Watch The Returned

The movie The Returned (Los Que Vuelven) from 2019 is a tense and eerie thriller, directed by Laura Casabé, following the lives of a group of people who are trapped in a small town plagued by a strange and terrifying phenomenon. The Returned presents a fresh take on the zombie genre, exploring themes of grief, loss, and the consequences of denying death.

The story takes place in a remote village in Argentina, where a mysterious disease has been causing the deceased to come back to life. The reanimated corpses look and behave like their former selves, but have lost all memory of their deaths and some of their personality traits. Instead, they hunger for human flesh and are prone to ululating in the night, adding to the unease and tension.

As the movie progresses, we follow the stories of various characters who are affected by the phenomenon, each struggling to come to terms with the bizarre and terrifying situation in their own way. There is the town's doctor, Fernando, played by Alberto Ajaka, who becomes the leader of the group of surviving human residents. Enrique, played by Javier Drolas, is a Middle-Aged man who is haunted by the return of his wife, Francisca, played by María Soldi, who died in a car accident. Gabriel, portrayed by Edgardo Castro, is a rebel farmer who is determined to protect his land and loved ones at any cost, even if it means expelling the returned from his property.

What starts as a small-scale, low-key investigation into the mysterious phenomenon soon turns into a full-blown horror show. The tension is palpable as the group of characters slowly unravel the mystery behind the returned and their increasingly violent and unpredictable behaviours. The movie takes its time to develop each character, giving us glimpses into their backstories, desires, and motivations, making the audience care about them and root for their survival. The actors do an excellent job portraying the realistic and relatable characters, adding to the movie's emotional depth and impact.

The Returned's plot is not solely focused on the thrill of chasing flesh-eating zombies. Instead, it explores deeper issues such as grief and loss, the ethics of science and medicine, and the intergenerational tensions that exist in rural communities. The cinematography and sound design also elevate the movie's overall ambiance, with haunting images of rolling hills, forests, and abandoned buildings that are still full of life. The music and sound add to the horror-genre atmosphere, as the eerie soundscape of the countryside is punctuated by the piercing cries of the returned.

Overall, The Returned has everything you could want in a horror movie: visual and audio elements, an engaging and well-crafted story, and strong performances from its cast. It offers a fresh take on the zombie genre, emphasizing the psychological drama over cheap thrills, making it one of the most memorable and haunting horror movies of recent years. If you're a fan of the horror genre, particularly zombie films, you won't want to miss this Argentine thriller.

The Returned is a 2023 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.4.