
The Invisible Guardian
Seen it?2017 | 129 min | Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Why it’s a Weeknight Watch
With just 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and little lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved The Silence of the Lambs, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Tense, gritty.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 2 hr 9 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Spanish, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Critics were cooler on it than audiences.
When the naked body of a teenage girl is found on the banks of the River Baztán, it is quickly linked to a similar murder one month before. Soon, rumours are flying in the nearby village of Elizondo. Is this the work of a ritualistic killer or is it the basajaun, the ‘invisible guardian’ of Basque mythology? Inspector Amaia Salazar leads the investigation, taking her back to the heart of the Basque country where she was born, and where she hoped never to return. Shrouded in mist and surrounded by impenetrable forests, it is a place of unresolved conflicts and a terrible secret from Amaia’s childhood that will come back to haunt her. Faced with the superstitions of the village, Amaia must fight the demons of her past to confront the reality of a serial killer on the loose. But as she is drawn deeper into the investigation, she feels the presence of something darker lurking in the shadows…
How it earned its rating
- CriticsWeak
20% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.5 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a modest audience
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 74K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Fernando González Molina
- Marta EturaAmaia Salazar
- Elvira MínguezFlora Salazar
- Francesc OrellaFermín Montés
- Colin McFarlaneAloisius Dupree
- Susi SánchezRosario
- Patricia López ArnaizRosaura
- Richard SahagúnZabalza
- Pedro CasablancComisario General de Pamplona
- Paco TousDr. San Martín
- Manolo SoloDr. Basterra