Curdled

Gabriela witnesses a decapitation-like scene as a child outside her mother's bakery window, and the image unsettles her. This early moment seeds a fascination with violent death and the belief that decapitated victims still speak for a short while afterward. The idea will later echo in her obsession with crime shows and serial killers.

She quits the bakery and signs up with Lodger's cleaning service after seeing a TV ad. The job promises access to crime scenes and the chance to clean up after murders. This marks a turning point toward physically engaging with the aftermath of violence.

Gabriela and Elena arrive at the crime scene and begin the grim cleanup. Gabriela spots what she believes is the killer's name, Paul Guell, written beneath a pool of blood but she hides it from Elena. The overwhelming amount of blood forces them to leave the scene and return the next day.

On the next day, they return to finish the cleanup and restore the scene. Elena stays focused on the physical cleanup while Gabriela pursues the clue she found earlier. The revelation deepens Gabriela's fixation and foreshadows riskier actions.

On a date with her ex-colleague Eduardo, Gabriela finally explains what she suspects about the killer. Her explanation is muddled, but it convinces Eduardo to accompany her to the house that night. They move toward a confrontation they are not prepared for.

Unbeknownst to them, the killer has slipped back into the house and is still inside after accidentally locking himself in the wine cellar. Gabriela opens the cellar door when she senses a presence, and Eduardo panics, decides to leave. The killer watches from the shadows as Gabriela, knife in hand, acts out her theory among the bloody surroundings.

Eduardo returns after a second thought, only to find Gabriela still inside and the moment of danger unresolved. The killer uses the opportunity to strike, knocking Eduardo out and hiding him in the wine cellar. Gabriela remains, determined to recount what happened and to understand the killer's plan.

The killer forces Gabriela to walk him through the events, checking that she knows the full story. They briefly argue about Gabriela's theory that heads talk after decapitation. The tension escalates as he threatens her, testing whether she can stay calm under pressure.

A struggle erupts and the killer is knocked out on the tiled floor. Gabriela seizes the moment to act decisively, ending the threat in a brutal, shocking way. Her obsession has finally translated into a decisive, dangerous action.

Gabriela picks up the knife and beheads the killer. She lifts the head slowly; the killer mutters her name in his final breath. The grisly act delivers grim satisfaction and marks a radical turning point in her story.

In the post-credits scene, Gabriela and Eduardo drive away while she plays a tape of the killer's final word after beheading. The eerie sounds haunt the quiet car ride and underscore the cost of Gabriela's obsession. The moment leaves a chilling aftertaste as they move forward.

Driving away, their relationship is forever changed by what they've witnessed. The silent ride and the tape's echo suggest ongoing consequences of violence for both of them. The closing mood is unsettled and ambiguous.