SHOCK’s Heidi Honeycutt talks to cutting-edge Mexican director Gigi Guerrero about her part in the anthology film MEXICO BARBARO.
Of course when you think of Mexican Horror films, Guillermo del Toro comes to mind. His films THE DEVILS BACKBONE and CRONOS are probably the most well-known horror movies to come out of that nation. But a visit to any of Mexicos fantastic film festivals Morbido, Feratum, and Macabro will turn up a steady supply of new Mexican horror filmmaking talent.
In 2015, theres a burgeoning movement of contemporary horror pictures coming out of Mexico, with director Gigi Saul Guerrero at the forefront. Her short DEAD CROSSING combines zombies and border crossing immigrants; her gruesome EL MATADOR is about a demented killer playing out a perverted fantasy of bullfighting with his victims; 2015s EL GIGANTE was so successfully screened at major genre film festivals like Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, that a feature version is in development; her very latest, MADRE DE DIOS, is a delightfully obscene depiction of Latin Americas cult of the Virgin Mary. It is Guerreros zombie stripper extravaganza DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, however, that is a part of the new horror anthology MEXICO BARBARO, out on DVD/Digital Download on November 3, 2015 from Dark Sky Films.
MEXICO BARBARO features seven other Mexican horror filmmakers: Jorge Michel Grau, Isaac Ezban, Laurette Flores, Ulises Guzmán, Edgar Nito, Lex Ortega, and Aaron Soto. Each segment is specifically Mexican in its own way – the stories are all terrifying takes on Mexican traditions and legends like Aztec sacrifices, ghosts, and in Guerreros case, Day of the Dead. DIA DE LOS MUERTOS is a gorgeous, colorful film with all the amazing imagery of Mexican sugar skulls. It takes place in a strip club called La Candelaria where the dancers are far more deadly than they initially appear.
We spoke to Guerrero about the importance of this new horror anthology, the state of horror films in Mexico, and her segment DIA DE LOS MUERTOS.
SHOCK: Aside from Guillermo del Toro, who are some other pioneers of Mexican horror films that inspire you?
GIGI GUERRERO: Guillermo del Toro is one of my most favorite film directors from Mexico! However, Mexico has had many incredible filmmakers from other parts of the world who kicked off their careers there such as Luis Buñuel. Today there are so many fantastic new genre directors in Mexico such an Edgar Nito, and of course Jorge Michel Grau who made WE ARE WHAT WE ARE. But taking horror aside, Mexico has been blessed with the incredible talent of Alejandro Gonzales Iñarritu and my most favorite Alfonso Cuaron who made the masterpiece CHILDREN OF MEN.
SHOCK: Mexico has a thriving horror and fantastic film festival industry with Morbido, Feratum, and Macabro festivals. What are Mexican genre fans like? What kinds of films do they want to see?
GG: I have been lucky enough to go to most of these festivals and they are absolutely stunning! Not only are the fans so passionate, but they are committed. I have never been at a festival where I saw sold out screenings all the time and felt so close to the fans. These are the kinds of fans that filmmakers appreciate because they ask many question and will continue to follow your work. They are there for the love of filmmaking. But in all honestly Horror fans in general from around the world are THE BEST fans and the most passionate.
SHOCK: How were you approached to join MEXICO BARBARO? What was the pitch, and why did you want to be a part of it?
GG: The creator of MEXICO BARBARO who is incredibly talented and a twisted filmmaker, Lex Ortega, approached me. We were both competing on ABCs OF DEATH 2 at the time. I didn’t know who he was. But then he started telling me about his new project MEXICO BARBARO and who the other directors involved and I immediately saw the opportunity. I was so honored to take part in a Mexican anthology especially because I moved away from Mexico when I was young. My dream has always been to be able to represent where I am from and this project was exactly what I wanted to take part in. Not only that, but the idea was so different and unique I loved how it was all about the memorable traditions and legends of Mexico.
SHOCK: How does DIA DE LOS MUERTOS fit in the anthology?
GG: MEXICO BARBARO is about legends and traditions of Mexico with an original horror twist to them. For me doing my segment DIA DAY LOS MUERTOS (Day of the Dead) was perfect for me! I have always had an obsession with that specific Mexican holiday due to its richness and beauty. What stands out in general about MEXICO BARBARO is that all the segments are completely unique and different from each other. They let viewers experience each legend or tradition differently; some will make you squirm, laugh, or even scream.
SHOCK: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS is a showcase of your talent as a director of violent and colorfully art-directed pieces. Can you talk a bit about how this film was made, and why? What do you say to people who call it homage to Robert Rodriguez’s horror films?
GG: Well I remember seeing FROM DUSK TIL DAWN when I was younger and I was immediately drawn by it. I have been compared to Robert Rodriguezs style a handful of times (which is not a bad thing at all) because I use Tex-Mex style into my filmmaking. I clearly remember while writing the DIA DE LOS MUERTOS segment that I wanted to have a strip club with beautiful girls who end up kicking so much ass at one point of film. Also another thought I had in mind was all the issues happening in border town Mexico where many women are going missing, are being abused, raped, killed, you name it. I was in general getting sick of seeing so many films about this topic where the women that are victimized in the film werent even considered as a secondary character. It was always about an agent trying to find them or about a family member coping with the situation for example. I wanted to take the Tex-Mex humor I always love bringing on screen and changing the stereotype of victimized women in border towns in my segment.
So I figured hell! On the night of Day of the Dead these women come together to take revenge on those who have abused them. At the same time for those who watch my segment will notice all the details within the colors, the tradition and the story is just a great blend of many things I wanted to execute. And its a fun little segment, I can promise you that!
SHOCK: What do you hope MEXICO BARBARO will add to the international horror film culture? Will it help introduce Mexico as a major player in horror?
GG: Definitely Mexico will be noticed for its raw creativity in the horror world. Theres a wave of new filmmakers coming out of Mexico that more and more are becoming interested in the genre. MEXICO BARBARO not only introduces new filmmakers from Mexico and iconic traditions and legends for people to remember, but it also showcases true indie filmmaking. These types of anthologies help push new filmmakers to be recognized worldwide. Also it inspires up-and-coming directors to create with low budget content. MEXICO BARBARO for me means a lot because all eight of us directors believed in the project from the beginning and where committed to do our part.
Find out more about Guerreros work, including the upcoming feature-length horror film version of EL GIGANTE, at her company website.
