Running Time: 57 Minutes
Starring: Leticia Dolera, Ana Polvorosa, Omar Ayuso, María León, Lucía Díez, Mariola Fuentes, Carolina Rubio
After winning the Main Competition at Fantastic Fest 2022 with La Pietà, writer/director Eduardo Casanova returns with another genre tale that is rooted in human frailty. Silencio follows three stories set across separate periods in time, linked by generations of the same vampiric family. In the 1300s, four vampire sisters discuss how to make up for their dwindling food supply as Europe is affected by the Black Plague. In 1989, a vampire falls in love with a human drug addict who tests positive for HIV. Finally, 2030 follows a vampire/human couple who reflect upon the state of their world.
What is brought alive is stylishly crafted, with the colourful production design and terrific practical effects wonderfully realising the confined lives of these bloodsuckers. There is also a memorable music sequence ironically bursting forth with such life, fitting well amidst a story where vampires can drink blood from delicate teacups with regal elegance, or feast upon blood courtesy of a girlfriend's pussy on her period.
At its centre are vampiric musings during troubling times, struggling to find uncontaminated blood during dire events of humanity. Between the Black Plague, AIDS, and a slyly implied COVID-19, the story confronts viewers with the cycles of nature and disease, and how the most vulnerable victims are made as scapegoats for such pandemics. If anything, one wishes that there was more time to delve into these musings.
In the 1300s, a group of vampire sisters discuss their best course of action. With dwindling opportunities for them to feast on blood, the question is raised whether they should let themselves die while so many innocent humans suffer. Do the needs of the many outweigh the needs of a single family? It soon becomes clear that the sister named Veronica is driven by love, as she wishes to spare the life of a human named Felipe whose fate looks bleak. Such ideas collide with the intentions of Lilith, the eldest sister who wishes to keep her remaining family alive in such bleak times.
A very different world awaits in 1989, as an elderly Veronica lives alone with her daughter, Malva. Synthetic blood is available, offering something clean to feast upon despite having a less desirable taste. The passage of time has hardened Veronica, now resembling Lilith following difficult times, while Malva carries idealistic ideas. The daughter has fallen for Triana, a heroin using woman who is at risk during these turbulent times.
At its heart, this is a story driven by queer anger which asks if it is better to live a longer life in hiding, or to be at risk of a sooner death whilst being free. That is a question that many on-screen contend with, especially with vampiric musings regarding if sunlight is actually as deadly as the lore states. At its core, Casanova tells a story about how holding stuff inside will just destroy you from the inside out, particularly as we only have one life to live. Change must happen today, because tomorrow might never arrive, so why not spend that time openly loving who you love? Blending human aching within an inhuman genre skin, Silencio delivers this in eye-catching style.
Silencio premiered at Fantastic Fest 2025
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