Something eerie is stirring in Asunción. Psychological horror and gothic suspense collide in the upcoming thriller Confined, which began filming on March 24 and marks a bold step forward for genre filmmaking in Paraguay. Co-directed by Armando Aquino (Leal 2, Mborayhu Porã) and Hernán Moyano (The Red Book Ritual 2, Cold Sweat), this haunting new tale centers on a woman isolated inside a baroque mansion where dread drips from the walls and sanity is anything but stable.
Confined follows Salma, a young woman trapped in a toxic relationship who takes a live-in caretaker job out of desperation. Her new post: tending to a dying elderly man in a sprawling estate. But what should be a quiet assignment spirals into madness as the house reveals itself to be a character all its own—a twisted labyrinth of secrets, grief, and supernatural terror that begins to consume Salma from the inside out.
Paraguayan actors Lizzie Gómez, Diro Romero, Natalia Cálcena, Matías Miranda, Lia Love, Alberto Jara, and Alejandra Cabral Valinotti lead the cast. Behind the scenes, executive producers Gaspar Zaldívar (Luna de Cigarras, El Supremo Manuscrito) and Bruno Zuccolillo have brought together powerhouse local production houses Janus Media SA and Zuma Productions, with Chaco Films attached as associate producer. On the international front, Black Mandala Films—the Argentine-New Zealand genre label known for festival hits at SITGES, TIFF, and BIFAN—will handle post-production and global distribution.
Drawing tonal inspiration from Hereditary and The Others, Confined leans away from cheap thrills and into psychological dread, using mood, silence, and visual storytelling to build its horror. Co-director Aquino emphasizes that challenge: This project explores horror primarily through psychological depth rather than mere scares. This allows us to experiment with different narrative techniques and construct a uniquely aesthetic universe.
Moyano, who is no stranger to international genre filmmaking, is excited by the potential in Paraguay. The high standards and conditions for film production in Paraguay are remarkable, he says. This is a place where homegrown projects can thrive and cross borders.
Production on Confined will wrap in the second half of 2025, with a festival run to follow ahead of a local theatrical release. With its mix of rich visuals, strong performances, and genre pedigree, this one should definitely be on your horror radar.
Stay tuned to HMU for more updates as Confined continues its journey into darkness.
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