Atrocious

Atrocious

Year: 2011

Runtime: 75 min

Language: Spanish

Director: Fernando Barreda Luna

ThrillerHorror

A family's peaceful vacation takes a dark turn when they encounter a disturbing local legend. What begins as a curious exploration quickly escalates into a terrifying fight for survival as they realize the myth is all too real. Facing escalating danger, they must confront their deepest fears and find a way to escape the sinister forces they’ve awakened.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Atrocious yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Atrocious (2011)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Atrocious (2011). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Spring (Easter), present-day

The events occur during the Easter holidays in modern times, with the siblings filming a paranormal web-show. The past lingers through a 1940s legend about Melinda, but the action unfolds in current-day settings—the maze, the house, and the basement where records are kept. The time frame juxtaposes a contemporary pursuit of ghosts with a history of family trauma that resurfaces at night.

Location

Family summer home, Hedge maze

The story unfolds at a family's summer home that anchors the investigation into a local legend. The hedge maze nearby becomes the central setting where the disappearances and eerie events occur, transforming ordinary grounds into a labyrinth of clues and danger. The house, the maze, and the well are tied to memories of the mother’s youth and past tragedies, giving the locale a weighty, haunted atmosphere.

🏡 Summer home 🌿 Hedge maze

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:32

Main Characters – Atrocious (2011)

Meet the key characters of Atrocious (2011), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Cristian Quintanilla (Cristian Valencia)

An eager paranormal investigator who hosts a web-show about urban legends. He is curious and impulsive, pushing into the maze and the well to uncover Melinda's fate. His drive to document the unknown often clashes with caution, putting him and his sister July in peril. He embodies a fearless but reckless thirst for proof.

🎬 Protagonist 🎥 Web-show Host

July Quintanilla (Clara Moraleda)

Cristian’s sister, more cautious and skeptical yet willing to participate in the investigation. She acts as a stabilizing force and a protective counterpart to Cristian’s risk-taking. Her awareness of danger grows as the family’s dark history unfolds, and she ultimately becomes a survivor who witnesses the horrors firsthand.

🎭 Sibling Protagonist 🧭 Skeptic

Mother Quintanilla

A mother whose untreated postpartum depression and psychotic break haunt the family’s past and present. Her actions are driven by a tainted memory and a search for blame, culminating in brutal violence. Her influence lingers as a key source of the tragedy that unfolds in the maze and house.

🎭 Antagonist 🧠 Mental Illness

José Quintanilla

The younger brother who vanishes during the Easter investigation and is later found dead, signaling the family’s unraveling. He is a silent catalyst whose disappearance intensifies the fear and drives the siblings deeper into the maze. His fate highlights the stakes of the family’s hidden past.

🌀 Victim 👶 Child

Michelle Quintanilla

The baby sister whose memory haunts the family lore; her existence and death are central to the mother’s trauma and the children’s investigation. Her death is the invisible wound behind many of the family’s actions and the haunting atmosphere. She represents the fragility of family and the cost of silence.

🕯️ Child 🔒 Secret

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:32

Major Themes – Atrocious (2011)

Explore the central themes of Atrocious (2011), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👻 Paranormal Legacy

A local legend about a missing girl acts as a catalyst that exposes hidden family dynamics. The siblings chase the myth through a hedge maze, and the line between superstition and reality blurs. Found footage and cryptic clues suggest that haunting and violence are parts of a cycle that repeats across generations.

🧠 Mental Illness

Postpartum depression and psychotic episodes in adolescence shape the mother's behavior and mindset. The doctors’ tape reveals a history of mental illness that reoccurs at night, providing a rationalized explanation for seemingly supernatural events. The film links personal trauma to a cascade of deadly actions within the family.

🔐 Family Secrets

Dark truths about the Quintanilla family surface as the maze exposes what happened to their missing siblings. The mother’s past and the mystery of Elvira frame a web of blame and guilt. The revelation of Michelle’s death and ongoing family silence drives the tragedy forward.

🌲 Nature as Threat

The woods and hedge maze are not just backdrop; they are active dangers that lure characters into danger. The labyrinthine paths, well, and old house create a claustrophobic atmosphere where escape feels impossible. The environment mirrors the family’s psychological perils, amplifying fear and suspense.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:32

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Atrocious

Don't stop at just watching — explore Atrocious in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Atrocious is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Atrocious Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Atrocious, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Atrocious Summary

Atrocious Timeline

Track the full timeline of Atrocious with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Atrocious Timeline

More About Atrocious

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Atrocious: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Atrocious

Similar Movies to Atrocious

Discover movies like Atrocious that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.