A film producer writes to us, to suggest the vision of one of his
movies. We accept the suggestion, hoping to have done the right thing
we start to watch “Porto Dos Mortos” (AKA “Beyond The
Grave”), for free, on Hulu.
Two things suddenly appear in front of us: this is a Brazilian film and
the title reminds the living dead. Doubts. Maybe it's just one of the
many zombie movies, maybe set in a Brazil far from its usual image.
Neither heat of colors.
Well since the beginning there is anything about the cheerful Brazil,
because we are in a livid Porto Alegre, with some zombies wandering.
Yes, this must be one of the many films that follow the Americans,
denying its own cultural background.
We think to stop to watching it, postpone the vision in another moment,
but we are attracted by the direction and photography. And it’s
our fortune, our salvation. Because minute after minute we get into a
film that is a truly independent masterpiece, strong of a great plot, a
great direction and with an endless game of references. Non to be
missed.
The Brazilian Davi de Oliveira Pinheiro, after working for several
years in the documentaries, made his debut with a hit in a feature
movie, which also wrote the script. Luck or great skill that is, his
"Porto Dos Mortos" is a film that works fine, a sharp work, disturbing
and above with an excellent production. First at all Pinheiro moves the
weight of the zombies, no more killers, but a sort of victims of a
supernatural force that rules a post-nuke world. And it was what we
always wanted and hoped to see. Then the central structure is an
history between crime and the horror led by a character known only as
Policial (or Officer in the English version), which investigates and
tries to catch the "Dark Rider" a serial killer that kills many
victims. In his travels between Porto Alegre and the rural province
Policial meets the inevitable series of survivors who, as always, are
divided into good and bad, his adventures are across different genres
(there are Samurai and Cangaceiro) touching peak of violence, horror
and use of uncommon weapons.
The movie as mentioned before is also very beautiful to see, thanks to
the excellent work of Carmem Fernandes and cinematographer Mellissandro
Bittencourt both, as Pinheiro, at debut in a feature film.
True pearl of independent cinema and genre Brazilian movies
“Porto Dos Mortos" in terms of weakness has excessive
introspective characters moments that slow down sometime a very bright
plot.
Described by many as the first existentialist zombie movie “Porto
Dos Mortos” has a cast also capable of creating great characters
and as mentioned, a long game of references that go crazy, as usual
cinema fans. Several are the references to other movies and many are
the genre from American exploitation of seventies, passing by the
Italian genre cinema and horror American/Japanese mainstream movies.
Here there is a full list.
Very well received by critics "Porto Dos Mortos", was produced with
only $ 155,000 budget, undoubtedly well used and self-financed by the
director and producer Isidoro B.Guggiana.
Six years, many, to see his first feature film in which Pinheiro
tried to put large spaces filled by the last living humans. The
documentary school led the Brazilian filmmaker to manage well a mixed
picture, putting on the spotlight, the cinema of his country.
We said at the beginning we saw it for free on Hulu. There
is a geographical restriction for non us viewers easily avoidable with
several plugins, we used Hola.
Technical Data Sheet
Title: Porto Dos Mortos
Alternative titles: Allá Más de la Tumba (Spanish title), Beyond the Grave (English title)
Year: 2011
Country: Brazil
Directed by Davi de Oliveira Pinheiro
Cast: Rafael manholes, Alvaro Rosacosta, Ricardo Seffner, Amanda
Grimaldi, Luciana Verch, Leandro Lefa, Tatiana Paganella, Adriano
Basegio
Duration: 89 '
