Anathema (film)

2024 Spanish film

Anathema

Theatrical release poster

Spanish| Anatema
Directed by| Jimina Sabadú
Screenplay by|

* Jimina Sabadú
* Elio Quiroga

Produced by|

* Álex de la Iglesia
* Carolina Bang

Starring|

* Leonor Watling
* Pablo Derqui
* Jaime Ordóñez
* Keren Hapuc
* Juan Codina
* Margarita Lascoiti
* Juan Manuel Montilla 'El Langui'

Cinematography| Luis Ángel Pérez
Music by| Vanessa Garde

Production
companies

* Pokeepsie Films
* The Fear Collection IV AIE

Distributed by| Sony Pictures International Productions

Release dates

* 2 November 2024 (2024-11-02) (LBFF)
* 8 November 2024 (2024-11-08) (Spain)

Country| Spain
Language| Spanish

Anathema[1] (Spanish: Anatema) is a 2024 Spanish Gothic horror film directed by Jimina Sabadú [es] (in her directorial debut feature) and written by Sabadú and Elio Quiroga. It stars Leonor Watling alongside Pablo Derqui, Keren Hapuc, and Jaime Ordóñez.

## Plot

[edit]

Acting on behalf of the Archdiocese, hard-boiled nun sor Juana gets into a church in Old Madrid built over a maze of underground passages, finding that Evil has taken root.[2]

## Cast

[edit]

* Leonor Watling as Juana Rabadán[3]
* Pablo Derqui as padre Ángel[4] ('father Ángel')
* Keren Hapuc[5]
* Jaime Ordóñez[5]
* Mauro Brussolo[5]
* Mariano Llorente [es][5]
* Manuel de Blas[5]
* Xoán Fórneas [es][5]
* Juan Codina[6]
* Margarita Lascoiti [es][6]
* Juan Manuel Montilla 'El Langui'[6]

## Production

[edit]

The screenplay was written by Jimina Sabadú [es] and Elio Quiroga. Sabadú stated that the film "is a story of Gothic horror with roots rooted in the most ancestral Madrid, that of passages and lost architectures".[2] The film is a Pokeepsie Films production, and it had the association of Sony Pictures International Productions and the participation of Prime Video.[5] It was lensed by Luis Ángel Pérez.[7] Shooting locations in Madrid and Bizkaia included Bilbao and the Pozalagua Cave [es] in Karrantza.[4]

## Release

[edit]

The film was selected for a special screening at Tokyo's Latin Beat Film Festival (LBFF) on 2 November 2024.[8] It is scheduled to be released theatrically in Spain on 8 November 2024.[5][9][10]

## Reception

[edit]

Carmen L. Lobo of La Razón rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, positively highlighting Watling's dedicated performance and the supernatural entities' looks, while negatively mentioning some somewhat jarring lines and mawkish ending.[11]

Philipp Engel of Cinemanía rated the film 3½ out of 5 stars, writing that "all is well on its costumbrista side", which can be encapsulated in the phrase "blacker than Pantoja's hair", pronounced by one of the characters.[12]

## See also

[edit]

* List of Spanish films of 2024

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The City of Madrid was the setting for 41 films, 55 series and more than 410 commercials in 2023". Madrid Film Office. Madrid Destino Cultura Turismo y Negocio S.A. 9 February 2024.
2. ^ a b Rivera, Alfonso (29 March 2023). "Álex de la Iglesia produce Anatema, la ópera prima de Jimina Sabadú". Cineuropa.
3. ^ Marrero, Daniela (16 October 2024). "Leonor Watling encarna a una monja en la terrorífica 'Anatema'". Faro de Vigo. Prensa Ibérica.
4. ^ a b Cabrera, Sara (20 July 2023). "'Anatema', una peli de terror gótico con Bizkaia como uno de sus enclaves". Deia.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h "El rodaje de 'Anatema', dirigida por Jimina Sabadú, llega a Bilbao". Europa Press. 12 April 2023.
6. ^ a b c "ANATEMA se estrena el 8 de noviembre en cines". 3 October 2024.
7. ^ "Se está rodando 'Anatema', el tercer título de The Fear Collection". Camera and Light Mag.
8. ^ "特別企画上映. 11/2（土）、11/3（日）". Latin Beat Film Festival. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
9. ^ "Las 20 películas españolas que más nos apetece ver en 2024". Cinemanía. 29 December 2023 – via 20minutos.es.
10. ^ "Calendario de estrenos Sony" (PDF). Sony Pictures España. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
11. ^ Lobo, Carmen L. (8 November 2024). "Crítica de "Anatema": de Madrid al infierno ★★★". La Razón.
12. ^ Engel, Philipp (7 November 2024). "Crítica de 'Anatema': una de criaturas infernales tan negra como el pelo de la Pantoja". Cinemanía.