Set against the haunting backdrop of the Andalusian countryside, The Wait (La Espera) tells a chilling tale of greed, guilt, and the unrelenting grip of revenge. Directed by F. Javier Gutiérrez, this folk horror thriller plunges audiences into a macabre descent into the darkest corners of the human soul.
The story follows Eladio, portrayed by Victor Clavijo, a man hired to oversee the hunting grounds of Don Francisco’s sprawling estate in rural Spain. The estate is meticulously divided into ten hunting stands, carefully spaced to avoid accidents. But after three years of loyal service, Eladio is faced with a tempting offer from Don Carlos, Don Francisco’s second in command. For a hefty bribe, Eladio is asked to add three more stands, breaking the delicate balance of the land. Initially hesitant, Eladio succumbs to the lure of easy money, urged on by his wife.
However, this fateful decision sets off a chain of disastrous events that drag Eladio and his family into a vortex of suffering. As his greed turns to guilt, hatred, and an unquenchable thirst for revenge, Eladio finds himself on a terrifying journey into the depths of despair.
Described by Screen Zealots as a “love letter to the horror/fantasy genre,” The Wait delivers a nightmarish vision of loss and the consequences of our darkest choices. With “haunting visuals” (AWFJ.org) and a “gripping performance” (Horror Fuel) by Clavijo, the film is a suffocating exploration of human frailty, wrapped in the brutal, uncompromising aesthetic of folk horror.
Gutiérrez, known for his work on Rings and Before the Fall, describes The Wait as a return to his roots—a deeply personal project that delves into the themes of death, grief, and guilt. “This film brings me back to my roots, my land, my memories, my most personal storytelling, along with my childhood nightmares,” he shares. “To see a candle’s light, one must take it into a dark place.”
With The Wait, Gutiérrez crafts a story that is as beautiful as it is brutal, a disturbing exploration of the human condition that leaves no room for mercy—only the harsh truths of our inner fears.