Read @ Joe’s

Title: The Wait (La Espera) (2023) Director: F. Javier Gutierrez Writer: F. Javier Gutierrez Studio: Unfiled Productions // Nostromo Pictures // Spal Films IMDb Plot: The macabre descent into hell of a man facing the consequences of a regrettable choice. Joe Says: The Wait (La Espera) is a cafe con leche of scalding hot visuals masterfully brewed with a chill ghost story.

Described as a folk horror tragedy, The Wait (La Espera) is a cafe con leche of scalding hot visuals masterfully brewed with a chill ghost story. To be literal with the title, there might be a wait for the payoff, but Spanish filmmaker F. Javier Gutierrez’s rural thriller finishes with a haunting aftertaste.

Set in the remote Andalusian countryside during the early 70s, Eladio (Víctor Clavijo) has been hired to watch over the hunting grounds of Don Francisco’s estate. Needing money for his family, Eladio accepts a bribe from the corrupt Don Carlos to expand hunting on the estate against Don Francisco’s wishes. Perhaps. Eladio yields, which soon results in deadly tragedy for his family. Immobilized from grief and guilt, Eladio surrenders to his hatred and sets out for revenge on Don Carlos. But first, he must reconcile with the ghosts he begins to see.

Directed by Gutierrez with photography by Miguel Ángel Mora, The Wait has a brilliant, desperate look. The estate is dusty and thirsty; Eladio is constantly sweaty with a dead stare. The countryside is open and vast, yet the story and tragedy within are all-too claustrophobic. Mora’s tight focus beautifully blurs out what is happening both on the horizon and in Eladio’s peripherals. 

Eladio seeks answers and stumbles upon bones, artifacts, and other strange totems to help him with his vengeful quest. Gutierrez offers no deep explanation or backstory on these items. Nor do they glow with eldridge energy or possess other horror-lite cliches. Eladio is on a psychologically intense voyage and simply wants to make use of the tools on hand. The Wait is a meticulous journey for understanding. And eventually Eladio gets there.

Once missing articles of clothing are found, in the most inconvenient of places, Gutierrez then amps up the mystery and the horror. Mixing in folk rituals with voodoo-like incantations, Gutierrez keeps the conjuring entirely grounded; presenting more Shyamalan than Wan. The Wait is gloriously lo-fi and practical.

Gutierrez has the audience play catch up along with Eladio. As one answer is found, a new question arises. Could the events on the ranch be the result of something sinister? Gutierrez’s story is interesting, and creepy, and well worth the wait.