Pedro Hernández Santos

Pedro Hernández Santos isn’t exactly a household name, but if you’re into indie Spanish cinema, you probably know his work—maybe even obsess over it a little. He’s the creative mind behind films like "Life and Nothing More" (2017), "Magical Girl" (2014), and "Mantícora" (2022). Each of these movies packs a punch, honestly. "Life and Nothing More" drops you right into the messiness of real life, where dreams clash hard with reality and people stumble through tough times. It’s got this raw, almost documentary feel, like you’re peeking through the window at someone’s actual breakdown—not just actors reciting lines. Super intense. Then there’s "Magical Girl." This one’s a trip—a drama that lures you in with something that looks kinda sweet but then goes full dark, full weird. It’s not your typical feel-good flick. There’s this vibe of desperation and secrets, with characters who seem totally normal until, well, they’re not. The plot unravels in ways you don’t see coming, trust me. "Mantícora," his latest, takes things to another level. It drags you through the underbelly of human desire and guilt. It’s got this slow-burn tension that makes you squirm in your seat, not because of jump scares or gore, but because it forces you to look at stuff most people would rather ignore. Hernández Santos has a knack for finding beauty in uncomfortable places, and he never really lets you off the hook.