Not being arrogant here but please give some thinking man horror now and then. Chainsaws, axes, slashing, screaming and overly poor ghoul jokes are material as you can see blood, guts and body parts flying to and fro. But true horror requires a mental element to it to chill. The chill might not be facing monsters but as in “The Coffee Table” facing reality.
Jesus (David Pareja) and Maria (Estefanía de los Santos) have just moved into a new flat shortly after the birth of their son Cayetano. In the course of decorating their flat they go to a furniture store to buy a coffee table. After marital argumentation a “Rorret” coffee table (Swedish in design and Chinese by manufacture!) is purchased the choice of Jesus. The glass topped table, promises the seedy fast-talking salesman, will bring great happiness to the household.
Maria must head out for some shopping for a lunch with Jesus’s “pedo” brother Carlos (Josep Riera) and his teenage new flame Cristina (Claudia Riera). Cayetano is left with Jesus. A crash and breaking of glass is heard and Jesus is covered in blood and the baby silent. Bloody and horrific.
Jesus must face the reality of what just occurred. That reality is his horror. Postponing i.e. effective for a short time. Jesus is in moral and physical agony. Just above all human interaction over lunch is received in a distorted fashion by Jesus. This viewer feels apprehension after the shattering of the glass and mounting cold terror with the barking blood covered lapdog nosing under a sofa for the unthinkable.
Co-writer and director Cay Casas says,” I can only assure one thing to audiences, if you like strong emotions, if you want to suffer like never before, if you want to feel real terror, The Coffee Table is your movie. You will not forget it, I promise.”
You can catch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_bkgfaPEzs
“The Coffee Table” begins a commercial release on 19April2024 then moves to New York, Austin and Texas arriving on DVD/VOD on 14May2024.
Sophisticated horror indeed!
RKS 2024 Film Rating 93/100.
Set the Bar 