Belén Rueda
Sagrario
Overview
Madrid, Spain, 1998. The many resources and skills of Gloria, Paz and Sagrario, three middle-aged women investigating paranormal events, are put to the test when their leader, Father Pilón, has an unpleasant encounter.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Ghosts We Carry
I’ve always been suspicious of movies that promise both laughs and scares. The tonal whiplash usually leaves me with a headache, not a revelation. But Phenomena, Carlos Therón’s Spanish horror-comedy about three middle-aged women investigating the paranormal, had me leaning forward anyway.
Maybe it’s because the film doesn’t just toggle between genres—it lets them bleed into each other, like watercolors left in the rain. Or maybe it’s because the women at its center feel so lived-in, so stubbornly human, that even the supernatural can’t overshadow their messiness.
The film is set in Madrid, 1998, a detail that matters more than it first seems. The late ’90s were a time of dial-up internet and landline phones, of chain-smoking in dimly lit apartments and believing, just a little, that the world might still hold secrets. Phenomena leans into that nostalgia, not as a gimmick but as a mood. The three leads—Sagrario (Belén Rueda), Paz (Gracia Olayo), and Gloria (Toni Acosta)—are paranormal investigators working under the guidance of Father Pilón (Emilio Gutiérrez Caba), a priest whose sudden disappearance kicks off the plot.
Their office is cluttered with outdated tech, their methods a mix of skepticism and superstition, and their bond something deeper than friendship. It’s the kind of dynamic that feels earned, not written.
Therón’s direction is at its best when it lingers on the small, human details. There’s a scene early on where the trio sits in a café, arguing over whether a recent case was a hoax or something real. The camera doesn’t cut away.
It holds on their faces—Rueda’s Sagrario, all sharp edges and quiet intensity; Olayo’s Paz, whose warmth is undercut by a flicker of exhaustion; Acosta’s Gloria, the group’s skeptic, rolling her eyes but still listening. The dialogue is snappy, but it’s the silences that sell it. These women know each other’s tells, their weaknesses, their unspoken fears.
When the horror elements creep in later, it’s their chemistry that makes the scares land. You believe in their terror because you already believe in their bond.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A lighthearted horror-comedy with charm but without the depth or originality to stand out."
The playful tone and the cast’s chemistry, especially their comedic timing in horror scenarios, are the highlights. The plot is thin and predictable, and some jokes fall flat or lean on familiar tropes. The comedy-horror blend works in moments but doesn’t leave a lasting impression.
What viewers praise
- Cast chemistry The ensemble gives lively performances, especially in comedic scenes.
- Playful tone The mix of horror and comedy is fun and lighthearted, a break from typical horror films.
- Entertaining moments Some scenes are genuinely funny, particularly those that lean into absurdity.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows well-worn horror-comedy tropes, leaving little room for surprises.
- Weak character development Supporting characters rely on stereotypes rather than depth.
- Uneven humor Some jokes land and others miss, making the comedic pacing inconsistent.
Recommended for
Horror-comedy fans Lighthearted movie nights Belén Rueda fans Toni Acosta fans
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Phenomena (2023): The Real-Life Inspiration and Controversy
Carlos Therón’s Phenomena (2023) blends horror and comedy with a twist: its paranormal investigators are three middle-aged women, a premise that sparked both curiosity and backlash. latestnetflix.com's read is that the film, starring Belén Rueda, Gracia Olayo, and Toni Acosta, draws from real events—but its journey to screens was anything but smooth.
Inspired by the Hepta Group
Phenomena isn’t just a fictional romp. The movie is loosely based on the Hepta Group, a real Spanish team that investigated paranormal activity in the 1990s. According to and, the plot centers on Father Pilón (Emilio Gutiérrez Caba), the group’s leader, who mysteriously disappears, leaving his colleagues—Sagrario (Rueda), Paz (Olayo), and Gloria (Acosta)—to pick up the pieces. The Hepta Group’s legacy adds a layer of authenticity to the film’s supernatural shenanigans, though the movie takes creative liberties for comedic and horror effect.
Controversy Before Release
The film’s all-female lead cast became a lightning rod for criticism before it even hit theaters. As reported by, some self-proclaimed fans of the horror genre reacted with misogynistic backlash, dismissing the movie based on its cast rather than its content. When Phenomena underperformed at the box office, fingers pointed in both directions: the filmmakers blamed negative press, while audiences questioned whether the backlash—or the film itself—was to blame. The controversy overshadowed the movie’s Netflix release, where it found a second life as a streaming oddity.
Cast and Characters
The ensemble cast brings a mix of veteran and comedic talent to the project. Belén Rueda, known for her dramatic roles in films like The Orphanage, takes on the lead as Sagrario, while Toni Acosta and Gracia Olayo round out the trio with their comedic chops. Emilio Gutiérrez Caba plays the enigmatic Father Pilón, whose disappearance sets the plot in motion. Supporting roles include Miren Ibarguren as the building’s porter and Iván Massagué as Enrique, a skeptical outsider drawn into the group’s investigations.
A Mixed Reception
Despite the pre-release drama, Phenomena’s reception has been uneven. Some critics praised its fresh take on the horror-comedy genre, particularly its focus on older female protagonists—a rarity in a genre often dominated by younger casts. Others found the blend of scares and laughs uneven, with the controversy overshadowing the film’s merits. Netflix’s acquisition gave it a wider audience, but whether it will become a cult favorite or fade into obscurity remains to be seen.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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