‘Everybody does it’
Set between vaudeville charm, dark humor, and Agatha Christie style plots, this second feature from Martín Cuervo blends suspense with wit. Four years after a rustic hotel wedding, four couples and a widow are invited for a wintry weekend at the same secluded inn. Two couples remain together, one has drifted apart, and a third pair arrives with the rationale that it is free. A MacGuffin this small might seem, yet the next day the host is found entangled in blackmail, turning a routine stay into something far more sinister.
The story unfolds with the precision of a classic mystery. Suspicions become a shared habit as guests weigh motives and alibis. Everyone has something to hide or a reason to mislead, and the hotel’s quiet corridors echo with the weight of potential confessions. A corpse would be expected, yet the body vanishes after the initial shock, leaving the group to navigate a web of secrets and lies. Two forest rangers, a mother and her son, arrive as the tension thickens, complicating the inquiry just as the truth seems within reach. The vanished body becomes a moving target, prompting repeated questions and shifting loyalties as the puzzle deepens. The tone welds sharp dramatic turns to moments of comic grace, giving the audience a tangibly human pace rather than a dry exposé. The performers illuminate the text with a natural ease that makes the peril feel personal and immediate. It echoes the playful mischief of detective cinema while nodding to the grand traditions of the genre’s most celebrated voices. The influence stretches beyond Christie into contemporary crime cinema, recalling the playful bravado found in a certain recent detective saga and the crisp, midcentury mood of classic whodunits. It is a storytelling mix that keeps viewers guessing while rewarding attentive listening and shared speculations. The result is a contemporary homage that never loses sight of its roots in traditional mystery craft. The pace is brisk, the dialogue lively, and the suspense builds in subtle, satisfying waves as the characters reveal more about themselves than the plot might initially suggest. The balance between tension and humor never collapses into mere parody, instead offering a thoughtful, accessible look at how secrets shape a group under pressure. The balance of homage and originality makes the piece feel both familiar and fresh, anchoring its suspense in character and consequence. As the threads tighten, the audience is pulled through a labyrinth of motives that feels plausible, entertaining, and surprisingly humane. This is a film that trusts the audience to follow the logic of its revelations and to enjoy the sly charm of its performances. The blend of homage, wit, and a tightly wound mystery promises a satisfying experience for fans of the genre and newcomers alike. The final act lands with a crisp, almost ceremonial precision, inviting viewers to reflect on what was hidden in plain sight and who bore the cost of the truth. The film’s mood and approach ultimately celebrate storytelling itself, offering a reminder that even a single room can hold an entire world of secrets. — Source: film press materials.