The film Desaparecer Completo (Disappear Completely) is the latest film from director Luis Javier Henaine. In the director’s first horror film, he takes the popular Mexican film genre “nota roja,” which is based on photojournalism and adds elements brujeria (witchcraft). The film which stars Harold Torres who plays a photojournalist who encounters something malevolent one night. The events that unfold are downright horrific and will have you questioning what really is going on. I won’t get much more into the plot as I feel it’s best to not know much about the film.

The story is really full of twists and turns as we see this character become madder after this event. You’re also on the fence of what’s really going on and Luis crafts a story that feels disorienting just as the main character feels as well. I was surprised at the way it manages to weave you into its lore and showcase the horror of this brujeria. You think you’re going into this movie for one thing, but it surprises you with something else completely.

The actors also do an incredible job at elevating the story as we see this marriage fall apart in real time. Harold Torres and Tete Espinoza were just phenomenal as the married couple. Tete in particular plays Marcela a character dealing with their own problems while also not understanding what is happening to their loved one. The performance was heartbreaking to see as they just want to live a normal life but everything else is just getting in the way. Harold’s character of Santiago is a character that just keeps descending into this darkness. It’s almost too much at points as you hope that they will be able to resolve this dark stuff, but it seems futile in the end.

The film takes leaps when it comes to the creativity of shots and for the most part they work well. There’s a scene that involves many quick cuts and dizzying camera shots that make that sequence much more horrific. It’s also interesting seeing how the director changes the feel of the movie halfway. I thought it worked but at the same time it can feel jarring especially when you think the movie is going to go one way. Luis for the most part has great control of the tone and story, but it does lose its grip at times and can feel like it’s doing too much.

Overall, however I think that Disappear Completely is an interesting story that is elevated by its phenomenal cast. The soundtrack also creates a disorienting vibe accompanied by its mesmerizing camera shots. Disappear Completely however does stumble a bit when trying to find its tone or just trying something new but it’s still worth the shot I believe. If you’re a fan of horror thrillers this is just the movie for you. Luis Javier Henanine is a new exciting voice in the horror genre and we’re excited to see what’s next for them. You can check out the film, which is currently streaming on Netflix.

We give Disappear Completely a 3.75/5.