J. A. Bayona is one of my favorite living filmmakers. His directorial debut, The Orphanage, is arguably the greatest ghost story of this generation. It’s a masterclass in horror filmmaking, all the more remarkable considering it’s a debut feature. It doesn’t rank among my Top 5 horror movies ever made for nothing. With The Orphanage, Bayona established a very clear style. Like another horror legend, Mike Flanagan, Bayona’s features are deeply felt. Some might say saccharine, and I’d fight those people, but at their core, Bayona’s movies will make you feel something. He’s unapologetic about the earnestness, and in an era of irony, it’s always refreshing.
Disaster epic The Impossible is a tear-jerker from start to finish, and 2016’s A Monster Calls will pull your heart out, stomp on it, stomp on it some more, throw it off into the distance, and then chase it down to stomp on it a third time. It’s a painful, fantastic movie. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom was met with mixed reviews (but not from me), though most everyone can agree the Brachiosaurus death is the sincerest the series has been since Spielberg’s original. Bayona’s latest continues to captivate audiences and even a year after release, this Netflix original continues to be one of the most Googled movies.
Per Netflix: A plane crash puts the unbreakable bond between Numa and his closest friends to the test as they struggle to survive in the Andes. Based on true events.
Society of the Snow, nominated at the 2024 Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film, is among Bayona’s strongest. Adapting the true story of the Uruguayan rugby team’s experience in 1972 after their plane crashed in the Andes, Society of the Snow is a harrowing, gruesome, yet life-affirming disaster thriller that will have you sobbing like a baby by the end. Even now, just writing about it, I can feel the tears start to come.
Society of the Snow was a critical and commercial success, and audiences have continued to look the movie up. Even today, more than a year after its release, audiences are still sharing their thoughts online.
Check out some choice social media reactions below:
watched society of the snow earlier today. i just know if it was me i would’ve died from panic the first 2 hrs after the crash
— jaz (@saveurseoul) December 20, 2024
society of the snow… 1000/10
— arielB. (@acreshomecowgrl) December 20, 2024
Society of the snow is such a great film
— stephen (@stoboszlai) December 20, 2024
i think i’ve watched Society of the Snow like 10 times already, is such a good movie
— bella? (@shinahswf) December 19, 2024
Society of the Snow. I know I’m late to the party on watching this, but what an amazing movie experience. Soooo good!
— Trent Irwin, MD (@TrentIrwinMD) December 19, 2024
What do you think? Did you enjoy Society of the Snow? Which of J. A. Bayona’s films is your favorite? I’m going to grab some tissues, but I’ll be back to hear what you have to say over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
Categorized:News
