Hi, my name is Angela and they are going to kill me
What would you do if you found a video of a missing student from your college being tortured? Would you be horrified? Curious?
Hello everyone and welcome to Spanish cinema! This is the disturbing premise of Alejandro Amenabar’s first movie: Thesis (1996), a thriller that dives you into the depths of voyeurism and violence. But beware, this isn’t just any movie, it’s a journey into the darkest corners of human curiosity!
Let me explain...
Now… You might be wondering: how did Angela (Ana Torrent), a film student, find a snuff video of a girl from her college? Well, she was doing some research for her thesis about audiovisual violence when she finds her teacher dead and takes the video tape he was watching, that’s when the fun begins… Amenabar crafts a narrative that is as intellectually engaging as it is disturbing. What begins as an academic assignment turns into a life-threatening discovery, and the more Angela digs, the threat upon her life becomes bigger and bigger, why? Because at the end she might not just be an observer but a target that knows too much…
So... Who´s the villain?
In this movie it´s important to have your eyes wide open at all times because the lines blur as characters unravel, revealing layers and secrets that will make everyone seem suspicious. Amenabar’s mastery of light and shade does more than paint scenes… It conveys mood and character psychology, illustrating the subconscious of each player. As secondary characters, Eduardo Noriega and Fele Martinez deliver performances that contribute to raise doubts and add shades to Angela’s journey from a naive student to a determined seeker of truth, but… who can she trust when her closest allies might be orchestrators of the cruelest crimes?
The labyrinth of truth
In this movie Amenabar manages to create a world where academic halls are full of secrets and shadows. He uses the safe and calm space of a college campus as a contrast to the brutal violence hidden at plain sight, amplifying the tension… Could you sleep at night knowing the horror is so close to home?
This is not just visually striking but also symbolically potent, why? Because it questions the nature of knowledge and its dark side, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere that pulls the viewer in, making them partners in crime inside Angela´s voyeurism and asking them: are we all just spectators in the theater of cruelty?
And let´s not forget about the impact!
When Thesis hit the screens in the mid-90s, it didn’t just entertain… It slapped viewers with the harsh reflection of society’s obsession with violence. Is it still a mirror to our times? Absolutely! The film’s critique of media sensationalism and the excessive use of violence is as relevant today as ever. Amenabar challenges us to confront our internal conflict between curiosity and morality, where the line between reality and entertainment is increasingly blurred. So, it goes without saying that this movie isn’t just seen… it’s felt, it haunts and provokes you… Think you can take it?
So, are you ready to uncover the secrets? To question the morality of your own curiosity? Watch “Thesis” and embark on a journey that will haunt you long after the credits roll, but remember: once you start watching, there’s no unseeing the horrors of the truth… Will you come out unharmed? Only one way to find out!
Still not scared? Want to know more about Amenabar? Watch my YouTube channel and comment your favorite thriller for future blogposts.
Hi my name is Angela and they want to kill me
