In Infiesto, during the first days of a country-wide lockdown, two detectives must solve the abduction case of a girl who is suddenly found after she went missing a few months ago. The film is now streaming on Netflix.
Story
As the world realizes the kind of threat COVID-19 poses, the Spanish government declares a state of alert to prevent the spread of the virus. It is then that a young girl, Saioa, who went missing almost three months ago, reappears.
Her injuries and the state of her body suggest that she was in captivity all this time. As she is in shock, she cannot recount her story and so Inspector Samuel and Deputy Inspector Castro need to look for the perpetrator without any clues.
With most of the force busy due to the state of emergency, the two inspectors must solve the case on their own. Furthermore, the pandemic ruptures their personal lives.
They soon realize that it is not a simple abduction case as they had assumed; something much more sinister is at play here. They must put aside their own problems and solve this twisted case as soon as possible to save innocent lives.
Performances
Isak Férriz as Inspector Samuel successfully conveys the frustration, sadness, and anger of his character. His character is tense at all times, something that Férriz portrays accurately, especially in scenes where Samuel is unhinged and the tension seeps out.
Iria del Río plays the role of Deputy Inspector Castro and does not disappoint. There is a sense of determination along with fatigue that one could easily spot in her character, owing to her performance. She also portrays the anxiety that the viewers could relate to after the pandemic.
Although the major focus of the film is on the two detectives, who get the most screen time, the other actors also performed their parts well, especially José Manuel Poga, who manages to appear terrifying and insane in a very short time.
Positives
The events of the film take place when people were just realizing how dangerous the pandemic can be. There is always a certain tension, which is all too familiar and reminds the viewers of the pandemic, present at all times in the film; it does not let the viewers forget about it.
The film depicts how the pandemic impacted the essential service providers, who were required to put aside their personal sufferings and perform their jobs as usual. It makes the viewers see them as living and breathing human beings as opposed to an organization or category.
Some of the events in the film are truly unpredictable. The film surprises the viewers with the way these events unfold to reach the conclusion.
The film does not waste a single second and dives into the case right away. In fact, it always sticks to the point and focuses only on the progression of the case.
Negatives
There is not much space for originality in the film. While some of the events are unpredictable, the major part of the film is made up of the common elements present in almost every crime drama.
Although it can be appreciated that the film sticks to the point, it leaves much to be desired. There is a cult, but it is never explored in detail. Similarly, the characters face personal issues, but the viewers cannot get invested in their stories because they only know so much.
The ending of the film could have been executed in a better way. There is thrill and drama in the film, but it wavers towards the very end. The part where the perpetrator is identified is gripping, but the catching him part is a little too predictable.
Verdict
Even though it consists of the common elements found in every other crime drama, Infiesto is a film that will keep you engaged with its fast pace and a few unexpected twists. Fans of crime drama will definitely enjoy this film.
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