Fabricante de suicidios is a weirdly charming dark comedy from 1943

If you have a spare afternoon and don't mind a movie that feels a bit like a dusty attic, Fabricante de suicidios is worth a look. It is definitely for people who like those old, grainy movies where everyone talks really fast. If you need big explosions or 4K resolution, you will probably hate this one within five minutes.

The whole thing centers on this guy who basically runs a shop for people who have given up. It sounds incredibly bleak, and it is, but it’s played with this very strange energy that I can't quite put my finger on.

I noticed early on that the main office set looks incredibly flimsy. Every time someone slams a door, the whole wall shakes just a little bit. It makes the whole movie feel like a stage play that someone happened to film with a single camera.

Pedro Elviro is the standout here for me. He has this face that looks like it’s made of old leather and he moves in this jerky, nervous way that kept me watching. He doesn't really act like a normal person, but in a movie about a suicide manufacturer, I guess that makes sense. 🕵️‍♂️

The lighting is super harsh in some scenes. In the scene where Elena Mendoza first walks into the shop, there is a shadow on the wall that looks like a giant spider. I don't think it was intentional, but it added a creepy vibe that the dialogue wasn't quite hitting.

Speaking of Elena, she spends a lot of time looking off into the distance. Not like she's thinking deep thoughts, but like she’s trying to remember her next line. It’s charming in a clunky sort of way.

There is a moment about thirty minutes in where a clock on the wall says it is 4:00, then two minutes later it says 2:30. 🕰️ Nobody noticed this during filming? It’s these little mistakes that make me love old cinema.

The plot moves along in fits and starts. One second they are talking about the philosophy of life, and the next, someone is tripping over a rug. It reminded me a bit of the awkward pacing you find in The Mystery of Dr. Fu Manchu, though the subject matter is totally different.

I found myself wondering about the costumes. Blanca Suárez is wearing this hat that looks like a deflated soufflé. It’s very distracting during her more emotional scenes. I kept waiting for it to slide off her head, but it stayed put somehow.

The dialogue is thick. There are so many words. It feels like Francisco Elías wanted to write a book but got stuck with a film script instead. 📚

There is one shot that lingers on a glass of water for way too long. I think it was supposed to be symbolic or something, but I just ended up looking at the bubbles in the water. It was strangely peaceful, actually.

The movie gets much better once the "manufacturer" starts interacting with his clients more. Some of the excuses people have for wanting to quit are so mundane it becomes funny. One guy is just upset because his shoes squeak too much. 👞

It’s not quite as surreal as something like Felix in Love, but it has that same low-budget dream logic. Things just happen because the script says they have to.

I liked the music, even though it was way too loud in the mix. It drowned out a couple of lines near the end. I had to turn my volume down and then back up again twice. 🔊

The ending is... well, it’s a choice. It feels like they ran out of money and just decided to stop the story. It doesn't wrap up cleanly, which I usually like, but here it just felt unfinished.

I wouldn't call this a masterpiece or anything like that. It’s a curiosity. It’s a weird little artifact from a time when Spanish cinema was trying to find its feet. 🇪🇸

If you’ve seen Avatar and you’re looking for the exact opposite of that, this is it. No blue people, just sweaty rooms and existential dread.

I think the film is actually quite brave for its time. Talking about this stuff in 1943 wasn't exactly common. Even if it is handled with a bit of a wink and a nod.

The script has some really clunky moments where people explain their backstories for no reason. "As you know, I have been your brother for thirty years," that kind of thing. It’s hilarious if you’re in the right mood.

One scene has a background extra who is clearly looking directly at the camera. He looks terrified. I wonder what happened to him after the take. 😨

The film is fairly short, which is a blessing. It doesn't overstay its welcome. It gets in, makes you feel slightly uncomfortable, and then gets out.

If you're a fan of Pedro Elviro, you've probably already seen this. If not, his performance alone is a good enough reason to track it down. He has a very expressive way of using his hands that feels very modern compared to the rest of the cast.

Anyway, it’s a weird one. Not perfect, definitely a bit broken in places, but I'm glad I watched it. It’s better than most of the sanitized stuff we get now.