11-11-11 has a special place in my heart due to its supernatural story that manages to weave in religion and occultism. 11-11-11 even has some pretty decent effects to boast about—not on par with blockbuster films with hundreds of millions in budget, perhaps, but still quite respectable considering what kind of film it is and how these usually tend to look.
In short, it’s about Joseph, who starts noticing the number 11:11 everywhere. His wife and son died at precisely that time, as did his mother. A car accident—which he miraculously survives without a scratch—also occurs at the same time. Being the well-known author that he is, he also receives word from his brother that their father—whom he hasn’t seen in years—is dying and has only a couple of days left to live. This prompts him to return to the family home in Barcelona. Once there, his visions escalate, and he begins to see demonic figures manifesting at precisely 11:11. They seem to be after his brother, who is a priest, and it falls upon Joseph to protect him by any means necessary.
The acting might not be anything above average, but as I said, I have a soft spot for stories that mix occultism and religion. There’s also a bit of humor here as the film touches on faith in a way that shows how religious people firmly believe in abstract things while dismissing other forms of belief as illogical. At the same time, of course, it works the other way around. In my world, you try to approach things with a bit of humility. Anyone who categorically dismisses another person’s belief as mumbo jumbo or fantasy hasn’t even begun to grasp what faith is really about. Those who are constantly seeking proof will never truly understand either.
Anyway, toward the end, the film loses some of its earlier intrigue. It’s not uncommon for things to dip as the resolution approaches, when the tension can no longer remain uncertain. The more information you get, the more interesting it becomes—but only up to a point; beyond that, it starts doing more harm than good. Still, the film wraps up with its dignity intact and earns a decent score!
Translated from a review in Swedish I wrote a few years ago
