Brunella Cocchiglia

Brunella Cocchiglia, if you’ve been paying attention to indie cinema lately, is a name you’ll probably recognize—she’s been behind some seriously trippy films. Vivarium (2019) is one of those weird, unsettling movies that sticks with you way after the credits roll. You remember that one with Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots, stuck in a creepy, cookie-cutter suburb where every house looks the same and getting out is basically impossible? Yeah, Brunella produced that. She’s got a knack for stories that mess with your head. Then there’s The Surfer (2024). It’s her latest ride, and honestly, if you thought Vivarium was a mind-bender, just wait. This film drags you into the surf scene but flips it into a psychological thriller. You’re not just getting sun, sand, and waves—there’s an undercurrent of tension, and you’re never really sure what’s real or who you can trust. It’s the kind of movie that’ll make you second-guess a day at the beach, seriously. Going back a bit, Without Name (2016) is another one that shows off her style. It’s all about a land surveyor who heads into an Irish forest and, well, let’s just say things get weird. Reality starts to melt, nature gets freaky, and you’re left wondering if the forest is alive or just driving him nuts. Cocchiglia doesn’t just pick scripts—she goes for the ones that warp your brain a little. If you like your films moody and more than a bit eerie, her portfolio is absolutely worth a deep dive.