Cannibals have always had the back hand when it comes to films (cannibal holocaust is one that springs to mind)and in society,frowned upon for their revolting habits and strange addictions for human flesh. But the new film we are what we are tries to change all that, showing the cannibals as blood thirsty monsters, wait a minute did i say change.
We are what we are comes from first time Mexican director Jorge Michel Grau (who stated that he never really wanted to make a horror film). Set in a modern poverty ridden Mexico the film starts off with the death of an ill fated father,falling to his death with a serious case of indigestion. With the news hitting the family of the death of their father, the only thing on their mind is who will be able to put the food on the table. The catch though is they are used to a certain kind of meat, the taste of human flesh.
We are what we are with it's serialised soundtrack shadowing towards unsettling and unflinching set piece's is a confident if not underwhelming horror film. Compared with the likes of Let the right one in for the way it represents it's monsters, the film in actual fact should be compared more closely to this years disturbing family drama Dogtooth. The film centres around the three children primarily and like dogtooth is to do with an adolescent control over your young ones protecting them from what they see as danger but what we see as the norm, for example there mother believes that there is nothing wrong with their habit and detests her sons for picking up whores for dinner.
Yet We are what we are with it's forceful opening credits is more of a strong political and satirical take on going social problems in Mexico. Bodies are left at the side of the road and no one takes notice, cops are bribed by hookers but not with money but with children. It's this unflinching realism that works as it's true horror. The film is layered with an art-house aesthetic, more in tune with the style of this year's White material but layered with a strange but never forceful sense of humour, allowing these killing machines to have a strange comic undertone. The brothers talk for a while and bluntly one suggests "let's go and get a hooker". it's that simple dialogue and youthful naivety that allows the film to be simply and oddly funny But the simplistic nature of the film is also it's downfall. Last year we had the excellent Sin Nombre treading the fine line between unlikely friendships and being a social message to the world of the state of it's country but it was a riveting tale. We are what we are treads similar waters as Sin Nombre if not blatantly copying them and with the film bluntly and simply repeating them it add's to no new profound insight into a different society that we haven't seen before not penetrating deep enough.
We are what we are's strength and most interesting element is in it's title.Treat us for what we are but the film never really allows us to understand there problem or even humanise them finding the humane in the inhumane. The public don't sympathise and nor do we.
There are break out scenes my personal favourite being at the market and one of the brothers breaks out in violence it's that spontaneous horror for what these characters can do that makes the film even more in close touch with Dogtooth. That unexplainable, somewhat ambiguous act which is where the film starts is what i wanted more of.Instead the film focuses on becoming a horror film leaving behind the strong political message that it started of with never fully exploring these theme to it's full potential.
Ultimately We are what we are rewards us with less than it promises only matching the visual level of a different kind of horror film near the end which by the end is all to late. It underwhelms in it's ambition but throughout there is an uneasy feeling throughout for good or for bad no matter how much it feels that there is a even better horror film trying to creep to the surface.
** out of ****
