Disappointing.

This is a film that hasn't aged well. You have to place it into context to truly enjoy it...first, the fact that it was made over two decades ago; second, it was made in a country where Catholicism is king. But most importantly, I would assume, is that you'd need to have grown up Roman Catholic (or at least understand the "rules" of the religion) to enjoy and understand a story that can be dull only due to the slow pace. It's a fantastic film that was transgressive for its time and place...although by today's standards I can see how many would see it as lame and "dull."

This was made 10 years after Franco, in a country that then was still *very* catholic and has to be seen in that context.

I disagree with the story being dull; the only dull thing in the film was the performance of Cristina S. Pascual.

I thought that Marisa Paredes stole the show.

8/10 on my score card.

Finally I could watch this movie on a decent DVD. Yeah, the movie is quite weird, even for Almodóvar standards, Heck! even for Fellini standards! but most important it's a BAD picture with no real plot. Some movies haven't any plot, yet they are interesting to watch (i.e. surrelist movies). But those films at least have an interesting imagery and memorable scenes (like Luis Buñuel's "Un chien andalou"). That is not the case with "Entre tinieblas". This movie is only a mess, funny at times but at the end it doesn't work as a movie.
Perhaps the reason why Almodóvar shot this film was in order to shock the conservative spanish society of the early 80's. Surely back then it made more sense. However since things have changed for good in Spain since "Entre tinieblas" was shot, then the sole iconoclastic approach can't redeem this flawed movie anymore. Maybe some scenes succeeds individually, but that's all.

Well, this has to be the worst movie Almdóvar have ever shot. I've already seen about 90% of his films, and this one is definitively at the bottom of the list. Even the greatest directors have shot a stinker. All of them.

I think this film has all the elements of being very interesting instead of dull, alas.

****SPOILERS*****

If Almodovar focused more on the Mother's crush on Yolanda, it could have been fascinating if it became a story of unrequited love. I think Almodovar designated the biggest "shock" of the story to be the fact the Mother was a lesbian who loved a drug addict, a person she was supposed to "save." It was saved for the ending. All the camerawork, music (the Lucho Gatica song makes my heart ache), the interplay between Yolanda and the Mother, and the drug addict came back in the middle of the night, etc. point to show the Mother as the lead of the story who is not only controlled by her own demons by also by the very things that "ordinary," non-lay people struggle with. We simply weren't shown enough on how she struggles with her sexuality and failed loves.

It's a shame. The story had so much potential.

It was a bit disappointing because there were several things that didn't make sense. I don't understand why Yolanda decided to get the letter from Mother Superior in order to give it to the Marquise. There was no motivation behind it. After all, Mother Superior had given her so much affection. Then she decided to do something for someone she hardly knew and backstab Mother Superior?!

Also, the whole thing about Sister Rat's sister getting all the profits from her sister's writing didn't really have any payoff. I thought they were going to use Sister's Rat's success in order to help the convent but the storyline never went anywhere.

Last Seen:
What Have I Done to Deserve This? (1984) - 7/10

it was very boring at times.

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...