Rachel Weisz in ‘Dead Ringers’ (Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise/Prime Video)
As a horror fan, I was delighted that 2023 not only delivered some top-notch genre films but also that there were enough directed by women to create a 10 best list. Women created a diverse array of horror from psychological thrillers to over-the-top gore comedy to creature features. They looked beyond just final girls to create fascinating, flawed, and sometimes deeply disturbed characters.
I measure progress not by how many positive female characters we get on screen but rather by the diversity and depth of the women driving the stories we see. Kudos to the female talent in front of and behind the camera that created these bold, original works in 2023.
2023’s Top 10 Horror Projects Directed By Women
1. Dead Ringers
Key women creatives: Executive producer/star: Rachel Weisz; showrunner: Alice Birch; directors: Lauren Wolkstein, Karena Evans, Karyn Kusama; writers: Miriam Battye,...
As a horror fan, I was delighted that 2023 not only delivered some top-notch genre films but also that there were enough directed by women to create a 10 best list. Women created a diverse array of horror from psychological thrillers to over-the-top gore comedy to creature features. They looked beyond just final girls to create fascinating, flawed, and sometimes deeply disturbed characters.
I measure progress not by how many positive female characters we get on screen but rather by the diversity and depth of the women driving the stories we see. Kudos to the female talent in front of and behind the camera that created these bold, original works in 2023.
2023’s Top 10 Horror Projects Directed By Women
1. Dead Ringers
Key women creatives: Executive producer/star: Rachel Weisz; showrunner: Alice Birch; directors: Lauren Wolkstein, Karena Evans, Karyn Kusama; writers: Miriam Battye,...
- 1/20/2024
- by Beth Accomando
- Showbiz Junkies
Hollywood reeled in 2023. There’s no way around that. From striking creatives to the existential crisis of theatrical futures, this year held the entire entertainment industry in its death-like grasp. But as they say, when the going gets tough, the tough double down on the audience least likely to abandon ship. And anyone who’s actually sat and counted how many annual horror conventions there are knows exactly which audience to bet on.
It’s entirely possible that horror is the most stable and reliable movie genre, but just because its demographic is almost certainly the most voracious doesn’t mean they’re the least discerning. If anything, the list of films that almost made our top 10 would alone be ample ballast for the argument that horror aficionados cast their nets wider than fans of other genres. Take this list as a starting point, and then take it way further than you ever dared.
It’s entirely possible that horror is the most stable and reliable movie genre, but just because its demographic is almost certainly the most voracious doesn’t mean they’re the least discerning. If anything, the list of films that almost made our top 10 would alone be ample ballast for the argument that horror aficionados cast their nets wider than fans of other genres. Take this list as a starting point, and then take it way further than you ever dared.
- 12/12/2023
- by Slant Staff
- Slant Magazine
The film I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me, puts the audiences in a dilemma as to whether it is a real-life incident or just a work of fiction. Juan Pablo Villalobos, the Mexican author, is the protagonist in his own autobiographical fiction novel. The story centers around a Ph.D. candidate who travels from Mexico to Barcelona to complete his thesis paper and gets tangled up with a dangerous drug racket. The film stars actors like Natalia Solian, Anna Castillo, Dario Yazbek Bernal, and others. The life-like narration of Juan Pablo puts us in a catch-22 situation, as we keep wondering if the incidents are real or fictional. He has explored real-life issues in his other novels, like ‘The Other Side’, where he has highlighted the issue of illegal immigration. Nonetheless, coming back to I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me, will the protagonist be able to survive the harsh situations in Barcelona?...
- 11/23/2023
- by Debjyoti Dey
- Film Fugitives
This is the second Mexican film I’ve seen within the span of a month, and it’s yet another adaptation of a body of work that is deeply culturally significant. If Hurricane Season was raw and gritty, I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me is absurd and humorous. The film follows a young man, Juan Pablo Villalobos (also the author of the actual novel), as he moves from Mexico to Barcelona on a scholarship, only to be sucked into a vicious world of crime and illogicality. Interestingly, the thugs (of said crime world) are playing around with the man’s little heart in order to catch a big fish. I do feel that if I reveal anything further, we’d be in spoiler territory, so that’s where I’m going to leave the summary. Personally, I watched this film with no prior information, not even having seen the trailer,...
