Haunted Heart (2024) is a striking romantic thriller chosen by many due to its beautiful aesthetics combined with the elements of discomfort. A note worth making is that this drama is directed by the famous Fernando Trueba. In this case the audience is taken to a seemingly charming struggling and dark unknown Greek island. Surrounded by sandy beaches and rolling blue waves is a chilling: dark twisted love story between betrayal, obsession and trust.
The plot revolves around Alex (Aida Folch), a strong and heady Spanish woman who flies to the island seeking a new life. She gets employed at a fancy beach restaurant owned by a moody and stoic Max (Matt Dillon, an academy award nominee). Although Max is indeed magnetic, there is always a darker side arising from the depths of his mind, a mystery he has been suppressing within the thick walls of his secluded villa.
What begins as an infatuation with Max by Alex develops into a serious relationship. However, Enrico, who works with her, tensions her view – ‘A woman who. Talks about love appears to have an unexplained weight of guilt- to begin with, such should be the first order of Enriqu’s saying.’ Excerpts from the rumor say, When searching for passion, A and M are connected by a gruesome mystery of the heartbreaking past, and Alex has to come to words with it. Finding her way through the jungles of regret, heartbreaks, and betrayal won’t be an easy task for Alex.
Trueba is a master of this art. You keep going through a blend of emotions as you watch his films. The pacing of this film, which oscillates between turning point and shocking confrontation, is deftly controlled by cinematography, which also is full of shifting faces, drop shadows, and blending words into speech- Almost like Husky. Tanner & Oneill’s writing which is at many times sharply visual provides inspiration from Patricia Highsmith’s understanding and Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense. But I loved the deepest Hide the “Haunted Heart” was about the stomach
What develops out of trust and towards betrayal will keep anybody at the edge. A fierce fight for dominance fueled by desire between Aida Folch and Matt Dillon robs the viewer of sounds and emotions. The bitter ending is followed by an equally compelling score that enhances suspense in the film making Indian remakes worth the wait.
For the lovers of films that are steeped in love as well as action, Haunted Heart is definitely a movie for the books.
