CONTRATIEMPO / THE INVISIBLE GUEST (2016)

Summary:

Adrian Doria, a successful young businessman, finds his life spiraling out of control when he is accused of the murder of his mistress, Laura Vidal. Trapped in a hotel room with her lifeless body, Adrian maintains his innocence, claiming he was knocked unconscious by an unknown assailant who then fled the scene. With his trial looming and new evidence threatening to seal his fate, his lawyer hires Virginia Goodman, a formidable and legendary defense attorney known for never losing a case, to prepare him for his testimony. Over the course of a single intense evening, Adrian recounts his version of events to Virginia, revealing a complex web of lies, infidelity, and a previous accidental death that he and Laura conspired to cover up. As Virginia meticulously dissects his narrative, challenging every inconsistency and probing Adrian's deepest secrets, the lines between truth and deception blur. The film is a masterclass in psychological suspense, unfolding through a series of flashbacks and present-day interrogations, as Adrian's carefully constructed reality begins to unravel under the relentless pressure of Goodman's questioning, leading to a shocking and unforgettable climax. Keywords: Contratiempo, 2016, Mario Casas, Bárbara Lennie, José Coronado, Ana Wagener, Thriller, Mystery, Crime.

Plot:

The film opens with Adrian Doria, a successful young businessman, waking up in a locked hotel room next to the lifeless body of his mistress, Laura Vidal. He is immediately arrested and accused of her murder. With his trial just hours away and a new witness threatening to incriminate him, Adrian's lawyer, Félix Leiva, arranges for him to meet with Virginia Goodman, a renowned defense attorney brought in to craft an airtight defense. Virginia arrives at Adrian's apartment, giving him a mere three hours to reveal every detail of his story, no matter how incriminating, so she can prepare him for cross-examination. Adrian begins his elaborate tale, confessing to an ongoing affair with Laura. He recounts how, several months prior, they decided to end their relationship to protect their respective marriages and careers. On their supposed farewell trip to a secluded cabin, they were driving back when Adrian, distracted, swerved to avoid a deer, colliding with another car. The driver of the other vehicle, a young man named Daniel Garrido, was killed instantly. Panicked and fearing the ruin of their lives, Laura concocted a plan to cover up the accident. They pushed Daniel's car, with his body still inside, into a nearby lake. Adrian then staged his own car to make it appear as if he had hit a deer, creating a false narrative for the authorities. Laura, meanwhile, disposed of Daniel's personal effects. However, their perfect crime quickly unravels. Adrian's car, damaged from the accident, wouldn't start. A passing motorist, Tomas Garrido, stops to help. Adrian, unaware of Tomas's identity, allows him to tow his car to a nearby garage. Later, Laura discovers that Tomas Garrido is actually Daniel's father, a retired mechanic. Tomas, distraught and determined to find his missing son, begins to suspect Adrian and Laura. He meticulously tracks their movements and even poses as a mechanic at the garage where Adrian's car is being repaired, planting a hidden GPS tracker in the vehicle. Laura, increasingly paranoid and guilt-ridden, feels the pressure mounting from Tomas, who has subtly confronted her. She becomes convinced that Tomas knows the truth and is closing in on them. She attempts to distance herself from Adrian, even threatening to expose him if he doesn't comply. Eventually, Laura arranges a clandestine meeting at a remote hotel, telling Adrian she's going to meet someone who knows about Daniel's death and is blackmailing her. Adrian arrives at the hotel and finds the room locked from the inside. When he finally gains entry, he is struck from behind and loses consciousness. He wakes up to find Laura dead, money scattered on the floor, and the "blackmailer" gone. He claims he was framed. Virginia listens intently, but her skepticism is palpable. She begins to dismantle Adrian's story, pointing out glaring inconsistencies. She questions the convenience of the "blackmailer" appearing and disappearing without a trace, the improbability of Adrian being knocked out so cleanly, and the lack of any struggle despite Laura's alleged fear. She highlights details like the hotel room window being broken from the inside, suggesting