To Kill the Beast (2021)

To Kill the Beast is a debut feature that excels in crafting a suffocating, sensuous atmosphere within the humid confines of the Misiones jungle. Director San Martín masterfully utilizes lush, low-light cinematography and evocative sound design to envelop the viewer in Emilia’s search for her brother, simultaneously exploring a nuanced journey of queer sexual awakening against a backdrop of potent local folklore. The film successfully merges coming-of-age drama with elements of slow-burn folk horror, creating a distinctive and unsettling mood. However, the deliberate, almost glacial pacing, coupled with a highly elliptical narrative structure, frequently obscures thematic intent, often prioritizing abstract mood over necessary dramatic clarity. While stylistically confident and visually rich, the film ultimately feels more like a compelling sensory experience than a fully realized, dramatically satisfying narrative.