The Wait: Spanish Horror Western Premieres at Fantastic Fest

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The Wait: Spanish Horror Western Premieres at Fantastic Fest

Following a world premiere at Germany’s Oldenburg Film Festival, Fantastic Fest has the North American premiere of F. Javier Gutierrez’s third feature film The Wait (La Espera). The rural thriller from the director of Before the Fall and Rings will bow in Austin at the largest genre film festival in the US, specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and action movies.

The Wait, set in the remote, magical, and forgotten Andalusian countryside has been described as a “love letter to the horror/fantasy genre,” as well as Gutiérrez’s “most intimate and brutal film” to date.

The Wait North American Premiere Date

The Wait will premiere on September 23, 2023, at Fantastic Fest, with an additional screening on September 26. You can see the poster for the film below.

In the story of The Wait, Eladio has been hired to watch over the hunting grounds of Don Francisco’s estate, somewhere in rural Spain. The estate is divided into ten hunting stands, spaced far enough apart to avoid incidents. After three years of service, Don Carlos — Don Francisco’s second in command — offers him a bribe to add an additional three stands to the property. Eladio initially hesitates, but his wife eventually convinces him to take the money. Eladio’s greed has unfortunate consequences that drag his entire family to perdition.

The movie is produced by Gutierrez’s Unfiled Productions, Nostromo Pictures (Buried, Penny Dreadful), and Spal Films (Before the Fall). The folk horror tragedy stars Victor Clavijo (Before the Fall), Ruth Diaz, Manuel Moron, and Luis Callejo (Below Zero). Film Factory is handling international sales.