Pedro Almodóvar names his favourite horror movie of all time
Pedro Almodóvar, the iconic Spanish filmmaker, embodies a truly unique creative vision shaped by several distinct facets. His career flourished within the vibrant cultural milieu of La Movida Madrilena, a pivotal movement that emerged in the wake of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship in Spain.
Across his oeuvre, Almodóvar masterfully probes the intricacies of the human experience, delving deep into the intersections of sexuality and politics, notably from an LGBTQ+ standpoint. Placing identity as a central theme in his films has solidified his reputation as one of the foremost European directors in contemporary cinema, elevating him to a position of immense significance.
Almodóvar’s films are also renowned for their striking visual allure, interspersed with quirky comedic elements and intricate narratives. However, his excellence doesn’t hinder his appreciation for genre films, including horror. In an interview with the BFI, the Spanish director shared one of his favourite horror movies of all time.
True to Almodóvar’s style, his selections don’t align with conventional horror tropes but rather showcase nuanced approaches. Among these is Iván Zulueta’s 1979 film Rapture, recognised as the only feature film from the director associated with the La Movida artistic movement. The film, titled Arrebato in Spain, follows a low-budget horror filmmaker who gets in touch with an eccentric who is trying to film his consciousness during drug abuse.
“The story, deliberately depoliticised, takes place in a cosmopolitan Madrid at the outset of La Movida,” Almodóvar explained. “The protagonist is a horror film director, mysteriously gobbled up by his Super 8mm camera. It’s a fantastic tale of self-immolation, of dedication to both heroin and cinema as beginning and end of everything, and to the dark side as the only possibility for self-fulfilment and self-knowledge. Rapture is an ‘accursed’ film that nobody saw back then and which is now an absolute modern classic. Its actors would appear in some of my 1980s films.”
Alongside Rapture, Almodóvar also appreciates the film Thesis directed by Alejandro Amenabar, which won seven Goya Awards in 1996, including one for ‘Best Film’. “Alejandro Amenábar debuted in style with this skilful thriller about the market for violent images, in this case, videos of real murders and torture, or snuff movies,” Almodóvar said.
He added: “Amenábar concocts an inspired teen horror film, anchored by a solid script, that constantly springs surprises throughout its two hours. In order to speak about snuff movies, he has the brilliant idea of locating the action in the main college of the School of Communication Sciences in Madrid, where future filmmakers are trained.”