it was staged to look like an intruder, when Adrian could have broken it himself after locking the door from the outside. Virginia then presents her own version of events, based on the new evidence and Adrian's unreliable narrative. She suggests that after the accident, Laura, consumed by guilt and fear, genuinely wanted to confess or at least make amends. She hypothesizes that Laura might have tried to contact Daniel's parents directly. Virginia reveals that Tomas Garrido, after finding his son's car and body, swapped his own car (an identical model) with Adrian's damaged one at the garage. This allowed him to track Adrian and Laura more effectively, confirming their involvement. The tension escalates as Virginia pushes Adrian harder. She brings up a crucial detail: the lighter Adrian claims was used by the "blackmailer" to light a cigarette was actually Adrian's own. She then reveals a photograph of Daniel's watch, which was found near the accident site, and a train ticket that places Laura near the lake where Daniel's car was submerged. These pieces of evidence contradict Adrian's attempts to shift blame entirely onto Laura. Virginia proposes that Laura, overwhelmed by the pressure and Adrian's callousness, was prepared to confess everything to Tomas Garrido. She suggests that Laura called Adrian to the hotel not to meet a blackmailer, but to tell him she was going to expose their crime. In a fit of rage, or perhaps fear of exposure, Adrian murdered Laura. He then staged the scene, breaking the window, scattering money, and feigning unconsciousness to make it appear as if a third party was responsible. Virginia's relentless questioning forces Adrian to concede to some of these points, reluctantly admitting to his own manipulative nature and control over Laura. As the three-hour deadline approaches, Virginia delivers her final, devastating blow. She reveals that the "new witness" is actually Tomas Garrido, who has been working tirelessly to prove Adrian's guilt. She then presents the ultimate proof: Daniel's wallet and phone, which Laura had hidden, were found. Inside, there was a recording of Laura confessing the entire cover-up, clearly implicating Adrian as the primary instigator and detailing his callous disregard for Daniel's life. In a moment of desperation, Adrian fabricates one last story, claiming that Laura actually killed Daniel by pushing his car into the lake *after* the initial collision, and that he was merely an accessory to her crime. He paints Laura as the true villain, driven by a cold, calculating nature. Virginia, seemingly convinced by this final, more self-incriminating but still deflective confession, nods her head. As she prepares to leave, she excuses herself to use the bathroom. While Adrian waits, he notices her phone ringing and sees the name "Félix" (his lawyer) on the screen. He also spots a distinct pen on the table, identical to one he had seen in Tomas Garrido's possession. In a shocking twist, Virginia emerges from the bathroom, but it's not Virginia Goodman. It's Elvira Garrido, Daniel's mother, who has been impersonating the real Virginia Goodman all along. She used her acting skills and her husband Tomas's meticulous research to extract a full confession from Adrian. The real Virginia Goodman is waiting downstairs with Félix. Elvira reveals that the pen was a gift from her son, Daniel. She had meticulously planned this elaborate deception to get Adrian to confess. The "recording" of Laura's confession was a bluff; Adrian's own words, however, are now on tape, a full admission of his guilt in both Daniel's death and Laura's murder. As Elvira walks out, Adrian is left stunned and defeated, realizing he has been outmaneuvered. The police arrive moments later to arrest him, sealing his fate.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Mario Casas as Adrián Doria
• Bárbara Lennie as Laura Vidal
• José Coronado as Tomás Garrido
• Ana Wagener as Virginia Goodman / Elvira Garrido

Crew:

• Director: Oriol Paulo
• Writer: Oriol Paulo
• Producer: Mercedes Gamero, Sandra Hermida, Mikel Lejarza, Eneko Lizarraga
• Cinematography: Xavi Giménez
• Film Editing: Jaume Martí
• Music Composer: Fernando Velázquez

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: January 6, 2017 (Spain)
• Language: Spanish
• Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime
• Running Time: 106 minutes
• Accolades: Nominated for Best Screenplay (Oriol Paulo) at the Goya Awards (2018), Won Best Film at the Sant Jordi Awards (2018).