- 11/22/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
"Who do you think you're working with, buddy?" Netflix has revealed an official trailer for a crime thriller from Mexico titled I Don't Expect Anyone to Believe Me, which sounds much more like a film for a sci-fi or supernatural horror than a drama like this. It's the latest film from the acclaimed filmmaker Fernando Frias of the sensational Mexican drama I'm No Longer Here from a few years ago (which is also on Netflix to watch). In this film, Juan Pablo Villalobos travels with his girlfriend to study for a PhD in Literature in Barcelona. But before he leaves Mexico, he gets involved in a criminal network, which inspires him to write the novel of his dreams (called "I Don't Expect Anyone to Believe Me"), while his life takes many absurd & sinister turns. Based on the novel by Juan Pablo Villalobos, this stars Darío Yazbek with Natalia Solián, Alexis Ayala,...
- 10/22/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Colombian-Mexican filmmaker Rodrigo García has wrapped his first Spanish-language feature, “Familia,” which was shot in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico for Netflix.
García, who has directed such acclaimed films as “Mother and Child” and “Albert Nobbs,” and whose TV credits include “Six Feet Under,” “Big Love” and “In Treatment,” said: “Shooting ‘Familia’ has been a great experience.” He added: “Great producers, collaborators, several of my favorite Mexican actors and actresses and Netflix’s full support have made this project an unforgettable trip back home.”
This is the first time García, who is the son of Colombian Nobel Laureate Gabriel García Marquez, has directed a film in Mexico. He’s an executive producer in Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of his father’s literary classic “100 Years of Solitude,” which will be shooting in Colombia.
According to the synopsis, “Familia” follows “a peculiar family and explores the complexities of cohabitation around a decision that will change them forever.
García, who has directed such acclaimed films as “Mother and Child” and “Albert Nobbs,” and whose TV credits include “Six Feet Under,” “Big Love” and “In Treatment,” said: “Shooting ‘Familia’ has been a great experience.” He added: “Great producers, collaborators, several of my favorite Mexican actors and actresses and Netflix’s full support have made this project an unforgettable trip back home.”
This is the first time García, who is the son of Colombian Nobel Laureate Gabriel García Marquez, has directed a film in Mexico. He’s an executive producer in Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of his father’s literary classic “100 Years of Solitude,” which will be shooting in Colombia.
According to the synopsis, “Familia” follows “a peculiar family and explores the complexities of cohabitation around a decision that will change them forever.
- 5/22/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
The anticipation Valeria feels about the approaching birth of her first child slowly turns into a sense of real fear
There are some nasty scares in this chiller from Mexican film-maker Michelle Garza Cervera who is making her feature debut: a horror film that doubles as a parable of post-partum depression, something with the creeping anxiety of Polanski’s Repulsion or Rosemary’s Baby.
Valeria (Natalia Solián) is a young woman who is longing to have a baby with her supportive partner Raúl (Alfonso Dosal) and when Valeria gets pregnant, she couldn’t be happier, or so she thinks. Her sister – married, with children in which Valeria has never taken much interest – is openly contemptuous of her conversion to the motherhood ideal, and her parents are themselves politely sceptical. A chance meaning brings Valeria into contact with an old lover, Octavia (Mayra Batalla), and Valeria is plagued with memories of the exciting,...
There are some nasty scares in this chiller from Mexican film-maker Michelle Garza Cervera who is making her feature debut: a horror film that doubles as a parable of post-partum depression, something with the creeping anxiety of Polanski’s Repulsion or Rosemary’s Baby.
