Written and directed by Alejandro Fadel, rural police officer Cruz investigates the bizarre case of a headless woman’s body found in a remote region by the Andes Mountains. David, the husband of Cruz’s lover Francisca, becomes the prime suspect and is sent to a local mental hospital, David blames the crime to the inexplicable and brutal appearance of the “Monster”. Starring: Víctor López, Esteban Bigliardi, Tania Casciani, Romina Iniesta, Sofía Palomino, Francisco Carrasco and Stéphane Rideau.

Small town, mysterious deaths, facts that don’t quite add up, they’re all great plot points that work so well together and make for a superb basis to Murder Me, Monster. Especially when it’s taking place in such a scenic setting like the countryside of Argentina. The story moves well, it builds a gripping atmosphere filled with tension and suspense, for the most part it lets the monster aspect bubble in the background while a psychological thriller takes the lead. Creating the classic question of will they find out what’s really going on before the leading man (Víctor López) haunted by the killings has a breakdown?.

One of the great things about it is that it never overplays its hand with the supernatural element, it’s almost used as a filter to view the events of the film through rather than wading straight in. It’s a rabbit hole style mystery, everything gets messier and more dangerous as time goes on. It is a slow burn and it’s not going to simply hand you the answers, it will make you wait for them. So for people looking for more violence and fast-pacing, this probably won’t be for you.

A lot of the atmospheric quality to Murder Me, Monster comes from the excellent directorial quality. Starting with the fantastic texture the aesthetic and cinematography have to offer, giving it a great grain to it almost and a satisfying level of detail. Alejandro Fadel employs a wonderful use of wide shots, often taking a huge step back from its characters to embrace the landscape, add isolation and disconnection to the proceedings.

Víctor López’s leading performance is an unusual one, he’s certainly not your typical protagonist but that’s what’s interesting about him. He’s a quiet man with a love of dance, he’s a capable man but gets vastly in over his head. The entire cast is a good mix of varied personalities, everyone is that slight step away from stereotypical, no-one fits easily into one box. It adds a satisfying note of unpredictability, no-one is safe and for most of the film, you don’t know what they need to stay safe from.

Murder Me, Monster is atmospherically shot in a terrific location, it’s full of tension and mystery. The story is captivating but on the slow side, leaving much to the last minute. It makes some divisive choices with its final reveal, ultimately creating a disappointing design for its titular monster. A classic case of the mystery is fascinating but the end result is a bit of a let down. It has a lot to offer for anyone who’s willing to be patient but it also feels as though it didn’t fulfil its potential.

Verdict: ✯✯✯½ | 7/10

Newly released on Limited Edition Blu-ray from Anti-Worlds Releasing