Ah, Errementari (also known as The Blacksmith and the Devil), the film that had so much potential, only to blow itself up faster than a failed souffle in the oven. This 2017 Basque-language supernatural horror film from director Kukku Surendran tries to weave an intricate tale of demons, revenge, and betrayal, but ends up being about as satisfying as a bad haircut. It’s like if you ordered a gothic, supernatural thriller and got a lopsided, overcooked disaster with a sprinkle of religious hysteria on top.
Let’s dive in, shall we? Or should I say, let’s take a plunge into a pit of confusion and disappointment!
The Plot That Was Too Ambitious for Its Own Good
The film opens with a blacksmith named Patxi, who’s probably got more emotional baggage than a one-star airline. He’s living in isolation in the forests of 1843, keeping his demons at bay—literally. He’s holding a demon in captivity, which sounds like the start of a promising premise. But, of course, this being a Basque film, it’s not just any demon. No, no—this is a demon who’s got a personal vendetta, because why not throw in a little personal drama into an already overstuffed supernatural plot?
Now, there’s a girl—Usue—who’s got a scarred face and a big heart. Unfortunately, she’s also the next victim of this cursed mess. She’s tied to the plot because, well, why not? Apparently, her fate is intertwined with Patxi’s, and a whole lot of bad things start happening because, surprise, the demon wants revenge and immortality. Oh, and did I mention that the movie is loosely based on a Basque folktale? Because that really adds to the complexity… not.
I’ll give the film this: it tries to have layers. Too many layers, though. It’s like when you’re building a lasagna and get so excited that you just keep adding more pasta, cheese, and sauce until the whole thing collapses into a soggy mess. Errementari is that lasagna. You’ve got your demon mythology, your tragic backstory, and a series of convoluted events that might have worked if the story had stuck to one thing and followed through on it.
The whole plot feels like it’s cramming in every possible supernatural trope it can find. There’s betrayal, a doomed love story, a demon who loves to torture, and a finale that tries to resolve everything with a little bit of everything—except a satisfying resolution.
Character Development… Or Lack Thereof
Let’s talk about Patxi, the blacksmith. He’s an angsty, brooding man who, for some reason, has a demon locked up in his basement. Why? Because, apparently, he made a deal with the demon way back when and got a little more than he bargained for. Maybe he should’ve read the fine print? Who knows. The guy’s got a lot of regrets, but that doesn’t mean I’m emotionally invested in his internal struggle.
And then there’s Usue, who could be the next big horror heroine… if only she weren’t so bland. With her scarred face and tragic backstory, you’d think she’d have more character development. But nope. She spends most of the film being dragged around, looking lost and confused while we try to figure out why we should care about her. She’s basically a pawn in a much larger supernatural chess game, and unfortunately, the film doesn’t bother to make her feel like more than that.
The secondary characters? Oh, they’re just there for the ride. There’s a priest, a government official, and some random villagers who pop in and out of the story, none of whom leave much of an impact. It’s like the film gathered a bunch of actors, handed them one-page scripts, and told them to just “do their thing.” This lack of character depth makes the whole plot feel even more distant. It’s hard to care about characters who feel like they’re part of a plot that’s been shoehorned into their lives.
The Demon: More Annoying Than Terrifying
Sartael, the demon, is more of an inconvenience than a genuine threat. He spends most of his time being locked up or doing nothing until it’s time for him to wreak havoc. The film’s demon is as menacing as a paper cut—superficial and ultimately easy to ignore once you realize it’s not going to do anything interesting. The demon’s torture methods include some serious melodrama, but they’re hardly ever scary. In fact, the whole “torture” sequence is about as intimidating as a bad dinner date where you’re forced to listen to someone talk about their interest in astrology. It just drags on for no reason.
And then there’s the whole subplot about the demon’s immortality and the necessity of sacrifices. Yawn. We’ve seen this before. If I had a nickel for every time a movie tried to kill off characters to make a demon live forever, I’d have, well, a lot of nickels. But what I wouldn’t have is any real investment in the story. Sorry, demon. You’re not that special.
The Villagers: Extra Props for Religious Hysteria
The villagers in Errementari act like a gang of overzealous extras from a low-budget period drama. They’re terrified of the blacksmith and his demon. And honestly, I can’t blame them—if I lived next to a guy who kept a demon in his basement, I’d probably think he was up to no good too. However, instead of actually doing something useful, they just stand around and scream about the devil. This group of villagers is the worst horror movie support squad ever.
The religious hysteria that envelops the town only makes things more ridiculous. The film tries to use religious themes to create a sense of dread, but it ends up feeling like a parody. It’s like someone tried to make a “serious” supernatural thriller and forgot that horror relies on atmosphere and tension, not just a bunch of yelling people holding crosses.
The End: A Letdown of Biblical Proportions
By the time we reach the film’s ending, you’ll be too numb to care. The twist—oh wait, there’s no twist—just leaves you with the feeling of “Well, that happened.” The demon gets his comeuppance, but not in a satisfying way. The whole film sets up for a big showdown, but it’s about as impactful as a damp firecracker.
In the end, you’ll be left wondering what the point of all this was. What did I learn? That dealing with demons and untrustworthy blacksmiths is a bad idea? That the Basque countryside is not the place to have a romantic getaway? Who knows. You won’t care.
Final Verdict: Watch It for the Laughs, Not the Scares
In conclusion, Errementari is a film that doesn’t know whether it’s trying to be a serious horror film or a campy supernatural drama. It’s a confusing mess that somehow manages to be both tedious and unintentionally funny. If you’re in the mood for some unintentional laughs, give it a watch. But if you’re looking for something genuinely terrifying, you’ll get more chills watching a documentary on your local library’s overdue fees.
At the end of the day, this movie feels like a bad date with a demon—long, awkward, and regrettable.