Valeria (Natalia Solián) is a young woman who is longing to have a baby with her supportive partner Raúl (Alfonso Dosal) and when Valeria gets pregnant, she couldn’t be happier, or so she thinks. Her sister – married, with children in which Valeria has never taken much interest – is openly contemptuous of her conversion to the motherhood ideal, and her parents are themselves politely sceptical. A chance meaning brings Valeria into contact with an old lover, Octavia (Mayra Batalla), and Valeria is plagued with memories of the exciting,...
- 5/9/2023
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Natalia Solian as Valeria, in Huesera: The Bone Woman. Photo Credit: Nur Rubio. Courtesy of Shudder
Huesera: The Bone Woman is a subtitled Mexican psychological thriller with dangling supernatural questions. It isn’t an easy film to watch but many will find the story and lead performance well worth the discomfort. Valeria (Natalia Solian) is a young wife eager to bear a child with her loving husband. She becomes pregnant early in the film, but nothing seems quite right about what should be making Valeria, her family and friends ecstatic.
Guilt over an unfortunate childhood left Valeria painfully insecure about her fitness for motherhood. That doubt is magnified by her mother and sister-in-law, who gleefully pound her with reminders of it at every opportunity. She starts having disturbing, surreal visions that could be signs of psychosis or something occult. Either way, her fears of maternal failure escalate greatly throughout the pregnancy.
Huesera: The Bone Woman is a subtitled Mexican psychological thriller with dangling supernatural questions. It isn’t an easy film to watch but many will find the story and lead performance well worth the discomfort. Valeria (Natalia Solian) is a young wife eager to bear a child with her loving husband. She becomes pregnant early in the film, but nothing seems quite right about what should be making Valeria, her family and friends ecstatic.
Guilt over an unfortunate childhood left Valeria painfully insecure about her fitness for motherhood. That doubt is magnified by her mother and sister-in-law, who gleefully pound her with reminders of it at every opportunity. She starts having disturbing, surreal visions that could be signs of psychosis or something occult. Either way, her fears of maternal failure escalate greatly throughout the pregnancy.
- 2/17/2023
- by Mark Glass
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Pre-natal anxieties and an entity from Mexican mythology are deftly and devastatingly woven together in Huesera: The Bone Woman, the feature debut from director Michelle Garza Cervera. Co-written by Garza Cervera and regular collaborator Abia Castillo, the film centers on Valeria (Natalia Solián), a young woman in Mexico City delighted to learn that she and her husband Raúl (Alfonso Dosal) are expecting their first child. This giddy sentiment is eclipsed by nerve-shredding terror when Valeria witnesses a neighbor commit suicide from her bedroom window. From that point on, she becomes the target of a strange entity with broken bones and […]
The post “Punk Gave Me the Tools To Start Questioning Everything”: Michelle Garza Cervera on Huesera: The Bone Woman first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Punk Gave Me the Tools To Start Questioning Everything”: Michelle Garza Cervera on Huesera: The Bone Woman first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/15/2023
- by Natalia Keogan
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Pre-natal anxieties and an entity from Mexican mythology are deftly and devastatingly woven together in Huesera: The Bone Woman, the feature debut from director Michelle Garza Cervera. Co-written by Garza Cervera and regular collaborator Abia Castillo, the film centers on Valeria (Natalia Solián), a young woman in Mexico City delighted to learn that she and her husband Raúl (Alfonso Dosal) are expecting their first child. This giddy sentiment is eclipsed by nerve-shredding terror when Valeria witnesses a neighbor commit suicide from her bedroom window. From that point on, she becomes the target of a strange entity with broken bones and […]
The post “Punk Gave Me the Tools To Start Questioning Everything”: Michelle Garza Cervera on Huesera: The Bone Woman first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Punk Gave Me the Tools To Start Questioning Everything”: Michelle Garza Cervera on Huesera: The Bone Woman first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/15/2023
- by Natalia Keogan
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Diverse festival notables from Hannah Ha Ha to The Blue Caftan join a spattering of specialty horror titles led by Consecration, and the U.S. theatrical debut of Gaspar Noé’s controversial Irréversible: Straight Cut.
