Juan Manuel Bernal makes his Mexican horror film debut with “Rabia”, the story of a werewolf

A new challenge presents itself in the career of the renowned Mexican actor Juan Manuel Bernal! About to celebrate three decades since his television debut with the successful telenovela “Más allá del puente” produced by Carla Estrada, Bernal ventures into the horror genre for the first time with the Mexican film “Rabia”.

In an exclusive interview for UnoTv.com, the actor confessed that he had to immerse himself in the world of terror and learn new things, since he admitted to having “absolute ignorance” on the subject. However, this lack of knowledge was what drew Bernal the most to the project, as he is always looking for challenges that take him out of his comfort zone.

“Rabia” premiered at the prestigious Guadalajara International Film Festival. Directed by Jorge Michel Grau, the film explores the relationship between a father and his son, using a subgenre of horror as a backdrop. For Bernal, this project was therapeutic and helped heal personal wounds.

The director explained that what fascinated him about tackling a story about a werewolf was the idea of ​​working with a completely animal being, devoid of awareness of its own monstrosity. This premise proved to be a perfect context to tell the heartbreaking story of a family that finds itself in an extreme situation, where the father struggles to find a way to support his son and the situation gets out of hand.

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What exactly is “Rage” about?

The film revolves around the characters of Juan Manuel Bernal and Max Najar, who respectively play a father, Alberto, and his son, Alan. After suffering a great loss, they both move to a new home in search of a new life. However, they are in a secluded place where the community is hermetic and hostile towards them.

Alan discovers hidden messages left by his uncle, which leads him to believe that his father is a werewolf. In the midst of a violent and oppressive environment, the lives of Alan and his neighbors are in danger, and it is then that the young man decides to take drastic measures to face the beast that threatens his existence.

“Rage” is a psychological film that mixes fantasy and reality, presenting these werewolf characters immersed in a microcosm where passive violence prevails. Francisco Barreiro, another actor in the film, points out that the audience will identify with this situation, as it somehow reflects our world, mired in similar violence.

In addition to the horror genre, also “Rage”. explore the theme of fatherhood and filial love among its protagonists. The 93-minute film shows a whole new side of the director, who dares to combine drama and thriller with fantastical elements. Producers Mayra Espinosa Castro and Mónica Lozano were tasked with making this feature film a reality.