Netflix’s The Wasteland – An Enjoyable Family Horror Film

Spanish horror is a personal favorite based on my background therefore they hold extra significance. For someone of hispanic descent, this subgenre often offers new unheard lore which happens to be the case with David Casademunt’s The Wasteland. The film follows a family at a time of war, isolated in a house in the middle of nowhere, tormented by a mysterious creature from a story from the father. While a mixed bag, the film was still a very enjoyable experience.

Meanwhile, The Wasteland could not have come out at a better time. Living within a pandemic for the last two years, many have been in some sort of isolation which is fitting. Tension is introduced right away as the family learns of the danger they faced if they were to leave their home, exemplified by the amazing acting, selling the true horror of the outside world. Going even further, the film creates such an immersive atmosphere thanks to some amazing shots of the landscape, seamless editing bringing every room to life, and great color grading that gave it a very dark and terrifying look. This atmosphere is the strongest part of the film as one can feel the dread in the air as they find themselves at the edge of their seat.

The family characters were very likable and compelling to watch with a strong dynamic lifted by strong performances across the board. The standout of The Wasteland was ultimately Cuesta’s excellent performance as Lucia, stealing every scene. There were many moments where her character changes, showing her versatility as an actress. Flores as the youngest members of the family also did a great job as well while the two shared some great scenes together.

The Wasteland did have a lot going for it, it did suffer from pacing issues and weird character choices. The film explores themes such as family relationships, anxiety, mental well-being, suicide and other heavy topics. These are always a hard subject to cover. However, the film sadly speeds through many of these scenes, thus lessening their full impact though it is commendable for it to attempt to tackle these themes. There is also some lovely symbolism where the family being fenced off from the dangers of the world holds parallels to one’s own boundaries done for one’s own mental health. Some may get this but this symbolism is likely to fly over the heads of most audiences which is a shame as this messaging is important towards its lasting impact long after the credits roll.

At the end of the day, The Wasteland is a very fun and charming watch. Horror fans are sure to enjoy the atmosphere, tension, and even the monster design. It is easy to see the great job done by the filmmakers in spite of what is likely a small budget. There is just so much here that the film will probably be even better the second time around just to experience its hidden layers. Nevertheless, the film should have slowed down a bit on its important themes and sped things up at the beginning. This may be a straight to Netflix offering but the film is a promising easy watch even for the average horror fan to put on and enjoy.

*still courtesy of Netflix

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Frederick Nuti