The last is presented by Altered Innocence, whose owner Frank Jaffe spoke with Deadline about why he wanted to give Noe’s unusual 2019 director’s cut — of the Argentinian/French director’s disturbing 2002 film Irreversible — a release Stateside. “It’s a film that needs to be seen. Or made available,” he said. StudioCanal approached him twice. “They said, ‘No one is brave enough to take on this film. Will you?’” And “there is an audience for it…Tickets are selling.”
Jaffe said he first watched Irreversible, or tried to, via Netflix mail order DVD when he was 14. “My dad made me turn it off halfway through.”
It had a big impact on him. He...
The last is presented by Altered Innocence, whose owner Frank Jaffe spoke with Deadline about why he wanted to give Noe’s unusual 2019 director’s cut — of the Argentinian/French director’s disturbing 2002 film Irreversible — a release Stateside. “It’s a film that needs to be seen. Or made available,” he said. StudioCanal approached him twice. “They said, ‘No one is brave enough to take on this film. Will you?’” And “there is an audience for it…Tickets are selling.”
Jaffe said he first watched Irreversible, or tried to, via Netflix mail order DVD when he was 14. “My dad made me turn it off halfway through.”
It had a big impact on him. He...
- 2/10/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
"Huesera: The Bone Woman" is a horror movie that attacks all the senses. Loosely inspired by the folk tale La Huesera (translation: the bone woman), co-writer and director Michelle Garza Cervera places audiences in Valerai's (Natalia Solián) point of view as the protagonist fights to survive a supernatural curse in a society already damned by expectations. Every sight, sound, and fright is personal.
Cervera first heard the folktale of La Huesera in her 20s. It's a story that spoke to her about identity and freedom. For years, she kept the tale in mind and finally co-wrote "Huesera: The Bone Woman" with Abia Castillo. The end result is a visceral horror film with internal and physical scares. Without spoiling anything, Cervera hopes audiences leave the movie with hope. The director, whose short film "La Rabia de Clara" you can watch here, recently took us behind-the-scenes of her striking feature directorial debut.
Cervera first heard the folktale of La Huesera in her 20s. It's a story that spoke to her about identity and freedom. For years, she kept the tale in mind and finally co-wrote "Huesera: The Bone Woman" with Abia Castillo. The end result is a visceral horror film with internal and physical scares. Without spoiling anything, Cervera hopes audiences leave the movie with hope. The director, whose short film "La Rabia de Clara" you can watch here, recently took us behind-the-scenes of her striking feature directorial debut.
- 2/10/2023
- by Jack Giroux
- Slash Film
"When you become a mother, you feel like you are split in two." XYZ Films has revealed the official trailer for the indie Mexican horror titled Huesera: The Bone Woman, opening in US theaters this February. It first premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival last year and has been earning rave reviews at other fests including Neuchâtel, Bucheon, Edinburgh, Bergen, Fantastic Fest, and Sitges. Huesera follows the story of Valeria, a young woman expecting her first child who becomes cursed by a sinister entity. Plunged into a terrifying and dangerous world, a group of witches emerge as her only hope for safety and salvation, but not without grave risk. Natalia Solián stars as Valeria, with a cast including Alfonso Dosal, Mayra Batalla, Mercedes Hernández, Aída López, and Martha Claudia Moreno. This looks insanely scary once the trailer gets going, lots of freaky footage in that second half! That part of...
- 1/24/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Michelle Garza Cervera‘s debut feature, Huesera is on the way early this year from XYZ Films. The film opens in theaters on February 10 followed by a VOD release on February 16.
