Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
When the naked body of a teenage girl is found on the banks of the River Baztán, it is quickly linked to a similar murder one month before. Soon, rumours are flying in the nearby village of Elizondo. Is this the work of a ritualistic killer or is it the basajaun, the ‘invisible guardian’ of Basque mythology? Inspector Amaia Salazar leads the investigation, taking her back to the heart of the Basque country where she was born, and where she hoped never to return. Shrouded in mist and surrounded by impenetrable forests, it is a place of unresolved conflicts and a terrible secret from Amaia’s childhood that will come back to haunt her. Faced with the superstitions of the village, Amaia must fight the demons of her past to confront the reality of a serial killer on the loose. But as she is drawn deeper into the investigation, she feels the presence of something darker lurking in the shadows…
The Invisible Guardian is a solid Spanish crime thriller anchored by the atmospheric Basque Country setting, which cinematographer Rodrigo Rodríguez captures with genuine beauty — misty forests, rain-soaked landscapes, and a brooding palette that elevates the material. The plot competently weaves serial killer procedural elements with Basque mythology and Amaia's traumatic backstory, though the pacing can feel sluggish and the mystery threads don't fully cohere. Marta Etura is credible as Salazar, and the supporting cast is adequate, but performances rarely transcend the genre. The film's novelty lies mainly in its distinctive setting and folkloric flavoring rather than any structural innovation in the genre. The ending is the weakest element — it functions more as a setup for the trilogy's next installment than a satisfying resolution in its own right, leaving key threads frustratingly unresolved.