Marking his first venture into dark comedy, Dominican filmmaker José María Cabral—who has represented the Dominican Republic at the Oscars with titles like “Checkmate,” “Woodpeckers” and “The Projectionist”—is gearing up to begin production on “Gut Feelings” (“Come mierda”) at Lantica Studios. Production VP Rafael Elías Muñoz will be leading the efforts.
Cabral shared: “A filmmaker friend once told me, ‘you’re always making your first movie.’ Although I have directed numerous projects, I approach this dark comedy like it’s my debut. It’s a genre I haven’t explored yet, but it truly excites me as it allows for the exploration of serious issues through absurdity and humor.”
The plot centers around an affluent family with a singular focus: keeping young Isabella alive. She is on a strict diet, under the watchful eye of her mother, Verónica, who clings to control as if it were her lifeline. Her father, Raúl, once a promising biotechnologist, now directs his fears into bizarre, homemade remedies that others regard with skepticism.
Only Abi, the young nanny, can coax a smile from the ailing girl. When Raúl stumbles upon an unusual microbiotic “cure” that appears to benefit Isabella, hope reignites against all odds. Suddenly, Abi finds herself pivotal to the family’s fragile newfound optimism. However, this miracle comes at a steep price. As obsession mounts and loyalties are tested, cracks begin to appear, pushing the household to its breaking point.
“‘Gut Feelings’ delves into themes of class, power, and the unseen labor that upholds our societies—subjects that, while rooted in a Dominican context, have universal implications. I believe this narrative, with its blend of discomfort and humor, has the potential to resonate with audiences worldwide,” stated Cabral, who will primarily film at Lantica Studios and around Santo Domingo starting on October 23.
The cast is headlined by Spanish actor Fele Martínez, celebrated for his performances in acclaimed Spanish films such as Alejandro Amenábar’s “Thesis” and “Open Your Eyes,” Pedro Almodóvar’s “Bad Education,” and the Netflix hit “Alpha Males.” He will be accompanied by notable Dominican actors Cindy Galán, Lizbeth Santos, Isabel Spencer, and Frank Perozo.
Behind the scenes, the project includes Sarah Pérez Báez as line producer, Luis Enrique Carrión as director of photography, and a screenplay written by Miguel Yarull and Natalia Peralta, based on an original concept by Cabral.
Elías Muñoz expressed: “We continue to be inspired by José María’s bold storytelling vision. With ‘Gut Feelings,’ he’s poised to deliver yet another courageous and original narrative that is both deeply human and socially relevant. We are proud to support his creative vision.”
Lantica Studios has previously backed projects like “Hotel Coppelia” and the Miami Film Festival audience award winner “Parsley” (“Perejil”), with the former having been acquired by HBO Max and Sony Pictures Latin America.
A key contributor to the growth of local cinema in the Caribbean, Lantica Studios has consistently produced two to three unique films annually for over ten years. As the primary provider of studio and production services across the Caribbean and Latin America, Lantica has welcomed productions from major studios including Netflix, Amazon, NBCUniversal, Paramount, HBO, and Lionsgate.
The studio also operates the country’s expansive water tank facility. Previously known as Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, it was renamed Lantica Studios in May 2024 after Pinewood Studios sold its minority share to the Dominican-owned Lantica Media.