Huesera: The Bone Woman premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival in New York in the festival’s genre-driven Midnight section and would go on to win both the Best New Narrative Director and Nora Ephron awards. Following the world premiere, Huesera: The Bone Woman won both the Blood Window Award for Best Feature Film and the Citizen Kane Award for Best Directorial Revelation at the internationally recognized Sitges Film Festival in Spain and the Feature Film Audience Award at the Morelia International Film Festival, Mexico’s premier film festival and one of the most important film events of the Latin-American subcontinent.
The supernatural Mexican horror feature is led by Natalia Solián in a star-turning performance as Valeria, a young...
Huesera: The Bone Woman premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival in New York in the festival’s genre-driven Midnight section and would go on to win both the Best New Narrative Director and Nora Ephron awards. Following the world premiere, Huesera: The Bone Woman won both the Blood Window Award for Best Feature Film and the Citizen Kane Award for Best Directorial Revelation at the internationally recognized Sitges Film Festival in Spain and the Feature Film Audience Award at the Morelia International Film Festival, Mexico’s premier film festival and one of the most important film events of the Latin-American subcontinent.
The supernatural Mexican horror feature is led by Natalia Solián in a star-turning performance as Valeria, a young...
- 1/23/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
XYZ Films, the distributor of such recent genre releases as The Mean One, Gatlopp: Hell of Game, and Prisoners of the Ghostland, has unveiled a teaser poster for the supernatural horror film Huesera: The Bone Woman – and along with the poster comes the announcement that XYZ will be giving the film a theatrical release in the United States on February 10th! A VOD release will follow on February 16th. The movie will also be available to watch on the Shudder streaming service in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand at a later date.
The feature directorial debut of Michelle Garza Cervera (who wrote the screenplay with Abia Castillo), Huesera: The Bone Woman received a lot of praise from critics and racked up awards while making the festival rounds. The film stars Natalia Solián (Zapatos Rojos) as Valeria, a young woman expecting her first child who becomes cursed by a sinister entity.
The feature directorial debut of Michelle Garza Cervera (who wrote the screenplay with Abia Castillo), Huesera: The Bone Woman received a lot of praise from critics and racked up awards while making the festival rounds. The film stars Natalia Solián (Zapatos Rojos) as Valeria, a young woman expecting her first child who becomes cursed by a sinister entity.
- 12/29/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Carlos Eichelmann Kaiser, director of the Mexican film ‘Red Shoes’, said on Saturday that his movie tries to open up the conversation of masculine energy and how to use it in a positive way, but the principle theme is violence against women.
‘Red Shoes’ is one of the 15 films competing in the international competition section for the coveted Golden Peacock prize at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (Iffi) here.
Kaiser, along with producers Alejandro De Icaza and Gabriela Maldonado and lead actress Natalia Solian, interacted with the audience in the ‘Table Talks’ programme here on Saturday.
He said that the main idea for the film originated from the relationship he had with his father.
“The film tries to open the conversation of masculine energy and how to use it in a positive way. But the principle theme is violence against women. The title was inspired by the activists...
‘Red Shoes’ is one of the 15 films competing in the international competition section for the coveted Golden Peacock prize at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (Iffi) here.
Kaiser, along with producers Alejandro De Icaza and Gabriela Maldonado and lead actress Natalia Solian, interacted with the audience in the ‘Table Talks’ programme here on Saturday.
He said that the main idea for the film originated from the relationship he had with his father.
“The film tries to open the conversation of masculine energy and how to use it in a positive way. But the principle theme is violence against women. The title was inspired by the activists...
- 11/26/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
#QueMéxicoSeVea designed to showcase work of local industry.
Netflix has announced the latest film from Fernando Frias and the feature directorial debut of cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto as it launches an initiative to raise the profile of local filmmakers in the run-up to Mexico’s national cinema day on Monday (August 15).
Under #QueMéxicoSeVea, which translates as Let Mexico Be Seen, Netflix will present the latest from Frias – I Don’t Expect Anyone To Believe Me (No Voy A Pedirle A Nadie Que Me Crea) – whose I’m No Longer Here was acquired by the streamer and represented Mexico in the international feature...
