Movies

Wall Street Broker Unearths Dark Family Secrets in ‘Rosario’ Horror Film

BBG News

I had the privilege of conversing with Felipe Vargas, the mastermind behind “Rosario,” and its leading actress, Emeraude Toubia. During our chat, we delved into their efforts to authentically portray Palo Mayombe, the central faith in this horror film.

As a movie critic, I found myself drawn into the chilling world of “Rosario.” The film centers around Toubia’s character, a Wall Street stockbroker, who, after the sudden demise of her grandmother, returns to her apartment in the titular town. Upon arrival, I was immediately struck by an unsettling atmosphere, as it became clear that something sinister was unfolding within these walls. The narrative then leads us on a journey as our protagonist uncovers dark rituals and long-held family secrets that had been hidden from view for far too long.

Bringing Palo Mayombe to the Screen In Rosario

“It Is a Real Religion and a Real Culture.”

  • TopMob: “This film explores Palo Mayombe, can you talk about just exploring that in an authentic fashion in this film and introducing it to audiences? [As] I would assume that a lot of audiences have no idea what this is.”

Felipe Vargas: Palo is central in this movie. It’s not just a religion or culture, it’s authentic and deeply rooted, specifically Afro-Cuban. It has expanded to Mexico, New York, and for me, it felt organic. I wasn’t as knowledgeable about Pablo, but I was raised with two aunts who were mediums. I grew up in an environment influenced by Bujea.

I admire how Paolo’s traditions and rituals create a spiritual link to ancestors, yet it’s a faith rooted in sacrifice. In this religion, giving something is essential for receiving something, and every action comes at a price. This aligns perfectly with our film’s theme and Rosario’s journey in understanding her family ties.

Regarding our research, we delved deeply into the subject matter. We encountered Rio Paleos, visited Ri Botanicas in New York. In Colombia, they provided actual artifacts from around the world to construct a genuine nganga cauldron, but we hesitated when informed it would contain real animal and human remains, so unfortunately, it wasn’t utilized. However, their culture is stunningly beautiful due to its dual nature – it showcases a bright side as well as an intriguing bond with ancestors and roots.

  • TopMob: “I was reading that you guys think you might have actually got this set haunted. Could you both talk about what happened there? Why do you think that we might have gotten into deep waters [and] called upon the demons?”

Emeraude Toubia: The lights seemed to be flickering erratically. The camera malfunctioned. Heavy downpours occurred. Suddenly, all sorts of unexpected incidents transpired on the filming location…

Felipe Vargas: During those rituals alone, whenever we’d read them, we requested the author to modify certain words. We then invited someone for a blessing over the stage setup. It’s my belief that items can emit an energy, and there was a palpable negative energy at the start.

In the initial part of the performance, I experienced an unusual dream. Now, I’ve never encountered sleep paralysis, but in my hotel room, I saw a woman who resembled our monster-like figure. Later on, I shared this strange experience, and they told me that they too had the same dream. Throughout this period, there was a sense of eerie presence until we performed some sort of cleansing and tidying up, after which things seemed to run more smoothly.

Early on in the show, I had an odd dream featuring a woman similar to our monster. Although I’ve never experienced sleep paralysis, others reported having the same dream. There was an unsettling presence throughout until we made things tidier and cleaner, then everything ran more smoothly.

Rosario’s Singular Location and Character Focus

“You’re In One Place, You Can’t Get Out, How Do You Make It Interesting?”

  • TopMob: “Now the movie takes place almost entirely in one location. How did you both work to make sure that never pulled the film down in any way, but instead still engaged the audiences at every turn?”

Felipe Vargas: Among the aspects that really caught my interest in this script was the opportunity to have full creative control over a single location, along with the constant, unrelenting momentum it offers.

How can you transform a single location into an engaging, lively, authentic, and raw environment – a key objective for both the movie and its set? Imagine it as a Russian nesting doll or an intricate cave system, filled with fresh discoveries and hidden secrets in each new room.

This film truly came alive when Emeraude Toubia, our main character, stepped into its world. Her journey was the key element that gave this movie a living, breathing quality, much like a creature with a built-in camera, where the scenery would zip by, but it wasn’t until Rosario, our lead, entered that realm that the film truly sprang to life.

  • TopMob: “The fact that there was one location, how did that influence your own performance?”

Emeraude Toubia: A significant portion took place in her apartment, but to me, it felt like numerous sets. For instance, there was her New York apartment, her workplace, the subway during the day, snowy scenes, a hallway, city streets, and even the subway at night.

As a film reviewer, I found myself immersed in a rich tapestry of intricately designed sets, each one unveiling itself to me, and in turn, to Rosario, the character I portrayed. This dual experience of discovery allowed for a seamless exploration of her emotions, making my journey through this film all the more captivating.

  • TopMob: “On a similar note, it is not only one location, but it is (mostly) a character piece of one person. How do you feel that the avenue of focusing solely on her kind of enhanced both how you created the story for [you Felipe], but then also how, for you, Emeraude, how it influenced your performance going into the piece?”

Felipe Vargas: From the very first minute to the ninetyth, Rosario truly shone. A significant part of this was our casting process. We were incredibly fortunate. Every actor was eager to join this production. I had previously seen her on ‘With Love,’ an outstanding Amazon Studios series, and she was absolutely hilarious there.

In a straightforward manner, she exhibited courage, honesty, and authenticity – precisely what we sought. It felt incredibly organic. As you may notice, this was her debut in the horror genre. Emeraude could expand on that experience further. Once they selected her for the role, everything seemed to fall into place.

She embarks on an extraordinary odyssey, initially found in the bustling world of Wall Street, where she must penetrate through this, to endure the harshness of a single frigid night. To emerge victorious, she needs to rediscover her ancestry, her roots, and her innermost self. Thus, while it’s just one performer, they undergo an incredible transformation throughout their journey.

Emeraude Toubia candidly shared: Experiencing war for the first time was a test for me. In life, I believe that to advance and grow, we must confront our fears. This project certainly fell into that category. Yet, I genuinely enjoyed the filming process. The team was exceptional, and Felipe was nothing short of remarkable.

Throughout everything, he stood by my side, holding my hand. I yearn for more of these moments… I’m not fond of horror films as I turn into a jittery mess when they’re on. They keep me awake at night, and I find myself a bit of a scaredy cat in such situations. Yet, I can always find solace in my mom’s room when I watch them, knowing she was always there to protect me like my very own superhero. However, this genre continues to intrigue me, and I wish to keep exploring it further.

The full video can be seen here:

Rosario releases in theaters on May 2, 2025.

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2025-04-28 03:38

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