Chilean auteur Pablo Larraín is set to debut a new limited series on Netflix titled My Sad Dead. The four‑part show, based on the short‑story collection of acclaimed Argentine writer Mariana Enríquez, will premiere globally on September 24 after an initial screening at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. Larraín’s return to the supernatural genre comes sooner than many anticipated, following his recent work on Apple TV+’s Lisey’s Story and the politically charged vampire satire El Conde.
Plot and Premise
My Sad Dead centers on Ema (Mercedes Morán), a recently retired physician who possesses the ability to see the dead. Haunted by her mother’s passing and her own unresolved trauma, Ema has learned to live with her gift. The arrival of her niece Julie (Dolores Fonzi) and the brutal murder of three teenagers in the violence‑ridden barrio of Piedrabuena ignite a series of events that thrust the supernatural into the everyday lives of the community.
As the dead begin to make their presence felt throughout the neighborhood, the living are forced to confront their own personal ghosts. Larraín describes the series as a portrait of a forgotten urban landscape where poverty, violence, and class intersect, noting that “the terror lies in everyday life.”
Source Material and Adaptation
The series draws primarily from Enríquez’s titular story My Sad Dead while weaving in characters and motifs from several of her other works, including Julie, A Sunny Place for Shady People, and Back When We Talked to the Dead. Adaptation duties were shared by Enríquez, Larraín, playwright Guillermo Calderón, and Anastasia Ayazi.
Cast and Crew
Alongside Morán and Fonzi, the ensemble features Alejandra Flechner, Carolina Álvarez, Carlos Portaluppi, Germán de Silva, and Luz Jiménez. Veteran cinematographer Sergio Armstrong, a longtime collaborator of Larraín, oversees the visual style, while Rodrigo Bazaes handles production design. The project is produced by Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, and Ángela Poblete.
Broader Netflix Relationship
Larraín’s ongoing partnership with Netflix extends beyond My Sad Dead. He is concurrently developing Once, a feature film that examines the September 11, 1973 coup that toppled President Salvador Allende. Written with Calderón, Once follows eleven interlinked narratives unfolding over the eighteen hours leading to the bombing of La Moneda, with Alejandro Goic portraying Allende and Rodrigo Prieto serving as cinematographer. Production is slated to begin in Chile later this year, targeting a 2027 release, although Netflix has not yet announced an official date.
Festival Debut and Release Strategy
Before its Netflix launch, My Sad Dead will have its world premiere at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. The festival debut aims to generate critical buzz and position the series for a strong global rollout on September 24.
Why This Series Matters
For fans of horror that leans into social commentary, My Sad Dead offers a fresh take: supernatural elements are not relegated to gothic mansions but infiltrate the streets, homes, and interpersonal dynamics of a marginalized community. Larraín’s track record of blending genre aesthetics with political and cultural critique suggests the series will resonate with viewers seeking both scares and substance.
