Orígenes Secretos AKA Unknown Origins

Orígenes Secretos AKA Unknown Origins (8/10)
Genre: Comedy/Thriller/Action
Director: David Galán Galindo
Cast: Javier Rey, Verónica Echegui, Brays Efe 
Country: Spain
Language: Spanish
Year: 2020

I'm definitely giving a few extra points to Unknown Origins because I adored every second of it. People who love comic books will appreciate this film more than others; to me, it is one and a half hours of scintillating fun. Although there's no comparison, it is similar to Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable, which was heavily influenced by comic books but created a superhero story of its own - Unknown Origins does the same. 

Imagine this - a serial killer murders its victim in a way similar to the origin stories of famous superheroes, sounds exciting? Trust me, it is. This film is a nice mix of comedy, thriller, and the superhero genre resulting in unhinged entertainment. One might feel the writers are big fans of Marvel comics because most of the references are from Marvel, but there are DC references as well as other publications. 

The most unexpected quotient is that amid all the fun and excitement, you will completely overlook the most obvious twist, which comes as a surprise in the end. The logical explanations are fair, and the screenplay is intelligent, thanks to writer-director David Galán Galindo for adapting his own graphic novel of the same name, something Todd McFarlane is promising for ages and failing to deliver. This film also takes a dig at the popular mindset of considering comic books as a waste of time and money; at the same time, it also showcases the nerd life of comic lovers. 

The story is about a police detective trying to solve a serial killer case with the help of an unlikely alliance - a comic book store owner and geek. 

The direction of David Galán Galindo is as comprehensive as his writing. The trio of Javier Rey, Verónica Echegui, and Brays Efe will make you laugh with their performances even though they act seriously on screen. Antonio Resines and Ernesto Alterio give away some noteworthy supporting performances. The production design, visual effects, and cinematography are imposing. 

Orígenes Secretos or Unknown Origins is a fresh take on the superhero genre, which paraphrases the influence of comic books and superheroes on contemporary society. So, those who love comic books and enjoy serial killer movies, this one's got both - so what are you waiting for?