The Well

In 1993, Lisa is sent to Sambuci to restore a damaged 16th-century painting, blending modern art restoration with ancient ritual lore. The era’s everyday life—contracts, fashion, and local society—shadows the unfolding horror, underscoring a clash between a contemporary mindset and age-old darkness. The two-week deadline accelerates events, turning the restoration into a race against a curse that could reshape the town.

The story unfolds in the small Italian village of Sambuci, whose quiet streets and historic villas provide a serene backdrop that hides unsettling secrets. The location's isolation amplifies the tension as the painting’s sinister imagery bleeds into real life. The village atmosphere contrasts traditional life with a centuries-old conspiracy surrounding Emma and the well.

🩸 Youth and Blood

The painting’s lore centers on feeding a demon named Guron to sustain youth, exposing the horror behind immortality. The film probes how the desire for aging to be stalled can drive people to horrific acts and betrayals. It also questions who benefits from a perpetual youth, and at what moral cost.

⏳ Time Pressure

Lisa's two-week restoration deadline heightens suspense, forcing choices with dire consequences. The countdown ties the act of painting to the curse’s renewal, making art and fate feel inseparable. The urgency exposes ambition, manipulation, and the danger of rushing truth.

🗝️ Secrets and Power

Emma’s wealth masks a web of influence that keeps the town complicit in the murder-by-art ritual. Hidden histories surface as Giulia and others reveal the painting’s true significance. The narrative frames control—of art, people, and lineage—as a weapon used to sustain privilege and youth.

🔮 Supernatural Cycle

Guron’s imprisonment and the 500-year cycle show how ancient forces endure across generations. Ghostly figures—the witch Dorka, the Man with the Dog, and others—bind the living to a ritual that transcends time. The boundary between painting and reality blurs as fates mirror the depicted horrors.