Julia Stockler
Samanta
Overview
In Pernambuco, a jewel robbery brings together an old group of misfits, with catastrophic results. Watched over by ghosts from the past, each of them will have to find their own way to freedom.
Cast
7 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Ghosts We Carry Into the Dark
I keep thinking about the way Soul’s Peak opens—not with a bang, but with a breath held too long. The camera lingers on a dusty road cutting through the sertão, the Brazilian backlands, where the heat isn’t just weather but a character itself. There’s no score at first, just the hum of cicadas and the distant echo of something unseen.
It’s the kind of silence that makes you lean in, the kind that promises violence isn’t a question of if but when. And then, like a match struck in the dark, the film ignites.
Lírio Ferreira’s Soul’s Peak (or Serra das Almas, its more poetic Portuguese title) is a film that refuses to sit still in any one genre. It’s a heist movie where the real loot isn’t jewels but the weight of the past. It’s a thriller that unfolds like a fever dream, where the line between memory and hallucination blurs until you’re not sure which is which.
And it’s a ghost story, though not in the way you might expect. The ghosts here aren’t just specters haunting the living—they’re the regrets, the betrayals, the roads not taken that cling to the characters like a second skin.
Ferreira has always been a director fascinated by the tension between the rural and the urban, the old and the new, the seen and the unseen. His earlier films, like Baile Perfumado and Árido Movie, grappled with these themes through historical and political lenses, but Soul’s Peak feels like a distillation of that obsession into something more intimate, more visceral. This isn’t a film about grand ideologies or sweeping social movements.
It’s about the people caught in the crossfire of their own choices, and the way those choices echo through time like gunshots in an empty valley.
The story follows a group of misfits—thieves, journalists, and drifters—whose lives collide after a botched jewel robbery in the remote mountains of Pernambuco. At its center are Samanta (Julia Stockler), a journalist from Rio who’s traded the city’s chaos for the quieter corruption of Recife, and Vera (Mari Oliveira), a woman whose isolated home becomes the unwilling stage for the film’s escalating violence.
Their chemistry is electric, a push-and-pull of attraction and distrust that feels less like a romance and more like two people recognizing the same darkness in each other. Stockler, in particular, is a revelation. There’s a scene early on where Samanta interviews a corrupt senator, her smile never wavering even as her eyes betray a quiet fury.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.2/10
"A visually striking crime drama with strong performances but struggles with pacing and narrative depth."
Viewers appreciate the film’s atmospheric visuals and the compelling performances from its lead actors, particularly Julia Stockler and Mari Oliveira, whose chemistry adds emotional weight. However, the story’s slow burn and underdeveloped supporting characters leave some feeling the film doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential, latestnetflix.com argues, making it feel uneven at times.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Julia Stockler and Mari Oliveira deliver engaging and emotionally resonant performances that anchor the film.
- Visually atmospheric The cinematography and tone create a moody, immersive world that enhances the crime drama setting.
- Genuine chemistry The dynamic between the leads feels authentic and adds depth to the romantic and criminal elements.
Common complaints
- Slow pacing The film’s deliberate pace may frustrate those looking for a more fast-paced crime thriller.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles lack depth, making the world feel less fully realized.
- Familiar tropes The story leans on well-worn crime drama conventions, which some find uninspired.
Recommended for
Fans of atmospheric crime dramas Julia Stockler and Mari Oliveira admirers Slow-burn indie film enthusiasts Brazilian cinema lovers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Soul’s Peak (2025): A Gritty Brazilian Crime Drama with Supernatural Edge
Lírio Ferreira’s Soul’s Peak (2025) is shaping up to be one of Brazil’s most anticipated crime dramas, blending heist tension with ghostly undertones. Set in Pernambuco, the film follows a group of misfit friends whose botched jewel robbery spirals into chaos, haunted by specters of their past. With a cast of rising Brazilian stars and Ferreira’s signature surrealist touch, latestnetflix.com maintains, the project has already sparked curiosity—though details remain scarce.
The Plot: A Heist Gone Wrong, Haunted by the Past
The film’s premise, teased across multiple sources, centers on a jewel robbery that reunites an old crew of outcasts. The aftermath is catastrophic, forcing each character to confront their own path to freedom—while literal and metaphorical ghosts watch over them 
. The supernatural element suggests Ferreira, known for his visually rich and thematically layered films, is leaning into a mix of crime thriller and psychological horror. The setting in Pernambuco, a state in northeastern Brazil, adds a distinct cultural backdrop, likely steeped in local folklore and urban grit.
Cast and Characters: Rising Stars Take Center Stage
The ensemble cast features a mix of established and emerging Brazilian talent. Julia Stockler (The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão) and Mari Oliveira (Bacurau) lead the pack, joined by Ravel Andrade, David Santos, Vertin Moura, Jorge Neto, and Pally Siqueira . While character names haven’t been widely publicized, sources like LaCartelera note that some cast members have roles listed beneath their names, hinting at a diverse array of personalities—likely the "misfits" at the heart of the story . Andrade and Moura, in particular, have been linked to the project since early reports in 2024, suggesting they may play pivotal roles in the heist’s unraveling .
Director Lírio Ferreira’s Vision: Crime Meets the Supernatural
Ferreira, a veteran of Brazilian cinema, is no stranger to genre-blending. His filmography includes Baile Perfumado (1997) and Árido Movie (2005), both of which weave historical and surreal elements into their narratives. Soul’s Peak appears to follow this tradition, merging a crime plot with supernatural dread—a combination that could set it apart from typical heist films. The director’s focus on Pernambuco’s cultural landscape may also play a key role, grounding the story’s fantastical elements in regional identity.
Release and Reception: What We Know (and Don’t)
Originally listed as a 2024 release on IMDb and Letterboxd , the film has since been pushed to 2025, with LaCartelera and TMDB confirming the updated date . Trailers or official stills have yet to surface, leaving fans to speculate based on the synopsis alone. The delay could signal post-production tweaks or a strategic release window, but without official statements, it’s unclear what’s behind the shift.
As for reception, early buzz is limited to the intrigue around Ferreira’s direction and the cast’s potential. The film’s premise—part crime thriller, part ghost story—has drawn comparisons to Bacurau (2019), another Brazilian genre-bender that gained international acclaim. Whether Soul’s Peak will follow suit remains to be seen, but its unique blend of tones could make it a standout in 2025.
The Bottom Line: A Film to Watch (If Details Emerge)
For now, Soul’s Peak remains shrouded in mystery. The combination of Ferreira’s vision, a strong cast, and a high-concept premise suggests it could be a breakout project, but with no trailers or official updates, coverage is thin. If the director’s past work is any indication, expect a visually striking, thematically dense film that defies easy categorization. Until more details drop, fans of Brazilian cinema—and crime dramas with a twist—will have to wait.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.