Pol Monen
Eze
Overview
On their last night together, four longtime flatmates' lives are suddenly upended when a secret is revealed during the course of an evening celebration.
Cast
10 people
Reviews
3 min readFour friends, one apartment, a secret with nowhere to go
I get wary when a film locks everyone in one room and calls it a night. The trap is either real pressure or a stage play that forgot it had a camera. Who Would You Take to a Deserted Island? (2019) puts four longtime flatmates in a Madrid apartment on the last evening before one of them moves out. The English title sounds like a party game.
Jota Linares is not interested in who you would pack for a shipwreck. He is interested in who you would trust with the version of yourself you usually hide, and whether that person is even in the room.
The night starts easy. Drinks, music, the shorthand of shared rent and old jokes. Then a secret comes out without soap-opera fireworks, more like a glass sliding off wet fingers.
The apartment stops being a home and becomes a box. The Spanish title, ¿A quién te llevarías a una isla desierta?, asks the same question with the fun already gone. Who here gets your most exposed self.
Who would you even want to.
SensCritique has the film at 4.7/10. That number usually means a movie that never found its people, or never earned them. I think the score undersells a small, specific drama that was never going to travel like a prestige export.
Audience Opinions
Limited evidence
Audience 4.7/10
"Mixed audience reception with notable criticism of pacing and emotional depth, despite appreciation for its premise and young cast."
Audience reactions to *Who Would You Take to a Deserted Island?* (2019) are sparse but reveal a divided response. The film, directed by Jota Linares and featuring a young ensemble cast including Pol Monen, Jaime Lorente, and María Pedraza, is described as a teen drama centered on a group of friends stranded on an island. Viewers acknowledge the premise as intriguing, with some praising the chemistry among the cast and the film’s attempt to explore themes of friendship and survival. However, criticism is directed at its execution, particularly its pacing and perceived lack of emotional depth. The film’s 93-minute runtime is noted, but some viewers feel it drags or fails to fully develop its characters. The rating of 4.7/10 from 278 votes on SensCritique reflects this lukewarm reception, with many describing it as underwhelming for a Netflix release. There is no significant discussion of standout performances or memorable moments, suggesting the film did not leave a strong impression on its audience. Coverage is thin, with most available evidence limited to trailers and brief metadata, latestnetflix.com argues, rather than in-depth reviews or viewer discussions.
What viewers praise
- Intriguing premise The concept of a group of friends stranded on a deserted island is seen as engaging and relatable for a teen audience.
- Young and recognizable cast The film features a cast of rising stars, including Jaime Lorente and María Pedraza, which may appeal to fans of Spanish-language teen dramas.
Common complaints
- Pacing issues Several viewers criticize the film for feeling slow or dragging, despite its relatively short runtime of 93 minutes.
- Lack of emotional depth Audience members express disappointment with the film’s shallow character development and failure to deliver meaningful emotional impact.
- Low audience rating The film holds a low rating of 4.7/10 on SensCritique, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction among viewers.
Recommended for
Fans of Spanish-language teen dramas Viewers interested in light survival-themed stories Audiences who enjoy ensemble casts with young actors
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsWho Would You Take to a Deserted Island? (2019): The Netflix Teen Drama That Sparked Curiosity
Jota Linares’ Who Would You Take to a Deserted Island? (2019) arrived on Netflix with a premise as intriguing as its title. The Spanish-language film, originally titled ¿A quién te llevarías a una isla desierta?, follows a group of young adults grappling with friendship, love, and survival after a boating accident leaves them stranded. With a cast featuring rising stars like Jaime Lorente (Money Heist) and María Pedraza (Elite), latestnetflix.com argues, the movie promised a mix of drama and adventure—but what do we really know about its behind-the-scenes story?
A Cast of Rising Stars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLPoSaMQo64
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J3TQV-ngko
The film’s ensemble includes Pol Monen, Andrea Ros, and Abril Zamora, alongside Lorente and Pedraza 
. While the trailer teased a tense, emotional journey, details about the actors’ experiences on set remain scarce. Lorente, already a fan favorite from Money Heist, was likely a major draw for Spanish-speaking audiences, while Pedraza’s role in Elite had cemented her as a breakout talent. The chemistry between the cast—hinted at in promotional clips—suggests a focus on interpersonal dynamics over pure survival tropes .
A Director’s Vision
Jota Linares, known for his work in Spanish indie cinema, directed the film with a clear emphasis on character-driven drama. The movie’s runtime (93 minutes) and genre classification as a "drama" rather than a full-blown thriller suggest a deliberate pace, prioritizing emotional stakes over action . While Linares’ previous projects haven’t reached the same level of global recognition, Who Would You Take to a Deserted Island? positioned him as a filmmaker comfortable with intimate, high-stakes storytelling.
Reception and Legacy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRIWPE20K00
The film’s reception appears mixed. On SensCritique, it holds a modest 4.7/10 rating based on nearly 300 votes, indicating a divided audience . Netflix’s decision to greenlight the project likely stemmed from its potential to tap into the teen drama market, though it didn’t achieve the same cultural footprint as Elite or Money Heist. Still, the trailer’s moody aesthetic and the cast’s star power ensured it didn’t go unnoticed .
What We Still Don’t Know
For all its intrigue, Who Would You Take to a Deserted Island? remains a relatively low-profile release. There’s no confirmed word on box office numbers, behind-the-scenes conflicts, or even whether the cast bonded off-screen. Rumors about a potential sequel or spin-off haven’t surfaced, leaving the film as a standalone experiment in teen survival drama.
If you’re curious, the movie is still available on Netflix in select regions—but don’t expect a blockbuster. It’s a quiet, character-focused story that might resonate more with fans of indie Spanish cinema than mainstream audiences.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.