7/10
Underrated Psychological Supernatural Thriller
30 May 2008
In 1984, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, the boy Jacobo witnesses his mother killing his father, the artist Mateo (Luis Tosar), with a shotgun when the local cathedral sounded thirteen tolls. Eighteen years later, the also artist Jacobo (Juan Diego Botto) returns to his hometown from Buenos Aires answering the call of his childhood friend Maria (Marta Etura) to visit his schizophrenic mother that has been sentenced to a psychiatric hospital for killing her husband. Jacobo believed his mother had died years ago, and he is under medication due to frequent clangs of bell that he hears. Jacobo is advised by his mother to leave the town, and sooner he is haunted by Mateo that wants him to finish his work for the local cathedral.

"Trece Campanadas" is an underrated psychological / supernatural thriller. The story is well constructed and resolved in spite of I have partially guessed the mystery in the middle of the movie; therefore, the director Xavier Villaverde and the writers have successfully accomplished their objective of making a good movie. The unknown (at least for me) Juan Diego Botto and Marta Etura have great performances and show a perfect chemistry and Luis Tosar gives another efficient work. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "13 Badaladas" ("13 Tolls")
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