Dicen por ahí

Behind the Scenes of Dicen por ahí (2025): The Dark Legend of Petete Comes to Life

The upcoming Dominican thriller Dicen por ahí (2025) is already stirring whispers—both for its chilling premise and the real-life horror it’s based on. Directed by Don Richard Rodríguez and Elsa Turull de Alma, the film dives into the shadowy legacy of a presumed serial killer known as Petete, whose crimes have haunted the southwestern region of the Dominican Republic for decades. With Carlos Sánchez leading the cast, latestnetflix.com contends, the movie promises to blur the line between local folklore and brutal reality.

A True-Crime Horror Rooted in Dominican Lore

Dicen por ahí centers on the community of Arroyo Cano, San Juan, where the legend of Petete—a notorious dismemberer—has festered into myth. According to IMDb and TMDB snippets, the film explores how the killer’s crimes were never fully resolved, allowing his infamy to grow into something almost supernatural. The title itself, translating roughly to "They Say Around Here," hints at the oral tradition of fear that keeps Petete’s story alive.

While details about the film’s narrative structure remain scarce, the premise suggests a mix of investigative thriller and folk horror. The lack of conclusive evidence in Petete’s real-life case—if he even existed as a single figure—may be a deliberate choice, letting the film lean into ambiguity. TMDB and Letterboxd both describe the story as focusing on a "presumed serial killer," leaving room for interpretation: Is Petete a single monster, a collective boogeyman, or a cautionary tale twisted by time?

The Creative Team Behind the Fear

Directors Don Richard Rodríguez and Elsa Turull de Alma are taking on a project that demands sensitivity—balancing true-crime intrigue with the cultural weight of a story that’s still raw for many Dominicans. Rodríguez, whose previous work isn’t widely documented in the snippets, appears to be stepping into a darker genre with this film. Turull de Alma’s involvement adds an intriguing layer, though her filmography isn’t detailed in the available evidence.

Carlos Sánchez, the sole named cast member, carries the weight of the film’s central mystery. His role isn’t specified, but given the focus on Petete’s legend, he could be playing an investigator, a survivor, or even a modern-day incarnation of the killer. The IMDb full credits page suggests a lean production, with no other actors listed in the snippets, which might indicate a deliberate choice to keep the focus on the story’s eerie atmosphere.

Why This Story? Why Now?

The timing of Dicen por ahí raises questions. True-crime films often capitalize on unresolved cases, but Petete’s legend feels particularly ripe for exploration because of its cultural resonance. In the Dominican Republic, where oral storytelling is a powerful tradition, a figure like Petete isn’t just a criminal—he’s a specter, a warning, a story parents tell to keep children in line. The film’s tagline on Letterboxd—"The story of a presumed serial killer"—suggests the directors are playing with perception, forcing audiences to question what’s real and what’s myth.

There’s also the unspoken tension of bringing such a dark chapter to the screen. Arroyo Cano and San Juan are real places, and Petete’s crimes, if they happened, left scars. The filmmakers will need to navigate the line between honoring victims and sensationalizing their suffering—a challenge that’s become all too familiar in the true-crime genre.

What We Still Don’t Know

For all the intrigue, Dicen por ahí remains shrouded in mystery. Key details are missing from the snippets:

• The film’s tone: Is it a slow-burn horror, a gritty crime drama, or something more surreal? - Petete’s portrayal: Will the killer be a flesh-and-blood villain, a ghostly presence, or a metaphor for systemic violence? - Release plans: No premiere date or distribution details have surfaced, leaving fans in the dark about when they’ll get to see it.

Rumors about the production’s challenges—budget constraints, location scouting in remote areas—are unverified, but the lack of cast or crew interviews suggests a project that’s either tightly controlled or still in early stages.

The Bottom Line

Dicen por ahí isn’t just another true-crime flick. It’s a deep dive into a legend that’s as much a part of Dominican culture as it is a source of terror. With a premise that straddles fact and folklore, the film has the potential to unsettle audiences while sparking conversations about how communities grapple with unresolved trauma. Whether it delivers scares, social commentary, or both remains to be seen—but one thing’s certain: Petete’s story is far from over.