Sirāt, the latest film from director Óliver Laxe, is an EDM horror movie that has garnered attention for boasting the most shocking scene of the year. However, beyond this intense moment, the film struggles to deliver a fully satisfying narrative experience. Set within the vibrant rave scene, this Spanish thriller follows a father's desperate hunt for his missing daughter, but it leaves audiences questioning the director's intentions beyond mere provocation.
A Tense Journey Through Sound and Suspense
The film is constructed like an electronic dance music track, with Kangding Ray's score creating a suspended, thwomp-thwomp tension that dominates extended pans of writhing bodies in the Moroccan desert. Luis, played by Sergi López, navigates this chaotic environment with his son Estebán and their terrier Pipa, standing out as the only ones seemingly immune to the music's spell. Unlike his iconic role as Captain Vidal in Pan's Labyrinth, López portrays a reserved man thrust into a world far from his comfort zone.
Luis is searching for his daughter, a regular at these raves who has been out of contact for five months. When the military declares a state of emergency and evacuates EU citizens, Luis chooses to follow a small group of ravers—Stef, Jade, Tonin, Bigui, and Josh—south to a second event. Despite warnings of a treacherous journey, especially in his modest vehicle, he risks it all on the chance of finding his daughter.
Metaphors of Danger and Disconnection
The film's title references the Islamic belief in As-Sirāt, a narrow and sharp path connecting paradise and hell, which sets the tone for the perilous journey. Director Óliver Laxe and co-writer Santiago Fillol skillfully telegraph danger through every narrative and visual turn, from fragile alliances among the travelers to precarious cliffside roads reminiscent of classics like Sorcerer and The Wages of Fear.
The cast, including real-life ravers met by Laxe over the years, adds authenticity, with actors like Richard Bellamy and Tonin Janvier bringing unique perspectives through their limb differences. These characters are kind yet slow to trust, raising questions about loyalty and survival in dire circumstances.
Ambiguity and Provocation in Storytelling
As the journey progresses, hints of a broader conflict emerge through radio broadcasts speaking of a world-changing war, but the ravers respond with apathy, stating, "it's been the end of the world for a long time." This deliberate haziness in the geopolitical backdrop makes it challenging to gauge their myopic reliance on electronic beats—is it a privilege or a coping mechanism?
This ambiguity culminates in a shocking scene that, while impactful, feels more like deliberate manipulation by the filmmaker than a cosmic revelation. The rhythm of the film feels off, leaving viewers to ponder whether the provocation serves a deeper purpose or merely shocks for its own sake.
Directed by Óliver Laxe and starring Sergi López, Bruno Núñez Arjona, and others, Sirāt is a 114-minute film rated Cert 15, releasing in cinemas from 27 February. It offers a visually and sonically intense experience, but its narrative depth may leave some audiences wanting more beyond its headline-grabbing moment.