Netflix has announced the latest film from Fernando Frias and the feature directorial debut of cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto as it launches an initiative to raise the profile of local filmmakers in the run-up to Mexico’s national cinema day on Monday (August 15).
Under #QueMéxicoSeVea, which translates as Let Mexico Be Seen, Netflix will present the latest from Frias – I Don’t Expect Anyone To Believe Me (No Voy A Pedirle A Nadie Que Me Crea) – whose I’m No Longer Here was acquired by the streamer and represented Mexico in the international feature...
- 8/13/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Netflix has reaffirmed its 300 million commitment to Mexican cinema and series, announcing a slew of new movie projects to celebrate the country’s National Day of Cinema on Aug. 15 and as part of its #QueMéxicoSeVea initiative.
The year-old initiative, which can be roughly translated to “Let Mexico Be Seen” has the mission “to make visible the work of Mexican creators, screenwriters, writers, directors, actors and people who make national cinema possible,” as well as its wealth of original stories.
Leading the pack is the widely anticipated directorial debut of Oscar-nominated cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto who is helming an adaptation of Juan Rulfo’s seminal novel, “Pedro Paramo.” Produced by Redrum, the film’s crew includes Oscar-nominated production designer Eugenio Caballero and costume designer Anna Terrazas, whose notable credits include “Roma,” “Spectre” and “Bardo.”
“Our commitment to Mexican culture also includes adapting great Mexican works to the cinema, and ‘Pedro Páramo’ will...
The year-old initiative, which can be roughly translated to “Let Mexico Be Seen” has the mission “to make visible the work of Mexican creators, screenwriters, writers, directors, actors and people who make national cinema possible,” as well as its wealth of original stories.
Leading the pack is the widely anticipated directorial debut of Oscar-nominated cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto who is helming an adaptation of Juan Rulfo’s seminal novel, “Pedro Paramo.” Produced by Redrum, the film’s crew includes Oscar-nominated production designer Eugenio Caballero and costume designer Anna Terrazas, whose notable credits include “Roma,” “Spectre” and “Bardo.”
“Our commitment to Mexican culture also includes adapting great Mexican works to the cinema, and ‘Pedro Páramo’ will...
- 8/11/2022
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
The star of Michelle Garza Cervera’s narrative debut, Huesera, is Natalia Solián’s range of facial expressions. The actress plays Valeria Hernandez, the protagonist of this chilling body horror, with a sly, concentrated determination. See the flash of disgust in her eyes as she meets the gaze of a child playfully contorting their face at a doctor’s office. Look at her lips twitch when she learns of her pregnancy. Watch her face fall at the thought of converting her carpentry workshop into a nursery.
It’s fair to say that Valeria does not want a child. And it’s no stretch to proclaim that Huesera chiefly concerns itself with the emotional knots of her pregnancy and its eventual strains on her subsequent motherhood. But that’s only skimming the surface of Cervera’s work. Dig deeper and Huesera reveals itself to...
The star of Michelle Garza Cervera’s narrative debut, Huesera, is Natalia Solián’s range of facial expressions. The actress plays Valeria Hernandez, the protagonist of this chilling body horror, with a sly, concentrated determination. See the flash of disgust in her eyes as she meets the gaze of a child playfully contorting their face at a doctor’s office. Look at her lips twitch when she learns of her pregnancy. Watch her face fall at the thought of converting her carpentry workshop into a nursery.
It’s fair to say that Valeria does not want a child. And it’s no stretch to proclaim that Huesera chiefly concerns itself with the emotional knots of her pregnancy and its eventual strains on her subsequent motherhood. But that’s only skimming the surface of Cervera’s work. Dig deeper and Huesera reveals itself to...
