It’s clear if you want a smart, sophisticated thriller, you might have to go international to find one.
“King of the Hill,” a Spanish thriller hitting DVD stores Jan. 20, is another example of how some of the best fright flicks are coming from overseas.
“Hill” stars Leonardo Sbaraglia (“Intacto”) as Quim, a man who has an interesting rendezvous with a beautiful stranger named Bea (Maria Valverde) in a gas and go. He’s still buzzing when he realizes she took his wallet.
He tries to pursue her, but goes in the wrong direction and ends up in the cross hairs of an unseen sniper.
Who is shooting at him … and why? And is the shooter alone?
He flees the scene but ends up reuniting with the woman. Now, the two of them are on the run for a vicious killer who seems to be everywhere at once.
The film has a message to pound home, but it’s hard to share it without divulging too much of the story. Suffice to say it’s a nice twist on the thriller format
If only the dialogue weren’t as raw and spare as the action. When Quim and Bea finally get a chance to breath … and connect, you won’t see any of the sparks they emitted during their fiery first meeting.
The plot meanders at times, even if the threat level remains remarkably keen. Performances are solid all around, and while we never get to know Quim too well he’s given just enough dimension by Sbaraglia to keep us invested in his fate.
“King of the Hill” isn’t as riveting as recent imports like “Rogue” and “Eden Lake,” but it’s still a smart, original thriller that deserves a healthy life on DVD.
(Photo: Leonardo Sbaraglia plays a man hunted by an unseen sniper in “King of the Hill.”)
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