David (David Pareja) and Javi (Javier Botet) sit in a car just outside David’s rural home at the beginning of the new black comedy, psychological horror film AMIGO. We don’t know what the circumstances are but they are soon revealed as David begins to clumsily help Javi into a wheelchair. David gets his invalid friend into his home, carries him up to the second floor, and attempts to convince him that his new life at David’s home will be the answer to their respective problems. Writers Botet, Óscar Martín, and Pareja allow the details and circumstances speak louder than any dialogue could. We slowly discover who they are, and how they got here. We watch as the ghastly game of chess unfolds exploring facets of illness, grief, and revenge. Co-writer Martín directs, but this is clearly a work by three powerful artists chipping away at a single vision. What a maniacal vision it is.

At first, AMIGO really leans into Javi’s experience as a person being cared for. Javi is carted into his new home under his caregiver’s power. He languishes in a bathtub that his caregiver places him in. He mindlessly stares at the television that seems to echo his own life. Then we focus on David’s perspective as a caregiver and the seemingly endless demands and sacrifices he faces. This is brilliant writing. Then the snowstorm hits. Yes, a particularly bitter cold snap traps the two in a rural home with their physical, mental, and emotional demons for a glorious fight. Each crippled in their own way, Javi and David must endure their demons if they will have even the slightest chance of survival.

I think that what I most admired about AMIGO was its ability to play with the audience’s sympathy. At first we feel bad for Javi as the one who has suddenly landed in a position of need. Depending on the kindness of others, Javi needs care almost 24/7. Then we flip to David and the ruthlessness put upon him as a caregiver. Equipped with a shrill bell, Javi rings for David at all hours regardless of convenience. When the two are forced to display understanding and endure one another’s faults we discover what they are made of.

With such a nebulous stew of themes to explore and prioritize, director Martín chooses the main path wisely. We are asked to consider the cared for, the caregiver, and the relationships with outside help. Meanwhile, cowriters and stars Pareja and Botet deliver dynamic performances that match their writing. I must admit though, that Botet is the standout. A tangled mass of scarred flesh, Botet’s Javi is a seething madness. This is one of the best performances of the year. Nasty, painful, sympathetic, and powerful, Botet‘s Javi is a multi-faceted work of genius.

In the end, AMIGO is an entertaining thriller with a nasty sense of humor here and there.

7 Out of 10