In a dense jungle town on the border of Argentina and Brazil, as more and more witnesses say they have seen a “beast,” a priest and other villagers believe that the spirit of an evil man has taken form. Emilia, who has just arrived in town in search of her older brother Matteo, finds out that he has been missing for a week.
Directed by Agustina San Martin, this debut film opens up an unsettling and sensual world that mesmerizes the audience. In a film that bridges thriller, horror, and fantasy, the foggy jungle town is a huge mystery itself. The three siblings, including Emilia’s older sister, suffer from trauma caused by their mother, but the circumstances are not explained. Even the existence of the pain that Emilia is trying to overcome is ambiguous. Instead of clear answers, images of Emilia’s lesbian impulses, frenzied locals hunting the beast, and a white cow roaming around the jungle all disturb the stillness of the landscape and invite the audience into a dreamlike realm. We can feel the legacy of Pedro Costa, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and David Lynch, all of whom were big influences on the director. [NA Wonjeong]