The Reborn (Original title: Los Renacidos)
The Reborn
Stars: Pedro Fontaine, Mario Antonio Caponi, Oscar de la Fuente, Pilar Mestre Del Bono, Luis Dubo and Federico Liss
Director/Scriptwriter: Santiago Esteves
Composer: Mario Galvan
Cinematography: Enrique Stindt
Cinitres/Moonlight Cinema Barcelona
Rating: R
Running Length: 88 Minutes
Country: Chile, subtitles
Nominated for Best Film at both the Shanghai and Santiago, Chile Film Festivals
Just in time for Halloween and all the intricate things about this holiday, comes a story from Chile. Off the beaten track, it is about life---then death---then life. No, this isn’t Dracula, but a different angle on what some people did to make a living in this economy and how one’s past can catch up with them. Director/Scriptwriter Santiago Esteves gives a story of two brothers who have a unique business, then retirement, and then, called back into business. What, you say? What business is this, anyway. Read on and see.
It is Santiago, Chile and two brothers, Oscar (Marco Antonio Caponi) and Manuel (Pedro Fontaine) have a business of “killing people” and then bringing them back to life. They have a special chemical process that works wonders. This is actually hiding someone from the law, having everyone think the person is dead (really in stasis) and then at the appropriate time, (a few hours) bringing them back to cross the border and begin a new life. Works well for years. The brothers retire and do separate things, until…. someone requests a death-burial and the past catches up with them. The words “appropriate time” come back to haunt them.
Cinematographer Enrique Stindt’s photography and Mario Galvan’s music provide a haunting background. Going from a special “business” to retirement and then back in “business” again makes for a tidy story. Marco Antonio Caponi and Pedro Fontaine work together well as brothers-in-crime.
If this were a vampire film, the burial would be something in the background as always happening. However, in this film, burial means something else entirely. This unusual story is just right for the end-of-October fright movies that come out at this time. There happen to be several different movies made in the past with the same title of “Reborn,” so be sure you are seeing the Chile version.
Copyright 2026 Marie Asner