- 8/4/2022
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With barely time to celebrate two well-earned wins – including New Narrative Director – at Tribeca, horror darling Michelle Garza Cervera will be screening in selection at Fantasia with her feature debut “Huesera.” The film will have played Bifan and Switzerland’s Neuchâtel Fantastic Film Festival, where it will continue the ominous telling of Valeria, played by Natalia Solián (“500 Millions of Red Shoes”), whose dream of motherhood disintegrates as she is cursed by a dark power. As darkness and evil encroach, she’s forced to confide in a tradition which may be her only hope.
Three years ago, Garza Cervera graced Fantasia with her short “The Original,” and “Huesera” sees its themes of love, desire, and death revisited in color, now with a kaleidoscopic complexity. Cinematographer Nur Rubio Sherwell uses color itself and framing to shape mood and composers Gibrán Androide and Cabeza De Vaca employ foley to paint some moments with silence to frightening effect.
Three years ago, Garza Cervera graced Fantasia with her short “The Original,” and “Huesera” sees its themes of love, desire, and death revisited in color, now with a kaleidoscopic complexity. Cinematographer Nur Rubio Sherwell uses color itself and framing to shape mood and composers Gibrán Androide and Cabeza De Vaca employ foley to paint some moments with silence to frightening effect.
- 7/27/2022
- by JD Linville
- Variety Film + TV
Michelle Garza Cervera’s ’Huesera’ won two awards at Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year.
Mexican writer-director Michelle Garza Cervera, whose debut feature Huesera won two awards at Tribeca Film Festival last month, is now writing an English-language horror film called The Tyrant Woman (La Tirana) to be set in the world of salsa dancing.
“To me, salsa speaks so much about the dark sides of humanity but it’s funny because you are dancing to it,” the writer-director said of the project which she plans to set in Miami.
Cervera is also developing a cyberpunk drama series called Lagunitas,...
Mexican writer-director Michelle Garza Cervera, whose debut feature Huesera won two awards at Tribeca Film Festival last month, is now writing an English-language horror film called The Tyrant Woman (La Tirana) to be set in the world of salsa dancing.
“To me, salsa speaks so much about the dark sides of humanity but it’s funny because you are dancing to it,” the writer-director said of the project which she plans to set in Miami.
Cervera is also developing a cyberpunk drama series called Lagunitas,...
- 7/7/2022
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Manborg: The Novelization Blasts Onto Bookshelves From Author Bret Nelson And Encyclopocalypse Publications: "Encyclopocalypse Publications, founded by Saturn and Rondo Award-winning writer/producer Mark Alan Miller is proud to add Manborg to its wildly addicting novelization series.
Manborg is penned by Bret Nelson (author of Lumber and Other Tales) from the original script by Steven Kostanski and Jeremy Gillespie.
“Whenever I read about the movie, Manborg, it is noted early and often that the team at Astron 6 managed to make it for 1,000 Cad. I’d rather note, early and often, that the budget limitations were overcome by the talent and tenacity of the filmmakers.” Nelson says. “Yes, it has a garage-band feel and it’s rough around the edges. But look deeper. The wide shots of Meganet City feature vehicles and people in the backgrounds, you’d expect a pan across a still image. In dialogue, the usual low-budget,...
Manborg is penned by Bret Nelson (author of Lumber and Other Tales) from the original script by Steven Kostanski and Jeremy Gillespie.
“Whenever I read about the movie, Manborg, it is noted early and often that the team at Astron 6 managed to make it for 1,000 Cad. I’d rather note, early and often, that the budget limitations were overcome by the talent and tenacity of the filmmakers.” Nelson says. “Yes, it has a garage-band feel and it’s rough around the edges. But look deeper. The wide shots of Meganet City feature vehicles and people in the backgrounds, you’d expect a pan across a still image. In dialogue, the usual low-budget,...
