Italian
A new horror spectacle: ‘El Show del Gran Luciferio’ in development
A fresh take on horror
The latest project from horror maestro Caye Casas, El Show del Gran Luciferio, is currently in development and has been selected for the prestigious Sanfic International Film Festival. This dark and acerbic horror concept promises to deliver a titillating narrative steeped in nostalgia. Produced by industry veterans Norbert Llaràs of Barcelona-based Alhena Production and Albert Pons, co-founder of Mexico’s Pulsar Films, the film is set to be a standout in the genre.
A script that haunts
Norbert Llaràs, a longtime collaborator with Casas, shared his initial reaction to the script: “The script for this project was the first thing I read by Caye, long before his shorts and feature films. It’s a script that’s always haunted me. When I read it, I was completely overcome by the brutality and strength of the proposal. It’s written in a totally unorthodox but one hundred percent genuine way.”
Albert Pons echoed this sentiment, adding, “For Pulsar Films, producing the film is incredible since after almost fifteen years reading the script, we’ll be able to materialize this shocking and crazy story.”
The plot thickens
The story centers on the eccentric Luciferio, a game show host who pits contestants against each other in increasingly barbaric trials to appease a rapt audience. As the show progresses, the games grow more savage, driven by the audience’s adulation for the host.
Casas explained the concept’s origin: “The idea was born from a question. What are we capable of doing for money? We all have a price according to our personality, our circumstances, and our ambitions. We wanted to create a fun, cruel, macabre, and spectacular story that played with this concept, with the idea of what our price truly is.”
A unique cinematic experience
Casas has a reputation for stirring strong emotions in his audience, and El Show del Gran Luciferio is no exception. “This story is different, but it also incorporates my style of making the viewer experience very strong emotions. It’s a very acidic criticism of human misery. The viewer will have fun, laugh with my particular sense of black humor, and be disturbed; they’ll view sequences they’ll never forget,” Casas said.
Having garnered multiple festival accolades and a nod from Stephen King for his last film, The Coffee Table, Casas has built a loyal fan base. His ability to turn classic horror tropes on their head ensures that his latest project will linger with viewers long after the credits roll.
A retro game show with a dark twist
With a decidedly retro game show flair, the aesthetics and plotline present “the most macabre and successful television show in history,” according to Casas. The early key art features go-go dancers clad in vivid yellow hot suits and bright lights surrounding the stage, setting the scene for a shot at riches and infamy for the contestants.
Casas described the project as a “camp-addled, televised delirium that presents Luciferio, an unscrupulous showman capable of anything, for an audience.” The film aims to deliver a sordid and eye-opening critique, with viewers witnessing the humiliation and depravity from the comfort of their homes.
Social criticism through horror
“Without a doubt, it’s social criticism, not only of television programs but of ourselves. We live in a crazy society, and that’s why we’ve created this circus, a film that allows us to laugh at ourselves but also generates a cruel reflection,” Casas stated. He believes the budding concept will “be the surprise of the year when we can film it.”
Albert Pons added, “It’s a film with music, colors, rhythm, and a large dose of irony, as characterized by all of Caye’s previous projects, such as Killing God or The Coffee Table.”
A step towards internationalization
The project is eyeing a Mexico shoot with Spanish co-production, marking Casas’s first feature film shot outside of Spain. Pons admits this is “a step towards its internationalization.”
Pons concluded, “El Show del Gran Luciferio is a different project, designed for the public to have fun and reflect through cruelty. We’re going to produce an entertaining, intense film that has a strong impact on the genre niche with a radically different alternative to the codes of genre cinema.”
For more information and to watch the trailer, visit El Show del Gran Luciferio.
This article aims to provide an in-depth look at the upcoming horror film El Show del Gran Luciferio, offering personal reflections and analysis for cinema enthusiasts. The unique narrative style and structure are designed to engage readers and provide a comprehensive understanding of the film’s development and thematic elements.
