Chuzalongo
| Chuzalongo | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Diego Ortuño |
| Written by | Diego Ortuño |
| Produced by | Georgina Altarriba Eloi Aymerich |
| Starring | Bruno Odar Wolframio Sinué Aléx Cisneros |
| Cinematography | Tupac Galarza |
| Edited by | Amaia Merino |
| Music by | Gerard Alís Raurich Agni Durden Emil Plonski |
Production companies | Audiovisual Films Clack Audiovisual Dominio Digital Retrogusto Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Countries | Ecuador Canada Peru Spain |
| Languages | Spanish Kichwa |
| Budget | $360.000[1] |
Chuzalongo is a 2024 folk horror film written and directed by Diego Ortuño, based on the traditional Andean legend "El Chuzalongo", which is represented as a child-elf who sexually assaults women.[2] It stars Bruno Odar, Wolframio Sinué and Aléx Cisneros[3] accompanied by Fernando Bacilio, Mónica Mancero, Toa Tituaña, Yuyak Guitarra, Lenin Farinango and Sisa Farez.[4]
It was selected as the Ecuadorian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[5]
Synopsis
Women are being murdered by a mysterious creature known as the Chuzalongo. Father Nicanor will investigate the deaths surrounding the legend while the revolution and the enslavement experienced by those called Indians increasingly complicate his work, and the desperation of the community members seeks to stem the number of deaths and disappearances.[6]
Cast
- Bruno Odar as Nicanor
- Wolframio Sinué as Melalo
- Aléx Cisneros as Don Alfonso
- Fernando Bacilio as Segundo
- Mónica Mancero as Lucía
- Toa Tituaña as Rosa
- Yuyak Guitarra as Awki
- Karla Gómez as Magdalena
- Lenin Farinango as Narrator
- Matilde Lagos as Mamita Juana
- Gael Ortuño as Kid
- Sisa Farez
Production
The script took 5 years to write.[7] Principal photography began on May 1, 2023, in Quito, Cayambe, Cotacachi and Pintag, Ecuador, lasting 4 weeks.[8][9]
Release
Chuzalongo had its world premiere on April 11, 2024, at the 20th Fantaspoa (Porto Alegre International Fantastic Film Festival),[10] and then screened on September 25, 2024, at the 10th Guayaquil International Film Festival.[11]
The film was released commercially on October 31, 2024, in Ecuadorian theaters,[12] and on November 6, 2025, in Peruvian theaters under the title "En el nombre del mal" (lit. 'In the Name of Evil').[13]
Box office
It sold more than 20,000 tickets during its eight-week run,[14] becoming the highest-grossing Ecuadorian film of the year.[15]
See also
- List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
- List of Ecuadorian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
- ^ Peñafiel, Maria (2024-10-31). "El 'Chuzalongo' llega a los cines de Ecuador para sembrar el terror". La Prensa Ecuador (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ^ "El 'teaser' de la película ecuatoriana 'Chuzalongo' fue proyectado en el festival de Cannes". Ecuavisa (in Spanish). 2022-05-21. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ^ Ribadeneira, Alejandro (2024-10-31). "El 'Chuzalongo' llega a los cines de Ecuador para sembrar el terror". Primicias. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ^ Jiménez, Richard (2024-10-23). "'Chuzalongo', una película de suspenso y magia se lanzará en Ecuador". El Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ^ "🎬 Chuzalongo, dirigida por Diego Ortuño y producida por Grace Serrano Carmona, ha sido seleccionada para la preselección de la 98ª edición de los Premios Oscar en la categoría de Mejor Película Internacional. 🏆✨" (in Spanish). Instagram. 2025-09-04. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
- ^ Terán, Pablo (2024-10-30). "Chuzalongo, una leyenda de terror que cobra vida en la gran pantalla". Ecuador Chequea (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ^ Castro, Mayuri (2025-01-09). "Chuzalongo, una película de terror ecuatoriana". La Barra Espaciadora (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ^ "Y empezamos el rodaje de nuestra película Nro 10: Chuzalongo..." Instagram. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ^ "La película ecuatoriana 'Chuzalongo', una leyenda de horror, llega al cine". Teleamazonas. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ^ "'Chuzalongo', del ecuatoriano Diego Ortuño, tiene su estreno mundial en el Festival de Cine Fantástico de Porto Alegre, en Brasil". Programa Ibermedia (in European Spanish). 2024-04-16. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ^ "Inició el Festival Internacional de Cine de Guayaquil: 'Chuzalongo' fue la película inaugural del evento". El Universo (in Spanish). 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ^ "La película ecuatoriana 'Chuzalongo' se estrena en todas las salas de cine, este 31 de octubre de 2024". Diario La Hora.
- ^ "Bruno Odar protagoniza la película de terror "En el nombre del mal"". El Comercio (in Spanish). 2025-10-31. ISSN 1605-3052. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ^ Santos, Celia. "Ecuatoriana "Chuzalongo" viajará a mercados foráneos en 2025 tras ser la más taquillera". Noticine.com. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ^ Ribadeneira, Alejandro (2024-12-22). "'Chuzalongo' es la película de Ecuador más vista de 2024, ¿por qué tuvo éxito?". Primicias. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
External links
- Chuzalongo at IMDb