‘Confined’ Sets the Stage for Paraguay’s Gothic Horror Breakout

Production is officially underway on Confined (La Casa Angosta), a gothic psychological horror that promises to be a landmark moment for Paraguay’s growing genre film movement. Co-directed by Armando Aquino (Leal 2, Mborayhu Porã) and Hernán Moyano (Cold Sweat, The Red Book Ritual 2), the film began shooting in Asunción on March 24 and features an accomplished Paraguayan cast and crew, with support from international distributor Black Mandala Films.<

Confined tells the story of Salma, a young woman fleeing the wreckage of an abusive relationship who takes a job as a caretaker in a grand but decaying mansion. Her new post—an eerie baroque residence where she tends to a dying man—quickly unravels into a surreal descent into psychological dread. Trapped in a house teeming with secrets and spectral happenings, Salma is forced to confront not only the supernatural forces at work but the buried trauma that haunts her.

Paraguayan actors Lizzie Gómez, Diro Romero, Natalia Cálcena, Matías Miranda, Lia Love, Alberto Jara, and Alejandra Cabral Valinotti headline the cast. Producers Gaspar Zaldívar (El Supremo Manuscrito, Luna de Cigarras) and Bruno Zuccolillo have united several local companies for the shoot, including Janus Media SA and Zuma Productions, with Chaco Films also on board. Black Mandala Films, known for their work across Latin America and Oceania, will handle international post-production and distribution, bringing global reach to what is shaping up to be one of Paraguay’s most ambitious genre projects to date.

Moyano’s original screenplay leans away from cheap scares and toward a more cerebral brand of horror. Echoing the slow-burn psychological terror of films like Hereditary and The Others, Confined prioritises mood, tension, and character-driven fear. Speaking on the creative direction, Aquino explained that the project invites audiences into an aesthetic and emotional space where dread accumulates rather than explodes. “This isn’t about shocks,” he said, “but about building a world that seeps into your psyche.”

Moyano also emphasised the broader significance of the project. “This is about more than one film. We’re laying the groundwork for Paraguay to take a serious place in international genre cinema. The talent here is incredible, and the infrastructure is only getting stronger.”

Production on Confined is set to wrap later in 2025, with the film expected to make its festival debut shortly thereafter before a theatrical release across Paraguay. With its moody premise, strong regional talent and a prestigious distribution partner, Confined could well be the next Latin American horror breakthrough to watch.

We’ll share more details on the release as it comes.