don't get in the way of the enjoyment of watching two women in competition for the same man.That hardly gives a clue to what happens, but to say more would ruin something of the surprise that is in store.
The Spanish title, La Cara Oculta, is translated literally, and the key to the movie (no pun intended, once you see it) is that hiding becomes hidden in an all to frightening and final way.The best of this is terrific, really great.
This Spanish/Colombian thriller takes its time to get going but it is one of those films which may be slow to start but really improves once you start to realise what has really been going on.
It could've been so much better if there is more focus on character build rather than bedroom scenes.And midway through the movie after the big reveal, there is just suddenly too many logical errors that the story became a fable of modern love triangle.=== SPOILERS ALERT ===My biggest problem with the whole premise is the design of this panic room.
If you haven't seen the movie, please read no further...***SPOILERS TO FOLLOW***Most glaring of all is why in the world the police would be investigating Belen's "disappearance" in the first place?
Made no sense.Never mind about the awful thing Fabiana did before realizing that maybe Adrian after knowing him 2 days wasn't such a great catch as to justify cold-blooded murder (of Edgar Allen Poe-like proportions); then Belen does exactly that!
What Belen did was way worse than anything Adrian or even Fabiana did.This movie is much more enjoyable if you don't over-think it..
This film is much better watched if you don't know anything about it – equally, the trailer is better avoided too.Flirty maestro, conductor Adrián (Quim Gutierrez) is first seen in a state of great personal trauma when attractive waitress Fabiana (Martina Garcia) helps him find happiness again.
I thought this film was beautiful, and the conductor Adrián and the lovely and quirky Fabiana were fascinating to watch.