Satanic Hispanics (2022)
September 15, 2023 7:54 AM - Subscribe
A new horror anthology film featuring segments from Latinx directors Mike Mendez (Big Ass Spider), Eduardo Sánchez (The Blair Witch Project), Demián Rugna (Terrified), and Gigi Saul Guerrero(Bingo Hell).
I usually put my review in the comments, but I'll tuck it (pretty much spoiler free) here) so I don't have to be repetitive in listing the segments:
The Traveler - by Mike Mendez. Stars Efren Ramierez (Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite, leaning into the creepy/off-putting side of his weird/funny vibe. Also starring Greg Grunberg and Sonya Eddy. This one is the frame story and does a good job tying everything together, even as it doesn't amount to much.
Tambien lo Vi - by Demián Rugna. The best segment overall and easily the scariest. A competitive Rubik's Cube player finds a sort of puzzle in his own house with a creepy presence only he seems to be able to see.
El Vampiro - by Eduardo Sánchez. Legitimately hilarious story of a vampire taking advantage of Halloween to do his thing. The bit with the Tide stain pen made me snort soda out of my nose.
Nahuales - by Gigi Saul Guerrero. I couldn't make heads or tails of this. Some cool images, but either required a prior understanding of a myth that I did not have or just didn't make any sense. It felt like plot was all over the place.
The Hammer of Zanzibar also by Mike Mendez. Starts a little wobbly, but gets silly in a way that makes it tolerable... then leans into the silly in a really shameless/fearless way that helps it cross over into straight up enjoyable. There is a great scene where an occult expert talks about the demon that came inside him, only to have the hero advise that may not be the choice of words... only for it turn out, yes, it totally is.
I usually put my review in the comments, but I'll tuck it (pretty much spoiler free) here) so I don't have to be repetitive in listing the segments:
The Traveler - by Mike Mendez. Stars Efren Ramierez (Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite, leaning into the creepy/off-putting side of his weird/funny vibe. Also starring Greg Grunberg and Sonya Eddy. This one is the frame story and does a good job tying everything together, even as it doesn't amount to much.
Tambien lo Vi - by Demián Rugna. The best segment overall and easily the scariest. A competitive Rubik's Cube player finds a sort of puzzle in his own house with a creepy presence only he seems to be able to see.
El Vampiro - by Eduardo Sánchez. Legitimately hilarious story of a vampire taking advantage of Halloween to do his thing. The bit with the Tide stain pen made me snort soda out of my nose.
Nahuales - by Gigi Saul Guerrero. I couldn't make heads or tails of this. Some cool images, but either required a prior understanding of a myth that I did not have or just didn't make any sense. It felt like plot was all over the place.
The Hammer of Zanzibar also by Mike Mendez. Starts a little wobbly, but gets silly in a way that makes it tolerable... then leans into the silly in a really shameless/fearless way that helps it cross over into straight up enjoyable. There is a great scene where an occult expert talks about the demon that came inside him, only to have the hero advise that may not be the choice of words... only for it turn out, yes, it totally is.
With apologies, the article I puled the credits from (they're not separated by segment on IMDb) had an error. Mendez did not direct "The Hammer of Zanzibar." Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead) did.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:21 AM on September 15, 2023
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:21 AM on September 15, 2023
Looks like US only. Sadly no Canadian release announced as of yet...
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:50 PM on September 15, 2023
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:50 PM on September 15, 2023
On Shudder now! I just watched it, and I really loved it (even if I had no real idea what was going on about halfway through "Nahuales." I got the idea there was a real world politics metaphor aspect to the situation that eluded me? It's such a well made film that I don't believe that it simply does not make sense). Rugna's segment is the best, but "El Vampiro" is really funny, and "The Hammer of Zanzibar" has an Ash vs. Evil Dead vibe that I...wow, I don't think I realized how much I missed Ash vs. Evil Dead!
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:42 PM on March 10 [1 favorite]
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:42 PM on March 10 [1 favorite]
Between his segment here, Terrified, and When Evil Lurks, Rugna has really made a case foir himself as one of the best and most exciting horror directors working today.
I hope his next budget picks up say del Toro as an EP and that gets him a bigger budget to play with and a wider release so more people can see how great his work is.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:07 AM on March 11 [1 favorite]
I hope his next budget picks up say del Toro as an EP and that gets him a bigger budget to play with and a wider release so more people can see how great his work is.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:07 AM on March 11 [1 favorite]
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[TRAILER]
89% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Now playing in theaters. JustWatch.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:54 AM on September 15, 2023