- Spain, 19th Century. Successive Wars left the country wounded. Some people decided to isolate themselves to escape the violence and madness.Isolate.
The Wasteland (original title: El páramo) is a Spanish Horror Movie by David Casademunt.
Out in the countryside lives a small family made up of Salvador the father (Roberto Álamo), Lucia the mother (Inma Cuesta), and Diego the son (Asier Flores), who are just trying to get by in the wake of the war going on. Salvador wants his son to toughen up, while Lucia is okay with waiting a little longer for that. One day, a wounded man drifts into their lives on a boat, and Lucia and Diego take him into their home to heal him. Instead, he kills himself. Salvador decides to take the man's body back to his own family so they don't worry about him. While he's gone, a mysterious beast starts being spotted by Lucia. Salvador told them a story about a creature who feeds off of peoples' fear, and how it's there even when you can't see it.
The presence of the beast soon begins to tear Diego and Lucia apart.
The movie was released on October the 12th, 2021.
The Wasteland contains examples of:
- Bait-and-Switch: After the soldier is brought into their home, he takes Diego's rifle and points it at Diego and Lucia... then he turns it on himself and fires.
- Boom, Headshot!: How the soldier kills himself, as evident by the massive hole in his head.
- Chained to a Bed: Well, tied to a bed in Lucia's case late in the movie.
- Deathbringer the Adorable: One of the bunnies Diego's family owns is named Lion.
- Ghost Story: Lucia is telling Diego one after his birthday. Then Salvador tells him one about the beast.
- Good-Times Montage: Near the start of the movie, we see the family enjoying quality time together in one of these.
- Go to Your Room!: Lucia orders this of Diego when they catch him spying on them while they discuss what to do with the soldier's body.
- Heartbeat Soundtrack: Starts playing when Diego sees the beast in his house.
- Humanoid Abomination: The beast looks like a tall, really thin mummified grey.
- Kill It with Fire: Diego decides to burn the house down in a bid to kill the beast.
- Momma's Boy: Diego is much closer to his mother than his father. Though the events of the movie quickly strain their relationship.
- Off-into-the-Distance Ending: At the end, Diego walks off into the distance.
- P.O.V. Cam: The first shot in the movie is through Diego's eyes as he's hiding under the covers of his bed.
- Real After All: Yeah, the beast really does exist.
- A Real Man Is a Killer: Salvador tries to encourage Diego to kill the rabbit they were going to eat for dinner, but Salvador just can't bring himself to do it. Julia insists that they wait for Diego to kill something, to which Salvadore asks her "How will he learn to be a man?".
- Safe Under Blankets: At the start of the movie, Diego is hiding under his blankets.
- Tin-Can Telephone: Lucia gives Diego one for his birthday.
