They Are All Dead
They Are All Dead is a 2014 drama film with supernatural elements directed and written by Beatriz Sanchís which stars Elena Anaya. It is an international co-production among companies from Spain, Germany and Mexico.
Plot
Set in the 1990s, it refers back to the 1980s, when Lupe, the lead character, was a rock star. In present time, Lupe suffers from agoraphobia. She lives secluded, only in contact with her son Pancho and her Mexican mother Paquita. The ghost of her brother Diego breaks into her life.Production
The film is a production by Avalon PC, Integral Film and Animal de Luz, with funding from Ibermedia and Eurimages. Shooting began on 11 February 2013. Shooting locations included Madrid.Release
The film was presented on 27 March 2014 at the 17th Málaga Film Festival. Distributed by Avalon, the film was theatrically released in Spain on 30 May 2014.Reception
Mirito Torreiro of Fotogramas gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, considering Elena Anaya to be the best about the film whereas he assessed that the writing needed more work.Jordi Costa of El País wrote that "it is not a perfect film, but it is a risky debut feature with a strong identity".
Manuel Piñón of Cinemanía rated the film with 2½ out of 5 stars, considering that despite being an "original and bold" film, it is dragged by a forced homage to 'La movida', assessing that the film may have turned to be a "happy anomaly" if it employed less nostalgia and respect to the past.
Reviewing for Excélsior, Lucero Solórzano deemed the film to be a "a good debut by Beatriz Sanchís" and that, writing shortcomings notwithstanding, it works and is watchable.
Reviewing for The Hollywood Reporter, Jonathan Holland considered the film to be "a challengingly offbeat but persuasively imagined “what if” bid to talk about well-worn family themes in an adventurous new way".