EVERYONE WILL BURN (aka Y TODOS ARDERAN, 2021)

Available On Demand and digital download from Drafthouse Films!
Directed by David Hebrero.
Written by David Hebrero, Javier Kiran.
Starring Macarena Gómez, Sofía García, Rodolfo Sancho, Ana Milán, Rubén Ochandiano, Germán Torres, Fernando Cayo, Ella Kweku, Guillermo Estrella, Saturnino García, Rosalía Castro, Antonia Dell’Atte, Edu Hernandez, osa María Maya
Check out the trailer here!!

30 COINS’ Macarena Gomez stars as a distraught woman named Maria Jose, who lost her own child recently. Just as she is about to take her own life, a young girl called Lucia (played by Sofía García) appears out of nowhere, filthy and in need of help. This prompts Maria Jose to abandon her plans and look after the seemingly young girl. Soon after, Maria Jose is pulled over by the police man who attempt to take Lucia from Maria Jose. But Lucia seems to make one officer blow his brains out and another to burst into flames. This is how we are introduced into the world of EVERYONE WILL BURN, a story about ancient prophecies, the apocalypse, cults, the Catholic church, and a little person who may be a demon masquerading as a little girl (Lucia) to a desperate woman (Maria Jose) in need of someone to love.

There is a wonderful eye for making horrifying things beautiful that permeates much of EVERYONE WILL BURN. The terrible assault on two policemen at the beginning is done in slo mo, making every lick of flame coming from the officers look like a painting. There are also quite a few images of Lucia inflicting her wrath on those who dare challenge or defame both Lucia and her chosen mother, Maria Jose, that are nightmarish, yet intricately orchestrated, ending in some kind of still that makes normal places like a toilet, look outlandish. The fact that director David Hebrero makes every scene look so horrifying is something that sets EVERYONE WILL BURN apart from most horror films.

The problem with EVERYONE WILL BURN, though, is that it treads into territory that seems to be common ground in Spanish horror. There is an age-old secret in a small town, a prophesy that needs to be fulfilled, and all sorts of religious iconography used in blasphemous ways for shock and awe to those who are on the more religious side. The problem is that this is the same kind of stuff we’ve seen before in Paco Plaza’s VERONICA, SISTER DEATH, and even LA ABUELA. It’s the same kind of stuff we’ve seen in recent theatrical releases such as THE FIRST OMEN and IMMACULATE. And given that Macarena Gomez stars in this film as well as 30 COINS makes it feel like EVERYONE WILL BURN is actually an extended episode of Alex de la Iglesia’s excellent series. While everything looks great, I still couldn’t feel as if this story has been told before.

Macarena Gomez is, as always, excellent in her lead role, but she could do this role in her sleep as it is basically the same one she plays on 30 COINS. She’s the jilted lover, the vengeful monster, and the failed mother. It is perplexing why she would take a role in EVERYONE WILL BURN so similar to her most famous role in 30 COINS. She does it well, but one might want to stretch one’s rage a bit lest she be pigeon-holed into roles like this.

One of the more offbeat aspects of EVERYONE WILL BURN is that Lucia (diminutive actress Sofía García) is a grown little person playing a 13 year old girl. It is quite obvious looking at her that she is a little person, but for some reason this aspect is never really addressed in the narrative. I found it to be strange that not only this detail is never talked about, but the boy Maria Jose lost 13 years ago, is also played by a little person. Maybe the reason for this is practical, and filming such a gory and religiously risky movie might be something too much for a child actor. Maybe there is some kind of cultural significance that these little people are playing children outcasted by society. Or maybe they were going for some kind of uncanny effect. It’s lost on me, but it definitely gives the film a unique feel.

I didn’t hate EVERYONE WILL BURN. It has a lot of shocking scenes and some wonderful performances, but it is derivative as all get out. This is a film for folks who love Spanish religious horror and can appreciate a creative death or two. EVERYONE MUST BURN is nothing new, but made by talented people nevertheless.