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Dominican Horror Film Explores Queer Identity Fears
9 Feb
Summary
- Queer coming-of-age horror film premiering at Berlinale Generation.
- Director uses supernatural horror to critique conservative Dominican society.
- Film follows a student's struggle with identity and a targeting evil force.
The queer coming-of-age horror film "No salgas" ("Stay Quiet") is set to premiere in the Berlinale Generation section, with ArtHood Entertainment handling worldwide sales. Directed by Victoria Linares in her fiction feature debut, the movie stars Camila Issa, Cecile van Welie, and Camila Santana.
The narrative centers on Liz, a Dominican college student grappling with her sexual identity within a highly conservative society. Her life becomes complicated when an evil supernatural force begins to target those close to her, including her love interest, Wendy. A year after initial tragedies, grief and desire resurface during a memorial trip.
Linares explained that the film utilizes horror to explore the inadequacy of 'allyship' in a heteronormative and conservative Dominican Republic. She noted that tolerance can sometimes stem from ignorance, inadvertently contributing to oppressive environments. ArtHood Entertainment praised the film for its artistic qualities and commercial potential, highlighting Linares's skillful use of horror for social commentary.
This film draws parallels with Jayro Bustamante's "La Llorona," which also employed horror to address societal issues, specifically the atrocities committed by the Guatemalan military. "No salgas" is produced by Carlos Marranzini, José Jiménez, and Linares, with El Perro de Argento holding local sales rights.