- 5/26/2022
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
We got on the Huesera bandwagon early and not too long ago caught whiff that the first teaser for Michelle Garza Cervera’s debut feature film and Tribeca midnighter was really good. Our sources weren't lying. In Huesera, Valeria's (Natalia Solián) joy at becoming pregnant with her first child is quickly taken away when she's cursed by a sinister entity. As danger closes in and relationships with her family become fractured, she's forced deeper into a chilling world of dark magic that threatens to consume her. A group of witches emerge that could be her only hope for safety and salvation, but not without grave risk. Variety got the scoop this afternoon and released the teaser trailer and poster for Huesera. Check out the...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 5/25/2022
- Screen Anarchy
XYZ Films Acquires Tribeca-Bound ‘Huesera’ for North America, Drops First Teaser, Poster (Exclusive)
XYZ Films has acquired writer-director Michelle Garza Cervera’s hotly anticipated breakout feature “Huesera” for theatrical release in North America and has released the first teaser and poster for the film.
“Huesera” is one of the first slate of titles under its new distribution arm and an early pick-up ahead of the Tribeca Film Festival, where the film will world premiere.
The film follows Valeria, whose joy with becoming pregnant dissolves as she is cursed by a dark power. As danger surrounds her, she’s forced deeper into the occult, and a pact with a coven of witches may be her only hope. Valeria is played by Natalia Solián (“500 Millions of Red Shoes”), alongside Alfonso Dosal (“Narcos: Mexico”), Mayra Batalla (“Prayers for the Stolen”), Mercedes Hernández (“Identifying Features”), Aída López (“Capadocia”), and Martha Claudia Moreno.
The film is produced by Machete, Disruptiva Films, and Señor Z and is co-written by Garza Cervera and Abia Castillo.
“Huesera” is one of the first slate of titles under its new distribution arm and an early pick-up ahead of the Tribeca Film Festival, where the film will world premiere.
The film follows Valeria, whose joy with becoming pregnant dissolves as she is cursed by a dark power. As danger surrounds her, she’s forced deeper into the occult, and a pact with a coven of witches may be her only hope. Valeria is played by Natalia Solián (“500 Millions of Red Shoes”), alongside Alfonso Dosal (“Narcos: Mexico”), Mayra Batalla (“Prayers for the Stolen”), Mercedes Hernández (“Identifying Features”), Aída López (“Capadocia”), and Martha Claudia Moreno.
The film is produced by Machete, Disruptiva Films, and Señor Z and is co-written by Garza Cervera and Abia Castillo.
- 5/25/2022
- by JD Linville
- Variety Film + TV
Tribeca Film Festival 2022 - Midnight Selections: The Tribeca Film Festival 2022's Midnight selections have been announced and include a screening of The Black Phone, along with the world premiere of Travis Stevens' A Wounded Fawn:
"Attachment (Natten Har Øjne), (Denmark) – Feature Narrative, International Premiere. Maja and Leah’s new relationship is interrupted when mysterious things start happening in their London flat. It seems that Leah’s disapproving mother, who lives downstairs, is using Jewish folklore to come between them. In Danish and English with English subtitles. Directed and written by Gabriel Bier Gislason. Produced by Thomas Heinesen. With Josephine Park, Ellie Kendrick, Sofie Gråbøl, David Dencik. A Shudder release.
The Black Phone, (United States) – Feature Narrative, New York Premiere. Locked in a soundproof basement by a masked child killer, a teenage boy finds the possibility of hope through an unexpected and supernatural lifeline: a telephone on which he receives...
"Attachment (Natten Har Øjne), (Denmark) – Feature Narrative, International Premiere. Maja and Leah’s new relationship is interrupted when mysterious things start happening in their London flat. It seems that Leah’s disapproving mother, who lives downstairs, is using Jewish folklore to come between them. In Danish and English with English subtitles. Directed and written by Gabriel Bier Gislason. Produced by Thomas Heinesen. With Josephine Park, Ellie Kendrick, Sofie Gråbøl, David Dencik. A Shudder release.
The Black Phone, (United States) – Feature Narrative, New York Premiere. Locked in a soundproof basement by a masked child killer, a teenage boy finds the possibility of hope through an unexpected and supernatural lifeline: a telephone on which he receives...
- 4/27/2022
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
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