‘Woodpeckers’ Filmmaker José María Cabral Ventures Into Dark Comedy With Upcoming ‘Gut Feelings’ (EXCLUSIVE)
In what would be his first foray into dark comedy, the Dominican Republic’s José María Cabral, who has represented his country three times at the Oscars with “Checkmate,” “Woodpeckers” and “The Projectionist,” is set to start shooting “Gut Feelings” (“Come mierda”) at Lantica Studios, with production VP Rafael Elías Muñoz leading the production.
Said Cabral: “A director friend once told me: ‘you’re always making your first movie.’ And even though I’ve directed many projects, I like to see this dark comedy as if it were my first time. It’s a genre I hadn’t explored, but one that excites me deeply because it allows me to confront serious themes through absurdity and humor.”
The story is set in a wealthy household which is consumed by only one objective: keeping little Isabella alive. She survives on a strict diet, watched over by her mother, Verónica, who clings to control like it’s the only thing holding her together. Her father, Raúl, once a hopeful biotechnologist, now pours his fear into strange, homemade cures no one else trusts.
Only Abi, the young nanny, can make the sickly girl smile. Then, Raúl discovers a strange microbiotic “cure” that seems to heal Isabella. Against all odds, it works—and Abi suddenly finds herself at the heart of the family’s fragile new hope. But the miracle comes at a cost. As obsession grows and loyalties shift, the house begins to crack from the inside, pushing everyone to the edge.
“‘Gut Feelings’ speaks about class, power and the invisible labor that sustains our societies, topics that, while rooted in a Dominican household, feel universal. I believe this story, with its mix of discomfort and laughter, has the potential to resonate internationally,” said Cabral who, will be mainly shooting at Lantica Studios and around Santo Domingo starting Oct. 23.
The cast is led by Spanish actor Fele Martínez, known for his roles in such prominent Spanish titles as Alejandro Amenábar’s “Thesis” and “Open Your Eyes,” Pedro Almodóvar’s “Bad Education” and Netflix hit “Alpha Males.” He is joined by Dominican talents Cindy Galán, Lizbeth Santos, Isabel Spencer and Frank Perozo.
Behind the camera, the project features Sarah Pérez Báez as line producer, Luis Enrique Carrión as director of photography and a screenplay by Miguel Yarull and Natalia Peralta, based on an original idea by Cabral himself.
Said Elías Muñoz: “We continue to be inspired by José María’s fearless storytelling. With ‘Gut Feelings,’ he’s once again set to deliver a bold and original vision that is both deeply human and socially resonant. We’re proud to continue supporting his vision.”
Lantica Studios previously backed “Hotel Coppelia” and Miami Film Festival audience awardee “Parsley” (“Perejil”). The former was picked up by HBO Max and Sony Pictures Latin America.
A key driving force behind the rise of local filmmaking in the Caribbean, Lantica Studios has been steadily producing two to three original films a year for over a decade. As the leading provider of studio and production services in the Caribbean and Latin America, Lantica has hosted productions from major studios, including Netflix, Amazon, NBCUniversal, Paramount, HBO and Lionsgate.
The studio also runs the country’s sprawling horizon water tank facility. Previously known as Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, it was renamed Lantica Studios in May 2024 after Pinewood Studios sold its minority stake to the Dominican-owned Lantica Media.
Said Cabral: “A director friend once told me: ‘you’re always making your first movie.’ And even though I’ve directed many projects, I like to see this dark comedy as if it were my first time. It’s a genre I hadn’t explored, but one that excites me deeply because it allows me to confront serious themes through absurdity and humor.”
The story is set in a wealthy household which is consumed by only one objective: keeping little Isabella alive. She survives on a strict diet, watched over by her mother, Verónica, who clings to control like it’s the only thing holding her together. Her father, Raúl, once a hopeful biotechnologist, now pours his fear into strange, homemade cures no one else trusts.
Only Abi, the young nanny, can make the sickly girl smile. Then, Raúl discovers a strange microbiotic “cure” that seems to heal Isabella. Against all odds, it works—and Abi suddenly finds herself at the heart of the family’s fragile new hope. But the miracle comes at a cost. As obsession grows and loyalties shift, the house begins to crack from the inside, pushing everyone to the edge.
“‘Gut Feelings’ speaks about class, power and the invisible labor that sustains our societies, topics that, while rooted in a Dominican household, feel universal. I believe this story, with its mix of discomfort and laughter, has the potential to resonate internationally,” said Cabral who, will be mainly shooting at Lantica Studios and around Santo Domingo starting Oct. 23.
The cast is led by Spanish actor Fele Martínez, known for his roles in such prominent Spanish titles as Alejandro Amenábar’s “Thesis” and “Open Your Eyes,” Pedro Almodóvar’s “Bad Education” and Netflix hit “Alpha Males.” He is joined by Dominican talents Cindy Galán, Lizbeth Santos, Isabel Spencer and Frank Perozo.
Behind the camera, the project features Sarah Pérez Báez as line producer, Luis Enrique Carrión as director of photography and a screenplay by Miguel Yarull and Natalia Peralta, based on an original idea by Cabral himself.
Said Elías Muñoz: “We continue to be inspired by José María’s fearless storytelling. With ‘Gut Feelings,’ he’s once again set to deliver a bold and original vision that is both deeply human and socially resonant. We’re proud to continue supporting his vision.”
Lantica Studios previously backed “Hotel Coppelia” and Miami Film Festival audience awardee “Parsley” (“Perejil”). The former was picked up by HBO Max and Sony Pictures Latin America.
A key driving force behind the rise of local filmmaking in the Caribbean, Lantica Studios has been steadily producing two to three original films a year for over a decade. As the leading provider of studio and production services in the Caribbean and Latin America, Lantica has hosted productions from major studios, including Netflix, Amazon, NBCUniversal, Paramount, HBO and Lionsgate.
The studio also runs the country’s sprawling horizon water tank facility. Previously known as Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, it was renamed Lantica Studios in May 2024 after Pinewood Studios sold its minority stake to the Dominican-owned Lantica Media.