The Appeared
A road trip reveals a journal of gruesome crimes.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Appeared (Spanish: Aparecidos) is a 2007 Spanish-language horror film with thriller and road movie elements, directed and written by Paco Cabezas. It stars Ruth Díaz and Javier Pereira as two siblings on a journey across Argentine Patagonia who become entangled in a horrific series of events. The film had its world premiere on October 5, 2007, at the Sitges Film Festival.
- release_year
- 2007
- director
- Paco Cabezas
- language
- Spanish
- country_of_origin
- Spain
- genre
- Horror, thriller, road movie
- runtime_minutes
- 120
- cast
- Ruth Díaz, Javier Pereira
Lore & Background
The film follows siblings Malena and Pablo, who set out on a road trip to allow Pablo to learn more about their father, who is on life support. Their destination is the old family home in Argentina. During the trip, Pablo discovers an old journal hidden in their car that details a series of gruesome crimes. He pushes for them to visit the landmarks described in the journal. They stop at a hotel where the Leonardi family was brutally slaughtered and overhear a spiritual reenactment of the murders. After fleeing, Pablo returns for the book and nearly dies, then notices that some details in the book have changed, raising the possibility of altering the past. As they travel, both siblings face revelations about their father that they are ill-prepared to handle.
Reader's Guide
The Appeared was presented at the 40th Sitges Film Festival in October 2007. Its theatrical release in Spain occurred on December 12, 2008, after several delays, while the Argentine release was scheduled for December 3, 2009. Critical reception was mixed. Las Horas Perdidas gave a positive review, highlighting Ruth Díaz's acting. HorrorNews.net praised the plot twists and noted that the 120-minute runtime allowed the story to develop in a shocking fashion. Den of Geek offered a mixed review, calling it a good effort with obvious downfalls and criticizing the ending as cheesy, but still worth a watch. Nuria Vidal of Fotogramas scored it 3 out of 5 stars, praising the setting but pointing out the overly predictable plot outcome. The film is listed in the See also sections for Spanish films of 2008 and Argentine films of 2009.
Did You Know?
- The film had its world premiere on October 5, 2007, at the Sitges Film Festival.
- The movie stars Ruth Díaz and Javier Pereira as siblings Malena and Pablo.
- The journal discovered in the car details a series of gruesome crimes that the siblings visit.
- The theatrical release in Spain was December 12, 2008, and in Argentina December 3, 2009.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the film 'The Appeared' (Aparecidos)?
It is a 2007 Spanish-language horror-thriller with road-movie elements, written and directed by Paco Cabezas. The story centers on two siblings who, while traveling across Argentine Patagonia, uncover a journal documenting a string of gruesome crimes that pulls them into escalating horror.
Who plays the main characters in 'The Appeared'?
Ruth Díaz and Javier Pereira portray the two sibling protagonists at the heart of the journey. The film runs 120 minutes.
Where did 'The Appeared' make its world premiere?
The film first screened at the Sitges Film Festival on October 5, 2007.
What genres does 'The Appeared' combine?
It weaves together horror, thriller, and road-movie conventions, using the long Patagonian drive as a structural spine for mounting dread and discovery.
Is 'The Appeared' an Argentine production?
Although the narrative is set in Argentine Patagonia and is performed in Spanish, the film's country of origin is credited as Spain. Paco Cabezas both wrote and directed the project.
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