Shot last August (once the state of emergency had been lifted in Spain), The House of Snails, the feature debut by Andalusian director Macarena Astorga, is a psychological thriller starring Javier Rey (seen recently in Secret Origins [+leggi anche:
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The film, based on the novel of the same name, boasts a screenplay by the book’s author, Sandra García Nieto, and tells a rites-of-passage story about its protagonist, during which it delves into a family drama, the secret of a town that conceals some terrible crimes, and an encounter with ghosts from the past and the present. It is set in a fictitious location in Andalusia, with a stifling atmosphere and filled with an array of disturbing characters, where nothing is as it seems.

According to the synopsis provided by the distributor, the feature recounts how author Antonio Prieto decides to spend the summer in a town in the mountains near Málaga, in search of tranquillity and inspiration for his next novel. There, he meets Berta, whom he falls for instantly, as well as several characters that he begins to write about and investigate. Thus, he finds out that the locals harbour secrets and a perturbing hidden legend. The things he will experience over that period will show him that, sometimes, reality can easily outdo myths...

“The film is not only a tale for grown-ups; it’s also a reflection on the traumas that guide our destiny and the ability of human beings to find an answer to incidents that are difficult to get our heads around,” stated Paz Vega. For his part, Javier Rey remarked: “All of the characters have a past and have something to hide. They are rich and complex personalities who make this story a real delight.”

Director Macarena Astorga has previously helmed the documentaries Mujeres que dicen acción, about female directors of Spanish films in the 1990s; La memoria dormida; Voces contra el silencio; and Los ojos de Brahim. In 2012, she shot the fictional short Tránsito, which was followed five years later by Marta no viene a cenar.

The House of Snails is a production by Esto también pasará, in conjunction with Bowfinger International Pictures, Basque Films, Tondero (Peru) and Hippo Entertainment Group (Mexico/USA). The movie has received backing from the ICAA and the Andalusian regional government’s Cultural Institution Agency, and it boasts the involvement of RTVE, Canal Sur, CREA SGR and Amazon Prime Video. The national distribution and its international sales are being handled by Filmax, and it will be available on Amazon Prime Video in Spain after a release in theatres, slated for 11 June.