Charcoal

Directed by Carolina Markowicz, Charcoal follows Brazilian couple Irene (Maeve Jinkings) and Jairo (Rômulo Braga) as they’re offered a significant amount of money to hide a drug kingpin (César Bordón’s Miguel) for a few weeks – with the picture detailing the effect that said kingpin’s presence inevitably has on the household. It’s a seemingly foolproof setup that is, at the outset, employed to exceedingly (and unexpectedly) promising effect by Markowicz, as the first-time filmmaker, armed with her own screenplay, kicks the proceedings off with a striking, mysterious pre-credits sequence that immediately captures the viewer’s interest and attention – with the movie, beyond that point, seguing into a very deliberate, very low-key midsection that becomes less and less compelling as time progresses. And although the narrative’s been peppered with a few admittedly intriguing moments, including the revelation that a key character is gay, Charcoal‘s repetitive and claustrophobic atmosphere paves the way for a second half that rarely, if ever, packs the engrossing punch that Markowicz has obviously intended. (It’s clear, as well, that the underwhelming vibe drains the energy and impact out of certain episodes, with this especially true of a scene wherein Miguel is almost discovered by a neighborhood kid.) By the time the confusing, unsatisfying finale rolls around, Charcoal has undoubtedly confirmed its place as a disappointing misfire that might’ve worked had it been trimmed down significantly (ie the 107 minute running time is absurd, ultimately).

*1/2 out of ****