After Hours
When a bank heist in the city doesn’t all go according to plan, José and Tony find themselves in possession of some hostages and speeding through the mountains of Spain, hoping to quietly slip over the border. Not wanting to give up his custody days to his ex-wife, José has also brought his son along, for both the robbery and the ride. Little do they know that this is only the beginning of their troubles. When they decide to make a stop in a small tavern in the Basque countryside, the group encounters a series of local wackos. Falling victim to a mysterious spell, they soon find themselves the honored guests of a fractured family of witches who are preparing for an ancient ritual. More colorful characters begin to enter the picture, including a pair of hapless cops hot on the trail, a defecting vixen witch and José’s controlling ex-wife, and the situation spirals further out of control, heading towards a jaw-dropping climax.
From its opening moments involving a shootout between a series of street performers in costume (including Minnie Mouse, the Invisible Man and Jesus), it’s clear that director Alex de la Iglesia is in top form here. Capturing all the wit of his previous films, but employing a much more streamlined energy, he serves up the laughs, action and thrills in spades. Creative effects and frenetic, tongue-in-cheek jokes make for a visual inventive comedy with plenty of scares and surprises along the way. So grab your iron dentures and sharpened utensils. Dinner is served.
Alex de la lglesia is the Terry Gilliam of Spanish Horror comedy . His films in this genre start off like gangbusters with full tilt action sequences that are hugely entertaining. The film you’re about to see Witchin and Bitchin is a ridiculous title for what was Las Brujas de Zugarramurdi as it is known in Spain. His film is littered with outrageous set pieces and sight gags. The women are all way over the top in the manner of Fellini who never could get enough of big breasted women once his films went into color. These goofy robbers are running from the law speeding through the mountains of Spain at breakneck speed. Once they arrive in the Basque Country the witches coven is revealed and all hell breaks loose. This is not a film for everyone. It’s very important to be aware that it’s a circus of grotesque violence and over the top sets filled with ghastly fantasies. The budget is bigger and some fans even feel it’s superior to Day of the Beast yet you must judge for yourself. I love both of them because the director is having a blast and in the right frame of mind so is the audience.
Tickets:
$5 (After Hours members), $8 (cinema members), $11.75 and under (nonmembers)
Join now to save up to $6.75 per ticket—plus, skip the online service fees!
After Hours is the best films you never saw on the big screen (or maybe you did) — from late-night cult classics to foreign favorites and even summer blockbusters on weekends. View the rest of our After Hours program!
After Hours Membership: as a member, you are supporting the continued success of our After Hours program. Yearly After Hours membership pays for itself with reduced-price tickets. Click here to sign up!
| Distributor: | Swank |
| Country: | Spain, France |
| Release Year: | 2014 |
| Runtime: | 112 |
| Director: | Álex de la Iglesia |
| Rating: | Not Rated |
| Language: | In Spanish with English subtitles |
| Format: | Digital |
—Mike Scott, Times-Picayune
© 2025 Coral Gables Art Cinema. All rights reserved.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Privacy Policy.
