Manuel Ríos San Martín presents ‘La huella del mal’ (The Cavern Crimes) as a cinematographic look at the origins of humanity
The film, presented in the Official Section Out of Competition at the Festival de Málaga, is based on his own novel and filmed at the Atapuerca site
‘La huella del mal’ (The Cavern Crimes), the eagerly awaited thriller by Manuel Ríos San Martín, has had its official premiere at the 28th edition of the Festival de Málaga. The film, based on the novel of the same name by the director himself, has a cast headed by Blanca Suárez and Daniel Grao, who play the investigators in charge of solving an enigmatic crime in a prehistoric setting. They are joined by Aria Bedmar, Víctor Palmero, Daniel Horvath, Cosimo Fusco, Fernando Cayo, Pablo Rivero and Juanma Cifuentes, and others.
Shot in natural and historical settings, ‘La huella del mal’ (The Cavern Crimes) is the first feature-length fiction film shot at the Atapuerca archaeological site, an enclave declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. The story is set in this eerie environment, where a group of children find the body of a young woman at the Centre for Experimental Archaeology (CAREX), placed in a foetal position in the place where the replica of a Neanderthal burial site should be. This macabre discovery is reminiscent of a crime committed six years earlier, which leads investigators Silvia Guzmán (Blanca Suárez) and Daniel Velarde (Daniel Grao) to immerse themselves in an intricate investigation full of mystery and danger.
During the colloquium following the official screening of the film, Manuel Ríos San Martín, who is debuting for the first time at the festival as a feature film director, highlighted the narrative and symbolic value of the film: “It's a crime film, but completely different from what we are used to. The setting of Atapuerca, with its prehistoric atmosphere, gives it a unique veneer. The original settings, the peculiar plot and the special care taken in constructing the characters make this story stand out within its genre.”
The director, accustomed to moving between literature and television, is taking his first step into screenwriting with this feature film. With its production having been backed by La Charito and writing support having been received from Victoria Dal Vera, he hopes that the adaptation has been successful.
As for the challenges of directing, he praised the work of the artistic cast, especially the acting chemistry between Blanca Suárez and Daniel Grao, whose on-screen connection meant that “they look at each other and things happen”. For his part, Suárez thanked Ríos San Martín for his generosity in giving them the space to contribute their ideas and proposals, allowing them to create together with him, to take ownership of his characters and bring them to life through their own interpretations.
Actors Daniel Grao and Cosimo Fusco have expressed their excitement at seeing the film for the first time on the big screen. Beyond the visual impact, the story has touched both of them deeply with its powerful philosophical message. Aria Bedmar joined in the emotion being expressed at the first viewing and wanted to highlight the work of Pepe Herrero, composer of the soundtrack, who ”has undoubtedly contributed to intensifying that emotion”.
Daniel Horvath, in the stalls, received recognition from his co-star Víctor Palmero, who praised his work. Palmero also expressed his gratitude for the trust that the production company La Charito placed in the entire artistic cast.
Regarding the filming locations in Atapuerca and at the Yeca Gorge, the director explained that filming at the site was an unforgettable experience. He has also highlighted the challenges posed by the environment, marked by the geography of mountains and abysses, which added an extra challenge to the filming.
Producers Diego Rodríguez and Coque Serrano also expressed their pride in bringing this story to the audience and offered up words of thanks to all those who have made the project possible, emphasising the support of entities like RTVE, Netflix and Peter Lederman (Nadcon) Navarre, as well as the work at the helm of the production by La Charito. They also stressed that this was the collective effort of a team of over 200 people who worked on the production.
After its screening at the Festival de Málaga, the film will have its theatrical release on 4 April, bringing audiences a crime thriller that combines criminal investigation, human drama and a visually stunning atmosphere.
