Netflix Movie Review: 'Twin Murders: The Silence Of The White City'

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Confession: I could watch thrillers all day long. They are that engaging. One of my only issues with Netflix is that it does not have a more abundant supply. Cue “Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City” (“El Silencio de la Ciudad Blanca”), and you have at least one more entry into what should be a well-stocked library.

Netflix has bolstered its supply of suspense with the Spanish-language film, “Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City.” A compelling, if confusing entry. If done in the vein of the 90s’, there can be an elaborate and often immersive sense to thrillers that make them mightily unique. To be more gripping, they do not rely on an altogether familiar formula.


As a genre, personal favorites are character-driven. “Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City” stays true to that tradition with a storyline that works in almost every angle you can imagine. After suffering a pretty recent tragedy, a cop (Javier Rey) returns to begin investigating a series of murders, which echo a horrifying spate of scarily similar killings.

There is one problem. The man convicted for the original homicides is incarcerated, and he is getting ready to get out. Why a man convicted of the heinous crimes depicted in “Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City” would ever see the light of day is another issue altogether.

In terms of the movie, there is a cultish edge to the crimes that recalls the Netflix original series, “Perfume.” That is where the similarities between it and “Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City” relatively end. As it does in the TV show mentioned above, the past plays a defining role in the present.

The question becomes figuring out how they are intermingled, and that is where things get confusing. “Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City” creates an elaborate answer to the questions it raises. However, it does not stay with the reveal of those answers long enough.


In truth, this story could have fueled a miniseries. As a movie, its rushed delivery makes certain developments feel unearned. One prime example being the strange chemistry between the leads, Unai and Alba (Belén Rueda). At first, it seems like an entirely platonic working relationship.

Then the movie tries to sell the audience on a simmering chemistry that simply does not exist. Nor are there any interactions that hint at an attraction, making what takes place impossible to buy. In related news, the killer’s motives and overall backstory are revealed in too-brief of terms. For fans of Spain’s “Money Heist,” there is a silver lining.

The voice of the actor who does the English-language dub for The Professor on Netflix’s “Money Heist” can also be heard doing Unai’s. According to my ear, he also does the one for the lead actor in “Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City.” In other “Money Heist” news, eagle-eyed fans can also spot The Inspector/Raquel’s portrayer in a limited role as the medical examiner.

That is one character the movie should have spent more time hearing from than it does. Overall, “Twin Murders” is an absorbing and compelling film. It is melodramatic and swings for the fences in an ambitious tale teeming with more potential than gets realized.


The good news for it is that you might have to watch it twice to catch all of the intricacies. I just hope Netflix takes the hint and adds more thrillers. If you are looking for something suspenseful to watch on a Saturday night, then “Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City” is it.

Rating: 6.5/10

“Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City” (“El Silencio de la Ciudad Blanca”) is currently streaming on Netflix. Thankfully, there is a lot of other excellent content.to consider watching as well.