A Spanish thriller turns the COVID-19 lockdown into a backdrop for ritualistic cult horror.
In short: In the remote village of Infiesto, two detectives struggle to investigate a kidnapping during the onset of Spain's 2020 State of Alarm. As the pandemic isolates the country, they uncover a sinister pattern of human sacrifices linked to an ancient Celtic deity, suggesting a darkness far worse than the virus.
Released on Netflix in February 2023, the film Infiesto follows Inspector Samuel Garcia and Deputy Inspector Marta Castro as they navigate the logistical constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. Set in March 2020, the narrative begins when a young woman named Saioa reappears three months after her disappearance, sparking an investigation that forces the detectives to operate with minimal support while the nation enters a strict lockdown.
The investigation shifts from a routine missing persons case to a hunt for a ritualistic cult. After initial leads involving local figures like the Dog Killer and his associate, the Demon, the detectives discover evidence of a recurring cycle of abductions. The perpetrators, followers of a cult worshipping the Celtic god Taranis, believe they must perform human sacrifices every three months. The trail eventually leads to the Prophet, a figure whose identity is hidden in plain sight among local authorities.
The film, directed by Patxi Amezcua and produced by Vaca Films, utilizes the eerie atmosphere of the pandemic to heighten the tension of the hunt. Filming occurred over seven weeks across Asturias and Galicia, capturing the isolation of the rural setting. The climax, which takes place in an abandoned mine, pits the detectives against the Prophet, whose final words echo the apocalyptic fears of his followers. The film concludes by juxtaposing the cult's dark prophecies with the real-world surge of COVID-19 cases, leaving the audience to contemplate the intersection of human evil and global crisis.
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