Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
On a bright, sunny morning, a man’s day takes a dark turn when a young woman impounds his vehicle, only to reveal she has ulterior motives for the action.
Written and directed by Lucía Forner Segarra, the Spanish short film “Berta” is a horror-thriller that opens in a way that makes you wary of the male character within the first few seconds, only to turn the story on its head. Nerea Barros plays the titular protagonist Berta, who is introduced as a nervous woman watching a tutorial on securing a vehicle to a tow truck, sparking immediate intrigue and suspense around her personality. What unfolds next is a terrifying tale of a woman taking control of her past traumas and facing her demons in an unsettling manner.
Much like Lucía Forner Segarra’s 2018 short horror film “Marta,” most of the action in this film unfolds in a creepy basement hideout. However, unlike the quirky true-crime enthusiast Marta, whose actions are driven by a bizarre passion, Berta has stronger motivations against the man she targets. The male character (played by Elías González) is off-camera when he first appears in “Berta.” We only get to hear his voice when he talks to Berta about his impounded car. As a floating male voice, he feels suspiciously intimidating at first, like an invisible aggressor capable of much danger. But once he appears on camera, his hold begins to progressively deteriorate as the more dominant figure.
Nerea Barros excellently morphs from an unsure tow-truck driver to a vengeful woman looking to confront the ghosts of her past. Her screen presence is powerful; she reminded me of Sofia Boutella (‘The Mummy’/‘Argylle’). Barros definitely seems to possess the acting range to pull off lead roles like the ‘Scar Giver’ in Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon movies. Elías González’s character in “Berta” symbolizes a typical patriarchal man who dehumanizes women and eventually faces poetic justice in this “feminist” thriller. So each time he screams in pain, it feels almost satisfying.
About 17 minutes long, “Berta” unleashes metaphorical ghosts that its protagonist tackles with unconventional methods. It’s tense, nail-biting in bits, and ends with an entertaining climax that gives ample closure to its viewers. No loose-ends here!
Rating: 4 on 5.
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