Disappear Completely (Desaparecer Por Completo) is a supernatural horror movie from Mexico that initially may not sound very relatable. Santiago (Harold Torres, Memory) is a crime scene photographer that has fallen under a witch’s curse. With each day that passes, he loses another of his five senses. Santiago must confront dark forces and rely on brujería in order to ensure he does not become a husk of a human.
It is not often that people have to seek out witches in hopes of saving their lives. Part of the charm of scary movies is being thrown into situations that are not prevalent in the everyday world. Director Luis Javier Henaine has put together more than just a standard horror film, however. Disappear Completely almost plays out like a crime thriller There are terrifying moments, but the plot ratchets up the tension through its mystery.
A lot of this is due to director Henaine’s lack of jump scares. Disappear Completely is a much more subtle movie that uses atmosphere to introduce the more horrific aspects of the story. There is clever use of misdirection as there are plenty of scenes that tease a potential jump scare. This anticipation adds to the tone of the film. This allows the terror to develop more organically. The fear is not the manufactured type. It is a genuinely traumatic story that will make people care for its protagonist.
The end result is Disappear Completely becomes a more relatable story. While not everyone will have to find their local bruja, every person goes through phases where their life seems cursed or that everyone is against them. The idea of suddenly losing our senses is also something everyone can realistically worry about in today’s world.
Henaine’s movie is a relatively grounded one that is unafraid to work in mysticism and tradition. The bold ending may upset some, but works in the context of the overall narrative. The enire runtime of Disappear Completely is spent subverting expectations and keeping audiences on the edge of their seat. The final moments are the culmination of a powerful tale of regret and power.
Disappear Completely is screening at Fantastic Fest
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