Currently showing in Brazilian cinemas, the national horror film “The Inheritance ” puts a gay couple at the center of a plot that explores family traditions and spooky summer homes. Directed by João Cândido Zacharias the film has been shown in genre film festivals around the world.
The film tells the story of Thomaz, played by Diego Montez (“The Hijacking of Flight 375″), who returns to Brazil after the death of his mother. After the episode, he discovers that he is the only heir to a house that belonged to a grandmother he never met.
But upon arriving at the property, her boyfriend, played by Frenchman Yohan Levy (“The Grand Tour”), begins to realize that something dark may be hidden behind the apparent tranquility of country life.
In an interview with CNN the director explained that, although the production was designed to entertain the public, placing a gay couple at the center of the narrative was essential to subverting the traditions of society . “The idea of the traditional family, with the man of the house sitting at the head of the table, or traditions that reinforce roles, have always been present in our society. The difference now is that these issues are more open,” he said.
“The great conflict of the story is, in fact, Thomas’ internal conflict: the life he chose for himself against the tradition that calls him back “, explained the director. “This is a dilemma that, on some level, everyone faces — what family gives you versus what you seek in the world. The film reflects this symbolically, exploring the idea that, in many cases, a part of society believes that tradition and family values represent ‘right’, while anything that is different is seen as ‘wrong’.”
To better illustrate this reasoning, the film places traditional figures as witches and evil creatures that terrorize an unconventional couple . “This helps to create an interesting and reflective clash in the plot”, adds the director.
Haunted house?
Another essential element for the success of “The Inheritance” as a horror production is its setting. The house where the film was recorded has a gothic atmosphere that fits perfectly with the atmosphere of the story. However, This combination ends up being so perfect that it seems almost excessive .
Tatiana Leite producer of “A Herança”, recalls that Even the film crew began to feel strange things in the house . “We had several curious and frightening experiences there. One day, someone said they heard a person playing the piano during the night. The next day, everyone was scared and didn’t want to go into the house. Furthermore, several stories of hauntings emerged as we began to occupy the space”, he reports.
For this, as in any good horror film, the cast and the producers decided to subject the house to a purification ritual . “The team was in a panic, and it was necessary for someone to go there to bless the house and ask permission so we could go in and start work,” she adds.
The cast of “The Inheritance” also includes Ana Carbatti (“The Last Days of Gilda”), Luiza Kosovski (“I’m Still Here”), Jimmy London (“Invisible City”), Analu Prestes (“Daughters of Eve”), Cristina Pereira (“The Business Women’s Club”) and Gilda Nomacce (“Naked Inside the Leather”).
“A Herança” was highlighted at the Rio 2024 Festival, at the 48th São Paulo International Film Festival and at the 32nd MixBrasil Festival. Internationally, the production won the award for best Ibero-American feature film at the 9th edition of the International Horror and Fantastic Film Festival from Cordoba.
Watch the trailer for “The Inheritance”:
This content was originally published in “A Inheritance”: gay horror that subverts traditions had a haunted set; understand on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
