Netflix Horror Comedy Turns Brutal Dictator Into A Joke
One of the major ripple effects of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023 saw American audiences flocking to foreign films and television shows, as American productions were nearly all shut down for the majority of the year. As a result, a number of terrific films rose to prominence that may have otherwise been buried in favor of a run-of-the-mill blockbuster. One such film is 2023’s El Conde, which is currently available to stream on Netflix.
The Vampiric Dictator
El Conde is a black comedy horror, shot and produced in the South American nation of Chile. The film, which was written and directed by Pablo Larraín, centers on an absurd premise, which sees real-life dictator Augusto Pinochet portrayed as a centuries-old vampire who wishes to finally succumb to the sweet embrace of death. Though most of Larraín’s work is not well known to American audiences, he holds directing credits for films such as 2012’s No, 2019’s Ema, and a 2016 biopic of First Lady Jackie Kennedy simply titled Jackie.
Though El Conde may not appear to have a stacked cast of A-listers to the average American eye, the foreign film touts an impressive line-up of Chilean actors, who are near-universally known in films of the nation. These performers include Gloria Münchmeyer, Alfredo Castro, Paula Luchsinger, Stella Gonet, Catalina Guerra, and Jaime Vadell as Pinochet himself.
A Bizarre Twist On One Of History’s Greatest Monsters
For those who don’t know, Augusto Pinochet was a brutal military dictator who ruled over Chile with an iron fist from 1973 through 1990, racking up numerous human rights abuses during that time. Pinochet is largely considered to be one of history’s greatest monsters, and his regime is responsible for the extrajudicial killing and mass burial of hundreds of his detractors, making him one of the most feared figures in all of South America.
Of course, you’d never know that if your first exposure to the dictator was his portrayal in El Conde, as the film paints him as a bumbling, insecure, awkward man-child trapped in the body of a never-aging 250-year-old vampire.
He Just Can’t Die
Throughout the narrative of El Conde, Pinochet desperately attempts to die, despite his vampiric immortality preventing him from suffering lethal blows. Meanwhile, his children engage in a hilarious comedy of errors, leading to a host of misunderstandings which result in the kids attempting to kill their own father to get their inheritance. I won’t discuss too much of the plot here or spoil the film for anyone who hasn’t yet seen it, but rest assured the film is a dark and twisted satire that will leave you in stitches.
El Conde Received High Praise
El Conde officially premiered on Netflix in September of 2023 after opening at the Venice International Film Festival and securing a limited theatrical run in Argentina and Chile. The film’s arrival on the streaming platform marked the 50th anniversary of Pinochet’s initial coup, which makes the film’s hilarious portrayal of the now-deceased monster highly poetic.
El Conde received stellar reviews from critics and audiences alike, culminating in an 82 percent certified fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as an Academy Award nomination.
Stream Now
REVIEW SCORE
Those interested in catching El Conde can stream the political satire on Netflix today. Just be sure to keep a bowl of garlic and a wooden stake nearby because you never know when a 20th-century dictator might pop in with a death wish.
