THE WAIT is a Spanish horror-thriller (org. title: La espera) by genre filmmaker F. Javier Gutierrez. The movie has played at film festivals all over the world as shown at the very beginning of its runtime.

Officially, this is a horror, drama, and fantasy hybrid, but more than anything, it shows how cruel life and fate can be. Also, how we as humans decide to act and react when faced with consequences. The runtime is just over 100 minutes.

The Wait is set in rural Spain in the 1970s though it feels like it could be much longer ago. We’re deep in the Andalusian countryside where the environment is barren and cruel.

However, that’s nothing compared to the events our main character, Eladio (Victor Clavijo), will soon be faced with. His job is to watch over the hunting grounds of Don Francisco’s estate, where he also lives with his wife and son.

Originally, the estate was divided into ten hunting stands. The purpose of having these ten stand was to have them spaced far enough apart to avoid incidents.

Then suddenly, three years into the job, an obvious sleazeball named Don Carlos — Don Francisco’s second in command — wants to make it 13 hunting stands to make more money.

Don Carlos offers Eladio a bribe to add the additional three stands to the property. However, Eladio doesn’t want to mess up his situation. After all, he lives and works there with his family, so he is very dependent on this job.

Unfortunately, Don Carlos knows Eladio and his family could use the money. So, he talks to Eladio’s wife instead. She struggles to even put food on the table, so she convinces Eladio to take the bribe.

Needless to say – because this is partly a horror movie – it becomes a decision that will haunt Eladio. Greed is a sin with severe consequences that will drag his entire existence through hell and back.

The casting is spot-on with Victor Clavijo (Before the Fall) in the lead alongside Ruth Diaz (The Occupant), Manuel Morón (Valley of the Dead), and Luis Callejo (Below Zero).

Watch The Wait in theaters or on VOD

F. Javier Gutiérrez is the writer and director of this Spanish genre gem. The Spanish genre filmmaker previously directed the amazing 2008 apocalyptic Before the Fall (org. title: Tres días) and the 2017 horror sequel Rings.

The Wait may not be for everyone as it gets very dark and is quite slow-burn as a character-driven story unfolds.

However, it offers a delicious genre mix of thriller, western, psychological drama, and even body horror. Described by the director himself as a “disturbing folk horror, brutal, uncompromised, with the soul of a western” you’re in for a treat.

Well, if that sounds like your kind of thing, obviously.

This is the kind of movie that I find myself utterly fascinated by. I look at their lives and cannot imagine accepting such a life. At the same time, I recognize that I am lucky that I can choose something else.

All while also being able to experience this on the screen from a safe distance!

The Wait (org. title: La espera) is out on VOD from October 4, 2024. Also, you may be able to find it in a theater near you as it was released in limited theatrical release on September 20, 2024.