Fausto 5.0 (Latino Supernatural Thriller)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B-     Extras: D     Film: B-

 

 

We have sent he old Faust story done to death, no pun intended, and a 2001 Latino variation called Fausto 5.0 has no less than three directors: Isioro Ortiz, Alex Olle and Carlos Padrissa.  Though there are obvious moments, the film is still done with some sexual boldness you would never see in an American version, unless it was independently made.

 

Though this version is unrated, one would expect the film to fall somewhere between an R and NC-17 if it had had different U.S. distribution.  In this version, Dr. Fausto (Miguel Angle Sola) is a serious medical doctor who has met an older patient who he is surprised is still alive.  Santos Vella (Eduard Fernandez) is very much alive and decides that he can spice up the sexually-oppressed doctor’s life.  With a name like Santos, you do not have to know Spanish to know how close Santos is to Satan, but it is even subconsciously similar.  Now can “Santos” just get Fausto to sell his soul for fun?

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image was shot by cinematographer Pedro Del Rey and he does not follow the look of anything familiar to the genre, at least not for long.  Though there are some detail limits, the picture has fullness and color consistency enough to be enjoyable.  The Dolby Digital is available in English 2.0 Stereo with Pro Logic surrounds and a Spanish 5.l mix that is the original sound and is better, if not by much.  Too bad Fox did not issue this in DTS, as that would have made the sound design more distinct and much more interesting.  There are no extras.

 

Credits should also go to the decent cast and the screenplay by Fernando Leon De Aranda is at least consistent, if not innovative or too challenging.  I like the unpretentious way in which the obvious surfaces, doing it in a way that does not condescend to the audience.  Fausto 5.0 is not necessarily a fifth generation telling of the story or a fourth improvement over the original, but it is different enough to take a look at it.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo