Rosario’s Haunted Legacy: When Wall Street Meets The Evil Dead!

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When faced with the prospect of professional advancement, one might need to confront several challenging choices, seeking to leave behind past mistakes that could hinder progress in life. Why let certain recollections, particularly those troubling ones, impede your journey towards achieving the American dream? Ideally, these memories won’t resurface to complicate matters, as they do for the main character in Rosario, set to release this week. The story unfolds in contemporary New York City, where a determined Latina striving to become a stockbroker gradually finds herself ensnared in a chilling supernatural predicament after being drawn back into her family affairs due to an unexpected crisis.

Under the guidance of director Felipe Vargas (Milk Teeth), the film Rosario continues to demonstrate potential in the horror genre. It delves into themes such as family sacrifice, the impact of religion on our ancestry, and more. However, the third act, which intensifies by transforming into a classic haunted house movie, seems to get a bit muddled amidst the physical destruction caused by demonic forces that had previously been contained. Despite this somewhat chaotic finale, Rosario has the power to induce nightmares and is skillfully executed.

Grandma Has Secrets?

The title pertains to the main character, a thriving Wall Street stockbroker, whose usual hectic routine is abruptly disrupted by an alarming phone call. Rosario, played by Emeraude Toubia from Shadowhunters, learns of her grandmother’s unexpected demise. Consequently, she must put aside her bustling city life to visit her grandmother’s apartment and sort through her possessions, as her mother is absent and her father, Oscar (José Zúñiga), needs to travel.

Absolutely, we intentionally schedule flight delays so that our movie’s main character, or “final girl,” is the only one in the primary location for most of the story. It wouldn’t make sense to have anyone else with her when she starts exploring the belongings of the enigmatic elder, hidden within a dilapidated facility on a frosty winter evening. This setup certainly has that classic horror feel, doesn’t it?

Late Night with the Neighbor, David Dastmalchian

In the chilling novel “We Summon the Darkness” by Alan Trezza, not only does he skillfully introduce ominous characters besides the impending evil that will later invade Grandma’s modest dwelling; this adds an element of suspense, keeping readers guessing as to who the potential antagonist(s) could be upon Rosario’s arrival at her destination. To begin with, we meet Marty (played by Paul Ben Victor), a smooth-talking landlord who displays unwanted affection towards Rosario, initially over the phone to invite her to Grandma’s apartment and subsequently in person once she arrives.

Later, there’s Joe (David Dastmalchian, recently impressive in Late Night the Devil), the neighbor of Rosario’s grandmother who seems rather unwell and mysterious. During a tense moment in the movie’s second act, he unexpectedly knocks on the apartment door. He suggests a close relationship with Rosario’s grandma that feels questionable to her, and his demand to retrieve an air-fryer that the grandma had borrowed doesn’t sit well with her, given she’s already found a secret room in the apartment containing items suggestive of occult practices.

Monster(s) in the House?

In Rosario, the protagonist begins unraveling her grandmother’s enigmatic past, including the chilling bargains made to preserve their ancestry. Strangely enough, it’s the ordinary home that starts exhibiting unusual behavior – seemingly on its own. Director Vargas has revealed to MovieWeb that Sam Raimi, famed for his work in The Evil Dead, served as a significant inspiration in creating Rosario. While there’s an evident echo of Evil Dead II‘s style, the film lacks its comedic elements. Without aiming for humor, the story becomes overwhelmingly chaotic when the madness intertwines and the malevolent spirits awaken and wreak havoc around the resilient yet courageous protagonist, portrayed convincingly by Toubia.

Why not explore more mysterious tales after the thrilling finish of Rosario? This horror production is certain to capture a specific audience, potentially evolving into a cult favorite and generating enough interest for a sequel. Fans of unconventional horror films such as Basket Case and Braindead will find it appealing, although the absence of comedy in Rosario differentiates it, whether positively or negatively. The tension leading up to the bizarre third act is effectively suspenseful, and a few largely unexpected plot twists amidst the chaos keep the narrative intriguing, leaving you questioning, “Just what on earth is going on here?” with your movie companion.

Starting May 2, 2025, the film titled “Rosario” from Mucho Mas Media is set to hit cinemas across the country. For additional details, click here.

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2025-04-28 10:02