Párvulos: Children of the Apocalypse
| Párvulos: Children of the Apocalypse | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Isaac Ezban |
| Screenplay by | Isaac Ezban |
| Story by | Ricardo Aguado-Fentanes |
| Produced by | Natalia Contreras Isaac Ezban Eduardo Lecuona Javier Sepulveda |
| Starring | Farid Escalante Mateo Ortega Leonardo Cervantes |
| Cinematography | Rodrigo Sandoval |
| Edited by | Oscar Figueroa |
| Music by | Edy Lan Camilla Uboldi |
Production companies | Maligno Gorehouse Red Elephant Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 118 minutes |
| Country | Mexico |
| Language | Spanish |
Párvulos: Children of the Apocalypse (Spanish: Párvulos: Hijos del apocalipsis) is a 2024 Mexican post-apocalyptic horror film written, co-produced and directed by Isaac Ezban.[1] It stars Farid Escalante, Mateo Ortega and Leonardo Cervantes.[2] It follows three children who must face an infection that has transformed COVID-19 patients into zombies.[3]
Synopsis
Salvador, Benjamin, and Oliver are three brothers trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world infested with zombies caused by a faulty COVID-19 cure. Their refuge is a house in the middle of the forest, where they live together and adapt to a life where everyone protects each other. However, situations outside and unexpected threats will cause a dark and disturbing secret the three are hiding in the basement to come to light.[4]
Cast
- Farid Escalante as Salvador
- Mateo Ortega as Benjamin
- Tito Onofre Andrade Racenis as Benjamin Age 5
- Leonardo Cervantes as Oliver
- Carla Adell as Valeria
- Norma Flores as Mama
- Noé Hernández as Enoc
- Omar Karim as Chained Infected Man
- Horacio F. Lazo as Father
- Efrain Rosas Léono as Man With a Gutted Heart
- Juan Carlos Remolina as Rogelio
- Marco Rodríguez as Psychopath 1
- Emilio Galvan as Psychopath 2
- Jason Luis Rodríguez as Psychopath 3
Release
The film had its world premiere on July 28, 2024, at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival,[5] then screened on September 7, 2024, at the 38th Fantasy Filmfest,[6] on September 26, 2024, at the 16th Hola Mexico Film Festival,[7] on September 27, 2024, at the 25th Calgary International Film Festival,[8] on September 28, 2024, at the Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival Párvulos,[9] on September 29, 2024, at the 43rd Vancouver International Film Festival,[10] on October 5, 2024, at the 57th Sitges Film Festival,[11] and on October 19, 2024, at the 22nd Morelia International Film Festival.[12]
The film was released commercially on November 7, 2024, in Mexican theaters.[13]
Reception
Critical reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 40 critics' reviews are positive.[14]
Accolades
| Year | Award / Festival | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28th Fantasia International Film Festival | Cheval Noir - Best Film | Párvulos: Children of the Apocalypse | Nominated | [15][16] |
| 2025 | 67th Ariel Awards | Best Makeup | Roberto Ortiz, Ana Flores | Pending | [17] |
| Best Special Effects | Yoshiro Hernández | Pending | |||
| Best Visual Effects | Leo Carrillo | Pending |
References
- ^ Albuerne-Rodriguez, Doreen. "Película 'Párvulos' muestra desafío de mantener familia unida en un mundo post-apocalíptico". The Columbia Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ Salas, Becka (2024-11-11). "Párvulos: Una ambiciosa propuesta de terror mexicana". Fuera de Foco (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ "Mexicana "Párvulos", portuguesa "O Velho e a Espada" y chilena "Animalia Paradoxa", al Festival Fantasia de Montreal". Noticine.com. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ Navarro, A. J. (2024-08-03). "Fantasia 2024: Párvulos, terror distópico con un duro drama familiar". Revista Pólvora (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ "Párvulos". Fantasia International Film Festival.
- ^ "Párvulos". Fantasy Filmfest. 2024-08-09. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ "Párvulos/Parvulos". Hola Mexico Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ "Párvulos". Calgary International Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ "Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival (#PUFF9) Sept. 25-29". Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival Párvulos. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ "What We Watched At VIFF 2024". Steve Stebbing. 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ "Párvulos". Sitges Film Festival (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ "PÁRVULOS, de Isaac Ezban, se presentó en el 22º FICM". Morelia International Film Festival (in Spanish). 2024-10-20. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ "'Párvulos: Hijos del Apocalipsis': Fecha de Estreno, Tráiler, Argumento". Aullidos (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ "Párvulos: Children of the Apocalypse". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ Foreman, Alison (2024-07-03). "Fantasia Fest 2024 Announces Its Stellar Final Lineup with 'Ababouiné,' 'In Our Blood,' and More". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ^ "Jury Awards for the 28th Edition of Fantasia". Fantasia International Film Festival. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ^ "La Academia Mexicana de Cine rectifica las nominaciones de los 67 Premios Ariel tras las protestas del sector audiovisual". Kinótico. 13 July 2025.