Two Monks (1934) review - A wild, shadowy Mexican gothic trip

You should definitely watch Two Monks tonight if you love old-school gothic horror and bizarre melodrama. Anyone who enjoys weird shadows, crazy camera angles, and angry monks will have a blast.

But if you hate slow black-and-white films with zero CGI, you will probably find it super boring. 🥱

The Story is Basically a 1930s Soap Opera

The whole thing starts in this incredibly dark monastery. A monk named Javier goes absolutely nuts and beats another monk, Juan, with a massive wooden crucifix.

It turns out they used to be best friends years ago, but they both fell in love with the same woman named Ana. After she died, everything went to hell.

What makes this movie so cool is that we get the same story told twice. First we hear Javier’s version, where he is the sweet victim and Juan is a total monster.

Then we get Juan’s version, and suddenly Javier looks like a complete psychopath. It is like an early version of those modern movies where the perspective shifts, kind of like how some French dramas from that era tried to experiment with sound, though this is way more spooky than something like Under the Roofs of Paris.

The Weird and Wonderful Details

I absolutely loved how cheap but effective the sets look. The doors are ridiculously tall, like they were built for giants, which makes the actors look tiny and helpless.

And the shadows! The director must have been obsessed with German cinema because the shadows are literally painted onto the walls in some scenes. It is so dramatic and silly, but it totally works.

• The piano playing scene is hilarious because the actor's hands do not match the music at all. 🎹
• The Prior of the monastery has some of the best side-eye I have ever seen in cinema.
• The way the camera tilts when someone gets mad is incredibly goofy but fun.

"He is possessed by demons!"

That is what they keep saying, but honestly, it just looks like these guys need a very long nap and some therapy. The acting is extremely loud, with lots of bulging eyes and heavy breathing.

Sometimes the editing gets a bit too messy and you lose track of who is screaming at who. But honestly, that just adds to the weird, dream-like vibe of the whole thing.

It is only about 80 minutes long, so it does not overstay its welcome. If you want something cozy, spooky, and a little bit ridiculous for a rainy evening, give this one a chance. 🌧️