The search for paradise can lead you straight to Hell, and the first teaser for Pacific suggests we are about to find out exactly how that trip feels. Directed by Gonzalo Gutiérrez, this Spanish-language sci-fi horror adventure strands a group of young travelers on a remote island in the Pacific, forcing them to contend with an evil presence that has been hidden from mankind for centuries. The tagline says it all: "La búsqueda del paraíso puede llevarte al infierno." This isn't just a survival story; it is a nasty collision between the vacation from hell and cosmic dread.
Gutiérrez is stepping behind the camera after helming Storm Crashers in 2024, and he is assembling a crew that knows how to handle tension. The script comes from a quartet of writers — Natacha Caravia, Luis E. Langlemey, Constanza Cabrera, and Lucila Podestá — who have crafted a narrative that leans heavily into the idea that humans might be the real aliens here. It is a provocative hook that immediately evokes the subversive paranoia of They Live, asking what happens when the intruders aren't the ones hiding in the shadows, but the ones standing on the beach.
The cast is packed with recognizable faces ready to be put through the wringer. María Gabriela de Faría takes on the role of Erika, bringing experience from The Exorcism of God and the recent Superman. She is joined by Manolo Cardona as Éber, whose credits span from My Brother's Wife to Dime lo que quieres. Ricardo Abarca, known for Don't Blame the Kid and Miss Bala, plays Mateo, rounding out a group of travelers that includes Claudio Cataño as Azul, Diana Neira as Anita, Patricia Castañeda as Julia, Christopher Von Uckermann as Tiago, and María Nela Sinisterra as Nazira.
The production is a significant undertaking, backed by FilmSharks International, Patagonia Films, and the Gobierno de Colombia. With Matías Nicolás handling cinematography, the film promises to make the most of its setting, using the isolation of the island and the implied ancient ruins to amplify the terror. The runtime is a tight 90 minutes, suggesting a film that intends to sprint rather than crawl.
There is a fascinating risk in framing this story as science fiction rather than pure folk horror. By leaning into the "we are the aliens" angle, the filmmakers are attempting to bridge the gap between ancient, localized terrors and broader sci-fi concepts. It is a high-wire act that could either pay off as a smart subversion of the "doomed tourist" trope or stumble into confusion. The teaser needs to prove that this genre mashup has teeth, but the premise alone is enough to make you look twice at your next travel itinerary.
