Haunted Heart
Directed by Fernando Trueba
Written by Fernando Trueba and Rylend Grant
Starring Matt Dillon and Aida Folch
Runtime: 128 min
In select theaters and on demand

by Vannah Taylor, Staff Writer

Inspired by the works of author Patricia Highsmith and the films of Alfred Hitchcock, Haunted Heart (also known as The Island) is a romantic thriller that attempts to follow the beats of a pulpy noir. The film tells the story of Alex (Aida Folch), who comes to an idyllic Greek island in search of employment, and instead finds herself enamored by her new employer, Max (Matt Dillon). Familiar and simple can be underappreciated ingredients for an enjoyable film, but relying on being too much of either causes Haunted Heart to never reach its full potential.

Alex arrives to the island on the wrong foot in so many ways, like showing up a week late, insulting the stoic and commanding restaurant manager, Max, and struggling to find her footing as a server. Slowly but surely, she finds her confidence and her bright and loving personality begins to shine. However, she gets deeper and deeper into her infatuation with her boss, which we all know is already a bad idea and that feeling is only exacerbated once it becomes clear that no one really knows what wakes he has left in the waters of his past.

Matt Dillon is no stranger to the realm of erotic thrillers, which is why the lack of chemistry between him and Folch is so perplexing. Max seems almost repulsed by Alex, who has to practically twist his arm to get him into bed. Their interactions leave the audience wondering why she even bothers and wondering why and how things will change as the plot progresses. Of course, a hesitant lover, like someone with a complicated past scared to be hurt again, is a beloved archetype in the world of romance but there is no indication that he is tortured by his feelings for her. There is no dam of tension being broken, no bubble bursting, which is where the satisfaction of an erotic thriller comes from. Once their relationship takes a turn for the worst, when we’re missing that juicy substance required for a story like this to work, it seems forced.

What does work about Haunted Heart is the brooding and entrancing score by Zbigniew Preisner. The warm and mellow timbre of a clarinet decorates the film both in its score, and diegetically from Max’s solitary serenades. Paired with the sun-kissed Greek island setting, the film is beautiful to watch and listen to. Despite the interesting direction for their relationship, Dillon and Folch are pleasant on screen. But with a runtime of just over two hours, Haunted Heart does not do enough to win your affections.